TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition
The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition is housed in a 39mm Grade 2 titanium case. Limited to 500 pieces, it has been created to celebrate the Monaco Grand Prix. The dial is presented in a silver sunray-brushed finish and incorporates tasteful red accents. A modern-day Calibre 11 movement is housed within, visible via an exhibition caseback.
I feel sorry for those poor people working at TAG Heuer’s headquarters who are tasked with new product development. They must never go home, never sleep and never have the chance to indulge in a convivial evening, consuming vast quantities of fondue. The innovative brand never ceases unveiling numerous mouthwatering creations. As a self-confessed Heuer obsessive, I feel compelled to report on each ‘novelty’, however, I am starting to suffer from the same sleep deprivation as the aforementioned TAG Heuer personnel.
Now, the brand has unveiled yet another new watch, the TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition. With one glance I can see it is gorgeous, hence I feel compelled to write about it. I’ve wiped the sleep from my eyes and I’ve set aside time to tap-away on my heavily-worn computer keyboard.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition is limited to 500 pieces, created to celebrate the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s an interesting composition because it blends tradition and modernity. Likewise, it respects the legacy of the Monaco of 1969, but is patently new.
When the inaugural Monaco was launched in 1969, its distinctive water-resistant square case housed the Calibre 11 movement. This self-winding chronograph was groundbreaking at the time. Made in collaboration with Breitling, Buren and Dubois-Dépraz, the movement was of modular design and featured a micro-rotor.
The design of the base movement meant the crown had to be positioned on the left flank of the case. Jack Heuer, a consummate marketeer, used the crown’s unusual location as a point of differentiation, stating ‘we moved the winding crown to the left to remind you that this chronograph never needs winding.’ TAG Heuer upholds this historic positioning of the crown with its latest model despite it no longer being necessary. Indeed, locating the crown on the left flank is exclusive to models fitted with the Calibre 11 movement. Those versions of the Monaco endowed with the newer Calibre Heuer 02 feature the crown on the right side of the case as convention dictates.
Ultimately, the original Calibre 11 was superseded by the Calibre 12, however, the iconic movement’s name eventually returned. Today’s modern-day Calibre 11 features a full-size oscillating weight. Moreover, its frequency is greater than the original, operating at 4Hz instead of the 2.75Hz rhythm of the 1969 movement. By increasing the frequency of the movement, the modern-day Calibre 11 movement delivers superior precision, albeit the Calibre 11 remains of modular design.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition houses the modern-day Calibre 11 movement. Traditionalists will no doubt appreciate the Swiss marque’s decision to use the Calibre 11. However, other would-be buyers may question the rationale for not equipping the model with the sublime Calibre Heuer 02 movement. This latter movement is fully integrated with a column wheel and vertical coupling ensemble. The result is a superior pushpiece feel, a longer power reserve, less drag and a stutter-free start when actuating the chronograph. Personally, I probably share this latter viewpoint, however, it would do little to dissuade me from selecting the watch.
The case is formed of Grade 2 titanium with a sand-blasted finish which is rather unusual for a Monaco, a timepiece that is ordinarily housed in stainless steel. By adopting this avant-garde lightweight material, the case appears more understated and acts as a superb foil for the dial to shine. As well as being lightweight, titanium is also corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic.
TAG Heuer has equipped the watch with a silver sunray-brushed dial, featuring two counters. The counters sit below the dial surface, exquisitely playing with depths. The index at noon and central sweep seconds hand incorporate red tones, adding a dose of cheer to proceedings. Lastly, this new model perpetuates the brand’s reputation for making highly legible dials, a characteristic that can be traced back to the 1960s when Jack Heuer’s obsession for dial clarity heavily influenced the styling of the brand’s watches.
The new TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition is a handsome creation. It incorporates a case material not usually associated with the Monaco. Moreover, the dial’s colour scheme, particularly the tasteful inclusion of red hues, looks splendid, while the retro-inspired positioning of the crown helps make a compelling argument for acquisition. By skillfully combining different colours and textures, TAG Heuer has imbued this model with a fresh appearance while at the same time respecting the legend.
Quite simply, this is another magnificent chronograph from those dedicated workers based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, surely these industrious souls deserve a night off?
The brand’s press release (May 2021)
Heuer launched the Monaco in 1969. Named after the most glamorous of the Formula One Grands Prix, an icon was born that was to leave its mark on both its own and future generations.
The original Heuer Monaco was instantly recognisable thanks to its daring and iconic design, which was radical in every aspect: its blue metallic dial, red and light blue hands, and above all the square-shaped waterproof case housing the first-ever automatic chronograph movement and positioning the crown on the left-hand side.
The name Monaco owes nothing to chance. Jack Heuer considered motorsports to be a natural fit for a chronograph and timekeeping expert, and a powerful tool to promote watches, including this disruptive model. He wanted his watches to display strong links with the racing world, which is why the TAG Heuer Monaco was named after the famous Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco, of which TAG Heuer went on to become the Official Watch. Moreover, TAG Heuer is the official timekeeper of the classic Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the Official Watch of the Monaco Top Cars Collection museum.
The story continues today with a brand new interpretation: the TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition
This new TAG Heuer Monaco goes beyond the norm and opts for titanium, a material rarely used in this collection. The case is made of Grade 2 titanium, renowned for being both exceptionally light and tough, refined by sandblasting for a matte finish which lends the watch a raw beauty.
This new TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition features a vivid and gleaming silver-coloured dial which perfectly complements the titanium case. A rare edition in the TAG Heuer Monaco collection, the light dial offers the benefit of very good visibility and an attractive contrast to the sub-dials, indexes and hands of the watch.
The black sub-dials, bright red accents on the central hand and the red index marker at 12 o’clock add character to the overall look while revelling in references to racing circuits and the official colours of TAG Heuer. The world of motor racing also inspired the rubber look of the sporty anthracite alligator strap and recalls the tyre grooves of racing cars. The indexes and sub-dials are coated with Super-LumiNova® to ensure optimum visibility in any conditions.
Finally, this special-edition TAG Heuer Monaco Titan is equipped with a modern version of the famous Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement which celebrated its debut in the original 1969 Monaco. This reinterpretation of the movement links back to the 1969 case with its engraved “Monaco Heuer” logo.
The sporty design also recalls the original model in brushed steel, as do the push buttons, which as in the first edition are placed on the right, while the crown is positioned on the left-hand side of the case: one of the features contributing to the uniqueness of the TAG Heuer Monaco since its creation. This version of the Calibre 11 combines all the technology and expertise of TAG Heuer and celebrates a design on which the world’s first ever automatic chronograph was based in 1969.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition is offered in a special edition of 500 pieces.
The watch will be presented in a new packaging which was created to evoke the racing heritage of the TAG Heuer Monaco collection and will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques and on www.tagheuer.com from 21 May 2021.
Fifty years on, the story of the TAG Heuer Monaco continues in modern interpretations. With each new launch, this iconic timepiece reflects the spirit of avant-garde watchmaking art by TAG Heuer and confirms its status as one of the most remarkable watches of all time. Now, more than ever, the TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition, created to mark the thrilling race through the winding roads of the Principality, solidifies the TAG Heuer Monaco as the icon of cool.
Further reading