To mark the prestigious 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer adds a new chapter to its personal Monaco history with three avant-garde, innovative, and colorful new TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial chronograph watches. Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer is launching the latest addition to its iconic Monaco collection with new and colorful TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial chronograph timepieces. These new watches presented for the 80th Monaco Grand Prix, a partnership that is close to TAG Heuer’s heart, mark the brand’s first use of a skeleton dial within its Monaco collection. This extension consists of three new timepieces, each with its unique inspiration.
The TAG Heuer Monaco watch, which first debuted in 1969, swiftly rose to the status of one of history’s most recognizable timepieces. Because of its distinctive square case shape and cutting-edge chronograph features, which were unheard of at the time and immediately came to be associated with the brand, it swiftly gained a following among both watch and racing aficionados. Since its inception, the watch has been spotted on the wrists of numerous racing legends, including Joe Siffert, Jochen Rindt, and a genuine brand ally, Steve McQueen. McQueen is famous for sporting a TAG Heuer Monaco in the 1971 movie “Le Mans,” and the watch became associated with his fashion sense.
The TAG Heuer Monaco captured the spirit of the high-speed world of motorsports. The Monaco project began when Jack Heuer set out to create a watch that would be visually striking and technologically advanced. The prototype was unveiled in 1969 and featured a square-shaped case, blue dial, and bold chronograph functions. It was paired with a Calibre 11, the first automatic chronograph movement to be offered to the public, and quickly became a favorite of the industry. From its introduction, the TAG Heuer Monaco would reflect the cutting edge of contemporary design. From the midnight blue and bright white of the late 1960s to the contrasting grey tones used in the early 1970s, the Heuer Monaco reflected popular culture while challenging design limits. It was only natural then that in the late 1970s, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph would unveil an entirely different look, including the matte black case and dial of the legendary “Dark Lord.” The TAG Heuer Monaco’s status was cemented in 1971 when Steve McQueen wore the watch in the movie “Le Mans.” McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, showcased the timepiece throughout the film, and the exposure helped to solidify the watch’s status as a cultural icon.
The timepiece has then undergone several further design changes and technological advancements. In 1998, the TAG Heuer Monaco was reissued as part of the brand’s Vintage series, featuring a faithful reproduction of the original design – and it was again updated in 2003 with the Calibre 360 movement, capable of measuring time with accuracy up to 1/100th of a second. Today, the TAG Heuer Monaco remains one of the brand’s most iconic and recognizable models. It has been released in various limited-edition versions, paying tribute to the watch’s history and connection to motorsports and becoming a timeless and beloved timepiece. With the brand’s ambition to always push innovation and design to new limits, the TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial watch is now the perfect next step and testament to such an avant-garde mentality.
TAG Heuer is introducing three new models, taking a further step toward a distinctive Monaco design by including a skeleton dial, more than 50 years after the Heuer Monaco was first introduced. This is the first time the collection has revealed the watch’s mechanism. Three distinct dials, “Original Blue,” “Racing Red,” and “Turquoise,” are available for the modern skeleton watch, each of which reveals an open work that will soon become famous. These clocks were created to provide a cutting-edge depiction of the racing world, with a bright contemporary look that would appeal to both collectors and young people.
Each TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial piece has a unique history. The “Original Blue” draws inspiration from the first-ever TAG Heuer Monaco blue dial. The blue and red colors are featured on the dial, the blue on the column wheel and the oscillating mass engravings – an overall design paying homage to the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969 and its original success. The “Racing Red” nods to the racing DNA of the TAG Heuer Monaco, with the color red often referencing the racing sparks made on the tracks. The black and silver color touches are especially noticeable on the dial, along with the red column wheel and red engravings being visible on the oscillating mass, which completes the racing-inspired feel. The “Turquoise” piece is the third watch to round off the collection, offering a fresh and avant-garde take on TAG Heuer’s Monaco design. The engaging turquoise, a little nod to Monaco’s coastline, and the red color can be seen specifically on the dial, with the turquoise also being sported on the column wheel and on the engravings of the oscillating mass – which makes this watch definitely stand out from other iconic timepieces. The in-house Heuer 02 movement that powers all three timepieces creates a contrast in harmony with the movement of the TAG Heuer Monaco’s original versions in the 1970s. This movement employs a conventional column wheel to activate the chronograph and boasts an 80-hour power reserve, one of the biggest for a chronograph in the watch industry. Moreover, the exquisite finishing of the Heuer 02 is accentuated by an engraved oscillating mass showcased through the sapphire case back.
The new Monaco skeletons’ sandblasted titanium grade 2 case gives them a technical and tough appearance. Titanium is a high-performance material that delivers an exceptional balance of strength and lightness, is corrosion-resistant, and has grown to be a brand-signature feature. These new additions to the series have an edgy and futuristic feel thanks to the Super-LumiNova® treatment applied to the watch’s carved indexes and hands. Another first for the TAG Heuer Monaco is the date window, which has the same luminous coating and is therefore simple to see in dim light. In addition, luminous materials are applied to the hands, ensuring the best legibility under all lighting circumstances, day or night—a particular attention to detail that Jack Heuer always valued.
The newly released TAG Heuer Monaco skeleton dial watches have been meticulously crafted to embody technical excellence with thorough attention to detail. Amongst its notable features is also the innovative bi-material strap, thoughtfully designed with a combination of rubber and leather for optimal comfort and style. These straps come in black or blue, respectively, adding to the watches’ overall racing appeal. The three new TAG Heuer Monaco chronograph pieces are an exciting addition to this iconic collection. They offer a fresh take on the emblematic design with a modern and avant-garde twist. The company’s focus on disruptive legacy, combined with its use of cutting-edge technology, has resulted in simple and complex timepieces, capturing one’s imagination and giving the promise of a statement.
