TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch Watch Review
Continuing to percolate through the pages of TAG Heuer’s story as a revered watchmaker for the racetrack, the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch carries the colours of the company’s stopwatches from the 1960s and 1970s with a new black, opaline and red palette.
An Innovator of the Dashboard Chronograph
TAG Heuer is a familiar name within the field of timekeeping and motorsport. Its ties to Formula 1, along with its presence at various prestigious races around the world, are tightly woven into the tapestry of its DNA. In fact, for watch enthusiasts in ‘the know’, it’s often considered an injustice not to mention one without the other. The watchmaker from La Chaux-de-Fonds (initially operating under the name ‘Heuer’) pioneered the dashboard chronograph in 1911 with the release of its ‘Time of Trip’ gauge. It marked the company’s entry into the automobile world and became the precursor to the 1933 Autavia. That onboard counter was incredibly accurate, with the capability to measure 1/5th of a second, and not only became an indispensable tool for car and aircraft cockpits but also inspired the Autavia wristwatch that was launched almost three decades later. However, it was during the golden age of auto racing that the Heuer name and logo became ingrained into the minds of those with a love for that guttural engine roar and the sound of tyres desperately clawing the asphalt for grip.
The Golden Age of Auto Racing
During the 1960s and 1970s, Heuer would come to realise its potential on the racetrack. The adrenaline-fuelled, high-octane environment became its home and the brand’s affinity with raw, unbridled speed became the driving force behind automobile-inspired collections, such as the classic Carrera. The design of the Carrera was built around the simple concept of legibility – a crucial quality to have in a wristwatch if you were brave enough to take on the world’s deadliest race – the Carrera Panamericana. This open-road endurance race, which ran between 1950 and 1954, was short-lived due to an overwhelming concern for driver safety. Daring drivers were masters of improvisation in this race, dancing quite literally on the edge of disaster to secure a victory. Still, the Carrera watch outlived Mexico’s win-or-die race and continues to enjoy a mass fan base today.
The Rebellious Square
Most recently, TAG Heuer’s Formula 1 watches (first released in 1986) have been capturing the brand’s most honourable partnerships with motorsport, especially the latest solar-powered generation. And speaking of F1, the brand has not only provided sophisticated timing instruments to Scuderia Ferrari and maintained a long and successful partnership with McLaren in the past, but it has also served as the F1 official timekeeper between 1992 and 2003, taking up the reins again this year (2025). Yet, perhaps it is those racing-inspired models that arrived somewhere in between the classic Carrera and the Formula 1 that capture TAG Heuer’s racing heritage best of all. The unusual square shape of the Monaco proved irresistible to those on and off the racetrack when it was launched in 1969, garnering attention for its unconventional case shape – a departure from the expected, indeed. Synonymous with some of the sleekest predators on the track, the unorthodox Monaco appeared on many a driver’s wrist, none more respected than Steve McQueen, of course. The ‘King of Cool’ immortalised the Monaco in his role in the ‘Le Mans’ film (1971), whilst most recently, as the principality hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix, it served as the perfect backdrop for the release of both the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf and the Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph F1.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch – introduction
A third watch, again unveiled at the Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, also captured the attention of enthusiasts, both experienced and new. The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch bears a close resemblance to some of the most attractive stopwatches of the brand’s past and borrows the black, opaline and red colour scheme of its 1960s and 1970s stopwatches. Suffice to say, the colour combination and the typeface of these historic stopwatches transfer perfectly to the square physique of the modern Monaco.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch – case
Those who usually find the Monaco to be too ‘boxy’ will be pleasantly surprised at how the use of lightweight Grade 2 titanium reduces the kerb weight of this motorsport-inspired watch. Meanwhile, its sandblasted, black DLC jacket (similar to the recent black and pink Monaco watch) helps it achieve a modern, sporty character during the day. The 39 mm case measures a lug-to-lug of 47 mm and a case depth of 15 mm. As seen in examples like the Monaco ‘Dark Lord’, black certainly suits the Monaco well and, in conjunction with the black central dial section, delivers a sense of coherence. TAG Heuer experts top the case with a boxed sapphire crystal – the same material used on the back of the case – to grant an unobstructed view of the automatic movement within.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch – dial
The clue is in the name. For this Monaco Chronograph design, TAG Heuer draws inspiration from its vintage stopwatches, specifically the 11.401 and 11.402 references. Both these models had a black circular layout, similar to this new reference, punctuated by silky smooth opaline backgrounds and subtle doses of red to evoke a sense of sportiness. In that same vein, the splashes of red in this model represent the hour markers in baton form, accompanied by a black dot – the 12 o’clock marker, dominating all others. Polished black gold indexes accompany these locations on the outer section of the minute track, assembled in TAG’s familiar horizontal fashion. To aid legibility during the night, the central hour and minute hands have received Super-LumiNova treatment, while the central chronograph seconds hand brings another wave of red to the display. The chronograph counters, together with the date window at 6 o’clock, encroach ever so slightly on the outer opaline space, nestling themselves just on the border of the red-accented minute track. Lastly, emblazoned upon the upper hemisphere of the black section is the original, retro ‘Heuer Monaco’ logo, unifying the entire design.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch – movement
Propelling the hands around this classic racing stopwatch-inspired display is the Calibre 11, a modular chronograph movement introduced in 2011 with a 40-hour power reserve. It borrows the base of the Sellita SW300-1 and combines it with Dubois Dépraz chronograph module – a nice nod to a collaboration that once shaped the history of the automatic chronograph movement (both TAG Heuer and Dubois Dépraz, alongside Breitling and Buren, conceptualised the famous Project 99 AKA the original Calibre 11 back in 1969). The movement is revealed courtesy of an exhibition caseback. This is adorned with the Heuer shield in red and features the traditional Monaco configuration with the crown positioned at 9 o’clock.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is fitted with a perforated black calfskin leather strap and secures to the wrist with a black DLC-coated titanium folding clasp featuring a push-button release mechanism. As a nod to the era that inspired this timepiece (1970), TAG Heuer has limited the production of this model to 970 pieces worldwide.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch – closing remarks
For a watch collection that has always been finely tuned to the distinct engine notes of the racetrack and the smell of burning rubber, the Monaco’s latest family member slots right into place. The clear and cohesive dial of the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is not only a tangible link to TAG Heuer’s history but also a reminder of its commitment to accuracy in a sport where razor-thin margins make all the difference. Whether navigating treacherous corners at near-on impossible speeds or experiencing the visceral thrum of disc brakes from behind the barrier, it appears to have the gravitas to appeal to a broad spectrum of TAG Heuer fans who seek a stylish sports watch designed to meet the rigours of daily life.
Further reading
https://www.tagheuer.com/gb/en/
Technical Specifications
- Model: TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch
- Reference: CAW218F.FC6356
- Case: Sandblasted Grade 2 titanium with black DLC finish, diameter 39 mm, height 15 mm, water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, chronograph seconds, date, 30-minute chronograph, running seconds
- Movement: Calibre 11, self-winding movement with Sellita SW300-1 base, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), power reserve of approximately 40 hours.
- Strap: Black perforated calfskin strap with DLC-coated titanium folding clasp, push-button release.
- Availability: Limited Edition of 970
- Price: £8,600 (RRP as of 25.6.2025)