TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm Watch Review
The release of the new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm comes 50 years after the unveiling of the inaugural Heuer Monza. This model employs contemporary materials while retaining the legendary looks of the 1976 classic. Limited to just 500 pieces, this latest Monza incorporates a flange marked with both a pulsometer and tachymeter scale. Presented in a black forged carbon case with sporty red accents, the watch also features a COSC-certified in-house automatic movement.
Heuer Monza 1976
For many Tifosi, the mere mention of Monza evokes thoughts of the landmark race of 1975 when Niki Lauda skilfully piloted his Ferrari 312T to claim third place and, with it, secure the Drivers’ Championship. Perhaps, more importantly, Scuderia Ferrari also won the Constructors’ Championship.
The following year, in 1976, Heuer marked Ferrari’s return to the top step of the podium by releasing the aptly named Monza. Many collectors will remember fondly the striking appearance of the original model that came housed in a brass case coated in black PVD. In the early 2000s, the Swiss marque released steel models, but for many Heuerphiles the stealthy looks of the ’76 classic still proffer much allure. In 2023, TAG Heuer reimagined the Monza for the present day, uniting an ultra-light forged carbon case with a skeletonised display and, in so doing, revisiting the stealthy tones of the inaugural Heuer Monza.
Now, the marque commemorates half a century of the iconic model with the new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm. Limited to 500 numbered pieces, this timepiece pairs a forged carbon housing with a dial layout that closely resembles the 1976 original, albeit the indications now sit in different positions.
TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm – case
Unlike the regular steel Monza watches of the 2000s, this latest limited edition model is housed in an avant-garde case formed of forged carbon. While some components employed in motorsport are made from sheets of carbon fibre, with the weave of each sheet optimally aligned to confer strength, forged carbon is very different. Instead, strands of carbon fibre are cut to length, weighed and placed in a special compression mould. A precise amount of resin is poured into the mould and thereafter everything is subjected to colossal pressure. While carbon fibre sheets have a uniform, woven texture, forged carbon has a distinctive marbled appearance. The random arrangement of the carbon fibre strands imbues each case with a unique look, meaning no two cases look exactly the same. Strong, light and comfortable to wear, forged carbon proves a desirable alternative to stainless steel.
On paper, a 42 mm case may sound intimidating, particularly for those with modestly sized wrists; however, thanks to its comparatively short lugs, the watch wears smaller than its stated dimensions would suggest. Moreover, the profile, coupled with the lightness of the case, confers impressive wearer comfort.
Two black DLC steel pushers, positioned at 2 and 4 o’clock, sit on either side of a carbon crown, providing subtle contrast with the forged carbon case. Pressing the upper pusher awakens the red central chronograph seconds hand, while a further press brings it to a halt. The lower pusher serves a dual purpose. If the chronograph is stationary, it simply resets the hands. Yet if the chronograph is running, pressing the pusher at 4 o’clock actuates the flyback mechanism, causing the red central hand to stop, snap back to zero and start a new lap. Turning the watch over reveals a black DLC Grade 2 titanium screwed caseback, engraved with the ‘x of 500’ lettering. It’s fitted with a pane of sapphire crystal that lets you see the movement in motion.
TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm – dial
While the 2023 Monza favoured a complex, skeletonised display, this 50th-anniversary model is endowed with a deep, matt black canvas. The stark white applied indices and hands stand out against the dark backdrop, bestowing a crisp contrast that augments readability. Coated with Super-LumiNova, these essential indications remain highly legible even in low light.
At 3 o’clock, a matt black minute counter is paired with a vivid red lacquered hand, infusing the display with a note of racing passion. The running seconds register sits adjacent at 6 o’clock, while an angled, trapezoidal date display resides at 9 o’clock. A black flange frames the entire dial and carries both a pulsometer and tachymeter scale, enabling the wearer to easily determine an individual’s heart rate or calculate the speed of an object over a known distance.
TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 – Calibre TH20-12
Beneath the dial beats the Calibre TH20-12, an in-house automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve. It comes with the reassurance of chronometer certification (COSC). To meet COSC’s requirements, the movement is evaluated ‘over 12 to 20 days, depending on its type, to ensure optimal precision’. Furthermore, it is tested in 5 different positions and at 3 different temperatures. The watch must meet ‘7 eliminatory criteria’, including ‘maintaining an average daily rate between -4 and +6 seconds per day’.
Purists are likely to appreciate the refined specification of the fully integrated Calibre TH20-12 with its column-wheel and vertical coupling arrangement. This combination ensures stutter-free actuation of the central chronograph seconds hand and grants a wonderfully silken pusher action.
As stated earlier, the movement features a flyback complication. When tracking consecutive lap times on the pitwall, this complication proves invaluable, allowing the wearer to stop, reset and instantly restart the chronograph with a single press of the pusher at 4 o’clock. A sapphire caseback reveals contemporary finishing, including a bidirectional winding rotor shaped like the iconic TAG Heuer shield.
The watch is presented on a black perforated calfskin strap enlivened with red stitching – a tasteful nod to driving gloves of yesteryear. The strap secures to the wrist with a black DLC titanium clasp equipped with double push buttons.
Closing Thoughts
The TAG Heuer Monza arrived in 1976, celebrating Ferrari’s return to the top step of the podium. The collection has changed somewhat since those brass-cased days. Yet, even with the adoption of ultra-modern materials, the design of the new 42 mm Flyback Chronograph stays true to the original watch. Pairing a forged carbon case with a matte black dial, TAG Heuer has successfully updated a classic design for those present-day collectors who appreciate both contemporary looks and motorsport heritage.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph 42 mm
- Reference: CR5092.FC8372
- Case: forged carbon case, diameter 42 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 metres), sapphire crystal to front; exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, flyback chronograph
- Movement: Calibre Heuer TH20-12, automatic movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), power reserve 80 hours
- Strap: perforated calfskin leather with black DLC titanium grade 2 folding clasp with double safety push buttons
- Price: £11,300 (RRP as of 2.9.2026)
- Limited Edition: 500 pieces