TAG Heuer Pays Tribute to Classic Racing with a New Limited Edition Monaco

TAG Heuer has announced a new limited edition Monaco made in tribute to the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, an event originally scheduled for early May that had to be cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is a biannual racing event held to coincide with the Monaco Grand Prix, traditionally held at the end of the month. Over the course of Monaco Historique weekend, classic car owners and admirers gather to race vintage vehicles on the storied course. Vehicles from over 50 different carmakers dating from the 1930s through the 1970s are represented, and this new Monaco has been fashioned to celebrate the history and camaraderie associated with vintage racing.

TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

• Case Material: Stainless steel 
• Dial: Red/white
• Dimensions: 39mm
• Crystal: Sapphire       
• Water Resistance: 100 meters  
• Crown: Push/pull                       
• Movement: Calibre Heuer 02
• Strap/bracelet: Leather strap  
• Price: ~ $6,900
• Reference Number: CBL2114.FC6486
• Expected Release: August 

TAG Heuer has released many iterations of the Monaco over the years – its square case, association with Steve McQueen, and racing heritage has made it one of only a handful of truly iconic watches, and thus a popular template for limited and special editions. This version, in red and silver, is quite bold at first glance, and offers some subtle tributes to the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique that will have enthusiasts who feel close to the race excited, while perhaps turning others off. The most obvious nod to historic racing is an image of a vintage open wheeled race car between 1:00 and 2:00. I actually like the way this is implemented – it’s been done in a somewhat stylized way that might not present as “race car” at first glance, and chronographs, with their inherently complex dials, lend themselves to this kind of flourish (the same design would almost certainly feel completely out of place on a time only watch).

This isn’t the first time a Monaco has been made available with a red dial (see the story linked above for more info on the TAG Heuer Monaco 1979-1989 Limited Edition) but the contrast between the red of the subdials and outer dial corners and silvery white of the main dial is really well done, and immediately makes one think of sports cars and the casual luxury that you associate with the Monaco Grand Prix. A red dial is one of the boldest and least subtle choices you can make when it comes to designing or picking out a watch, and this edition of the Monaco is likely to have all the wrist presence the design team intended. It’s truly a watch that will be noticed. 

The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is powered by TAG’s Calibre Heuer 02 automatic chronograph movement. This is an in-house movement with a column wheel, vertical clutch, and an 80 hour power reserve. The movement can be seen (sort of – there’s a lot of writing here) through the sapphire caseback, and each watch is engraved with its individual number out of 1000 examples that will be made.

The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique retails for 6,700 CHF (about $6,900 as of today) and will be available in August. TAG Heuer