Monaco

Monaco Caliber 11 Chronograph

The reissue of the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969. Back to basics.

Launched simultaneously in Geneva and New York on March 3, 1969, the Heuer Monaco is historically the first square and waterproof automatic chronograph watch in the history of Swiss watchmaking. Baptized thus by Jack Heuer after the Monaco Grand Prix (of which TAG Heuer is still a partner today), the watch then broke completely with the aesthetic codes of traditional watchmaking.

Its large square case with right angles, its metallic blue dial, its bright red second hand, its domed plastic glass, and above all its crown positioned on the left which meant at the time that the watch did not need to be wound. Just as innovative at the time, its technology offered perfect water resistance, a first for a square watch. But the revolution lay essentially in the heart of the watch: the famous Chronomatic Caliber 11 which was the first automatic chrono movement marketed in the history of watchmaking.

Since her debut on the circuits in 1970 on the wrist of Swiss racing driver Jo Siffert (the first racing driver to be supported by a brand of watches, Heuer... the beginnings of automotive sponsorship), she has above all shared the following year cinematographic star with Steve McQueen who insisted on wearing it during the filming of the film Le Mans in 1971.

Immediately recognizable, often copied, the "McQueen Monaco" (model 1133B) has since been a coveted watch on the auction and collector's market.

2015: The Monaco Chronograph Caliber 11 is directly reminiscent of the 1969 original.

The size of 39 mm, the crown on the left, the legendary petroleum blue dial with the two white counters, the date window at 6 o'clock, the diamond-coated horizontal hour markers, the inscription of the vintage Heuer logo, inside the caliber 11 Automatic chronograph with date, and water resistance to 100 meters, all the attributes of the Monaco are combined.

Note, the steel case in three parts (since 1998) is a little more square in 2015, closed with 4 screws, the two pushbuttons at 2 and 4 o'clock have a rectangular shape, the lugs a little more massive, its Perforated calfskin strap, sapphire crystal (since 2009) and an open caseback revealing the caliber's cogs complete the current piece. A beautiful interpretation respecting the emblematic heritage of the Chaux de Fonds manufacture. Amateurs will not be mistaken.