TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch

Jamie Weiss

• Regardless of its title, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is certainly a wristwatch – only one impressed by iconic Heuer 60s/70s stopwatches.
• Unconventional inspiration apart, it includes a profitable retro design, pairing an enthralling black and silver dial with a black DLC titanium case.
• It arrives in time for the 2025 Formulation 1 Monaco Grand Prix in a 12 months that marks TAG Heuer’s return as F1’s official timekeeper.

When you’re studying this text, you’re most likely at the least passingly acquainted with Formulation 1 and its goings-on, however in case you’re not, there’s 4 issues it is advisable know: F1 is the world’s fastest-growing spectator sport, 2025 is shaping as much as be a particulary thrilling F1 season, this weekend is the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix – one of the prestigious and well-known races on this planet – and as of 2025, TAG Heuer has resumed its position as F1’s official timekeeper. TAG Heuer has lengthy since had a presence on the Monaco Grand Prix, and naturally, one in all their most well-known watches is called after the race, however this Monaco race weekend is especially momentous for TAG.

For this 12 months’s Monaco GP, TAG has launched three totally different takes on the Monaco, together with a Gulf-branded mannequin that evokes one of the recognisable motorsports sponsorships/liveries of all time, in addition to a high-tech tackle its already particular Monaco Cut up-Seconds Chronograph. The third of those Monacos, although, the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, has a barely extra esoteric raison d’être: it’s modelled after the stopwatches and timing devices Heuer used within the Sixties and 70s.

On paper, it’s a little bit of a bizarre one. It’s a wristwatch impressed by a stopwatch? That may be considerably complicated, however what’s not complicated in any respect is why I’m (and I’m certain loads of watch collectors can be) enthusiastic about it. Merely put, it simply seems implausible.

A second on these stopwatches, although, and Heuer within the 60s and 70s. (TAG) Heuer is a 165-year-old agency, however these 20 years would show to be essentially the most momentous within the model’s historical past. As of late, the official timekeeper position for F1 is extra symbolic slightly than practical, with digital timing devices and car-mounted transponders supplied by different, specialised corporations, however within the 60s, Heuer was on the forefront of timing know-how.

In 1972, Heuer developed the Centigraph HL205, a 1/1,000th of a second quartz printing sports activities timer, on the behest of Enzo Ferrari, who was satisfied that the French have been dishonest on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Heuer, which was the primary watchmaker to associate with a Formulation 1 group, then used the Centigraph to independently time F1 races for Ferrari, with Heuer timekeeper and motorbike racer Jean Campiche a daily sight at F1 races. Heuer stopwatches and chronographs have been additionally widespread sights within the F1 paddocks of the day, utilized by race engineers and followers alike to maintain monitor of lap instances, and have been extensively utilised by professionals in different racing classes and disciplines.

1969 additionally noticed the introduction of the unique Calibre 11, which on the time was one of many world’s first automated chronograph actions. Heuer debuted this motion within the Autavia, Carrera and Monaco concurrently, however the Carrera and Autavia names already existed, whereas the Monaco was one thing new – and one thing very totally different, changing into the world’s first automated sq. chronograph. Its sq. type was distinctive and radical for the time, which little doubt knowledgeable Steve McQueen’s option to put on it in Le Mans (1971) – a call that may cement the Monaco’s legacy as one of the iconic motorsports watches of all time.

Anyway, again to 2025. The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch additionally utilises a motion known as the Calibre 11: this isn’t the identical motion from the 60s (it’s a Sellita SW300 with a Dubois Dépraz module) however nonetheless supplies for the crown being mounted on the left, similar to watches with the unique Calibre 11/Chronomatic motion, which is a pleasant retro contact.

One other period-correct characteristic is that this reference, like many Monaco and Carrera fashions, has ‘Heuer’ slightly than ‘TAG Heuer’ branding, with the Heuer emblem showing on the dial in addition to forming the form of the watch’s buckle. The perforated rally-style strap can be bang-on vibe.

Its black and silver opaline dial, which I feel is without doubt one of the most charming dials to have ever graced a Monaco, attracts inspiration from plenty of Heuer watches, stopwatches, sprint clocks and timing units of the 60s and 70s, however most carefully resembles the look of the ref. 11.401/11.402, an aluminium-cased 1/Tenth-second stopwatch, examples of that are fairly uncommon and prized by collectors at present. Nevertheless, slightly than aluminium, it’s really cased in black DLC-treated titanium, which provides it a distinctly sporty and modern enchantment.

I actually like this Monaco, however there’s two small niggles I’ve with it. Firstly, seeing because it’s modelled after a split-seconds stopwatch, I’m undecided why TAG didn’t as a substitute apply this colourway to the Monaco Cut up-Seconds. And whereas I like the actual fact it has a crown on the left, like authentic Monacos, I feel it’s just a little little bit of a disgrace that it’s not powered by TAG’s extra spectacular in-house TH20-00 motion. These aren’t dealbreakers, although, and I can’t consider many different watches that seize the high-octane magnificence of the Monaco Grand Prix higher.

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch pricing and availability

The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch is a restricted version of 970 items and is offered now. Worth: CHF 9,600, A$14,600