ICON OF T I ME
Tag Heuer fetes the 50th anniversary of the Monaco chronograph with five new limited-edition timepieces
When Jack Heuer was first approached by movie prop master Donald Nunley for props in the seminal 1971 film Le Mans, he was somewhat compelled to promote the Monaco timepiece. The square-cased watch, one of the three models that bore the brand’s then-new Calibre 11 movement, was not performing up to expectations. And it was the only model the great-grandson of Heuer founder Edouard Heuer and now honorary chairman of Tag Heuer had in stock that would fit the film’s racing theme. The serendipitous partnership between Tag Heuer and
Le Mans would ultimately catapult the Monaco to become an icon, thanks to the film’s lead Steve Mcqueen’s celebrity status. The image of Mcqueen donning the Monaco and a race suit with Heuer’s logo emblazoned on it was etched into people’s memory. As a result, the square watch caught on—slowly but surely.
Fifty years after its introduction, the Monaco has grown to be loved for the very reason it was shunned in the first place—a uniquely shaped sporty watch with an edge to it. To commemorate such a milestone, Tag Heuer has released five limited-edition variants, each celebrating a different decade that the watch had existed in. Each edition is limited to just 169 pieces worldwide, paying tribute to 1969, the year that the Monaco was first launched. All bear the brand’s pre-1985 branding with just “Heuer”, done in the style of the Monaco when it debuted. Each watch is also equipped with the Calibre 11—the crown sits on the left side of the watch, and the pushers on the right. Dimensions are also on point, sized at the original 39mm by 39mm.
FIRST SALVO
The very first watch, released in the city state of Monaco itself during the Formula One race this year, exudes a colour palette evoking the 1970s. The Tag Heuer Monaco 1969–1979 Limited Edition features a warm green dial that almost seems tinted with brown, mutely contrasted with grey subdials and matte brown hands. The Côtes de Genève finishing on the dial further accentuates the “brown-ness” of the dial, almost as though it’s been rusted a little, perfect for a little vintage flair. Accompanying the watch is a brown perforated calfskin leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp, matching the dial’s warm tones. The watch is truly a time capsule of sorts, transporting one to the ’70s and the era’s industrial take on design.
DOUBLE DOWN
Perhaps the liveliest watch of the lot, the Tag Heuer Monaco 1979–1989 Limited Edition is a straight-up homage to what many still deem the golden age of racing. The 1980s saw competition from drivers Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Niki Lauda and Keke Rosberg, with their own capabilities often the tipping point of victories, and not the vehicles they piloted. The second limited edition has a fiery crimson dial with sunray finish, while its counters are rhodium-plated and brushed for greater legibility. A perforated black leather strap completes the look. It’s arguable, of course, that the watch could belong in the early 1990s—the aesthetics between the two decades were uncannily similar, a result of the lack of culture change.
MODERN OUTLOOK
The watchmaker toned down the 1990s variant slightly, but with flair—a choice well-reflected in the Tag Heuer Monaco 1989–1999 Limited Edition. Instead of the Côtes de Genève or sunray finish on the previous two models, this limited edition features a rhodium-plated dial that is grained to add depth. The peripheral of the counters are sandblasted blue, and red accents around the dial add a much-needed pop of colour. Tag Heuer has stated that the inspiration for the watch came from the industrial designs of the era.
TRUE CONTEMPORARY
To sum up the noughties as a decade in terms of design is tough. While technological advancement was perhaps at an all-time high thanks to the advent of smartphones and social media, it’s hard to put a finger on what made the era special in terms of aesthetics. This is expressed in the Tag Heuer Monaco 1999–2009 Limited Edition rather succinctly, given that the watch feels like it belongs to both the past and the present.
The watch is monochromatic for the most part, with a black dial flanked and accented by white chronograph counters and registers. Red accents from the seconds hand and the tips of both the minute and hour hands lend a little colour to a watch that ultimately looks great but is relatively conservative. One could perhaps argue that the noughties was the very start of larger brands reviving older models from the past in current iterations, which would make the Tag Heuer Monaco 1999–2009 Limited Edition an example of a trend that has yet to die down whatsoever.
HERE AND NOW
For the Tag Heuer Monaco 2009–2019 Limited Edition, minimalism is the name of the game. Although the concept has long been indulged in fashion and the like, this decade’s love for all things simple is demonstrated on the watch with an almost fully black dial, save for the chronograph counters. The two light silver counters are sunray-finished in contrast to the black sunray-finished dial, with even the date window taking on black. The result is a watch that is stately and reflective of the modern style choices of many today. Unlike the other four commemorative pieces, the 2009–2019 Limited Edition is fitted with a sandblasted steel case, making it matte in contrast to the shiny texture of the sunray‑finished dial.