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Monaco

Introduced: 1969 — one of the world’s first automatic chronographs, and the first square-cased water-resistant chronograph ever made

Purpose / Inspiration:
The Monaco wasn’t just designed to tell time—it was built to break every design rule in the book. Square case. Left-hand crown. Futuristic for the late ‘60s, and still ahead of its time today. It exploded into pop culture in 1971 on Steve McQueen’s wrist in Le Mans, instantly turning a bold experiment into an icon. The Monaco is for people who don’t follow trends—they make them. Unmistakable, unconventional, and unapologetic.

Designer:
Jack Heuer and Erwin Piquerez (case designer) — created to showcase the then-revolutionary Caliber 11 automatic chronograph movement

Case size:

  • Modern standard: 39mm x 39mm
  • Square case with beveled edges and tall profile
  • Wears large due to shape, but short lug-to-lug keeps it balanced
  • Crown on the left side on vintage and Caliber 11 reissues (a signature design move)

Case options:

  • Stainless steel (brushed sides, polished top)
  • Black DLC-coated steel (on stealth or racing editions)
  • Sapphire crystal (flat with chamfered edges)
  • Exhibition caseback on most models
  • Square pushers for that pure 1970s aesthetic

Powered by:

  • Caliber 11 (vintage-style reissue with left-side crown)
  • Caliber 12 (modernized variant with right-side crown)
  • Heuer 02 (in-house automatic chrono, 80-hour power reserve)
  • All feature chronograph functions with smooth actuation and reliable performance
  • Column-wheel and vertical clutch in Heuer 02 models

Bezel:

  • No rotating bezel—Monaco dials speak for themselves
  • The case is the bezel—blocky, bold, and unmistakable
  • Slightly stepped edges give it visual depth and light play

Dial options:

  • Classic blue with red hands (McQueen version)
  • Black, grey, green, gulf racing stripes, skeletonized—dozens of editions
  • Horizontal indices, square subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock
  • Small seconds at 3, chrono minutes at 9
  • Date at 6 o’clock on most models
  • Lumed hands and markers, high legibility despite wild design

Water resistance:

  • 100m — more than enough for splash, swim, or sudden rain
  • Sealed tight despite square shape, a technical challenge when first released

Bracelet:

  • Leather rally strap (most iconic option)
  • New steel H-link bracelet inspired by early models
  • Deployant clasp with push-button release
  • Rubber strap options available on modern racing variants

Still in production, the Monaco is TAG Heuer’s most iconic design—unchanged at its core, yet constantly reimagined for collectors and style-forward wearers.

Why it matters:
The Monaco isn’t just a watch—it’s a statement. It’s rebellious, historic, and totally unmistakable on the wrist. It doesn’t fade into a collection. It anchors it. When you wear a Monaco, you’re not wearing a watch that reminds people of something. You’re wearing the original. Steve McQueen wore it for a reason—so will you.

The Square One That Started It All
Racing History. Hollywood Cool. Design That Doesn’t Blink.

From the Track to the Big Screen—This One Doesn’t Try. It Just Is.

If You Want a Watch That Looks Like Nothing Else—You’ve Found It