Last week, TAG Heuer releases a new instalment to their Monaco Chronograph model lineup with a Racing Green version.
Press Release details with commentary in italics.
New: TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green Ref. CAW218E.FC6565 retails at SGD 13,150 inclusive of GST. Limited edition of 1000 pieces.
Commentary
This novelty release is essentially an additional colour option to the very popular and iconic TAG Heuer Monaco collection. The story is the same as the (very successful) one that have been tagged to the Monaco model since its release, with no less than Steve McQueen wearing it in the movie Le Mans. The Other models in the lineup have featured these colour accents to subtly identify references. Like the Racing Blue for the French colours. This is the blueprint for this new Racing Green, which uses green instead of blue was used in this novelty. The Racing Green is a tribute to the British colours. Price has increased an unsubstantial CHF 100 from last year’s Racing Blue to this year’s Racing Green.
Interestingly the publicity material showed Max Versteppen wearing the Racing Green watch. Max who is Dutch, was recently involved in a fiasco with FIA for using a swear word in an interview, and was punished by the F1 regulating body with community service. Max replied that he was a non native English speaker and he had thought the f word was in common usage in English. In he was seen in Singapore with a gold Carrera Glassbox.
As mentioned all other aspects of the watch is the same Monaco we are familiar and love. Same square case which is water resistant to 100m. As with the Racing Blue model, the Racing Green also has the case executed in titanium.
The same Caliber 11 as in the Racing Blue is also used, though as we lamented in the “new” Caliber 11 is not the Breitling, Heuer, Hamilton-Buren and Gerald Dubois of Dépraz & Cie (presently Dubois-Dépraz) collaboration which was also known the Caliber 11 is one of the contenders for the title of first automatic chronograph ever. But is now a Selitta SW300 with a Dubuis Depraz module used since the Gulf Edition.
Release details
The Swiss luxury watchmaker is pleased to introduce the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green, a continuous representation of the racing heritage of TAG Heuer, and a second chapter in the Racing Monaco story. The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green joins the TAG Heuer Monaco collection as a celebration of the racing cars and their iconic liveries, this time honoring the British colors.
The Racing Spirit of the TAG Heuer Monaco
TAG Heuer has always been among the timekeepers most closely associated with racing, and the TAG Heuer Monaco collection is an embodiment of this ideal. When the brand introduced the model in 1969, it revolutionized the watchmaking industry. Unlike any other watch on the market, the timepiece featured the first square-cased water-resistant chronograph which housed the revolutionary Calibre 11 movement. More than a bold design statement – the TAG Heuer Monaco was named after the legendary principality that hosts one of Formula 1’s most renowned races. This relationship has held a special place in the brand’s heart and history and remains a significant aspect of TAG Heuer’s identity to this day.
To many, the TAG Heuer Monaco will always be associated with one of the greatest actors of his generation, Steve McQueen. In 1970, while filming the movie Le Mans, the Hollywood superstar chose to wear the same racing suit and watch brand as professional driver and personal trainer, Jo Siffert. By doing so, McQueen aimed to embody the role of an authentic racing driver, and quickly became a style icon in his own right, proudly sporting a Heuer Monaco timepiece.
Over the years, the TAG Heuer Monaco has continued to evolve, incorporating new materials, technologies, and design elements that make it a true work of art, swiftly becoming a symbol of the brand’s avant-garde spirit. This latest version, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green, is no exception, as it continues to pay homage to the incredible racing heritage and the indelible mark that the Maison has left on the discipline following its Racing Blue peer from 2023.
Racing’s Best Companion
With its iconic TAG Heuer Monaco, the brand has continuously been drawing a line through decades of history connecting the Maison to the world of motorsport. From the early 20th century to the 1960s, racing drivers competed with car liveries specific to their country, rather than to the manufacturer or sponsors. Each country had its own dedicated color: the vibrant Italian red, Germany’s initial use of white before transitioning to silver, and the unmistakable shade of blue associated with the French, featured last year on the Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue. For this new chapter, it is the renowned British racing green that serves as the inspiration for the brand’s latest creation, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green.
Racing green, a recognizable shade associated with British motorsports, has a storied history. The first noted car in this color palette was a Napier 50 that won the 1902 Gordon Bennett Cup under Selwyn Edge, leading to the 1903 event being hosted by Great Britain. Modern British racing teams and distinguished car manufacturers continue to use variations of this shade, making it a celebrated color in the world of motorsports and the inspiration for this year’s timepiece.
Every element of the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is inspired by historical British racing cars and their white and yellow touches. To echo this theme, the watch boasts a silver sunray-brushed dial for a timeless and elegant look, a subtle reminder of the engine-turned dashboards seen in sports cars of the 1920’s and 1930’s.
The dial is adorned with eight applied, polished and silvered hour markers as well as 12 light green Super-LumiNova® dot markers, facilitating effortless time reading. Notably, a faceted baton marker at 12 o’clock features a vibrant yellow stripe, serving as a direct connection to the chronograph’s yellow central hand and the touches of yellow on these celebrated race cars.
The elegant green subdials feature a vibrant yet sophisticated shade and honor the traditional racing green.
Heritage is also inherent to the watch which features the historic Heuer logo, set to appeal to collectors and watch aficionados alike. In true Monaco DNA, the crown is placed at 9 o’clock, as it was initiated in 1969.The watch is powered by the automatic chronograph Calibre 11, encased within a sandblasted grade-2 titanium case, allowing for both robustness and lightness, perfect for a sporty feel, and featuring a sapphire caseback, offering a glimpse into the movement inside.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is fitted with a green perforated strap, for classic British gentleman aesthetics. The strap is secured with a titanium folding clasp, featuring the Heuer logo.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is a limited edition, its caseback bearing the engraving “ONE OF 1000”. It is presented in a custom-designed black packaging with vivid yellow details.
The perfect watch for the perfect gentleman driver.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green Specifications
Ref. CAW218E.FC6565
Movement
Calibre 11
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
Silver sunray brushed dial / 2 counters: – 3 o’clock: green opalin permanent second indicator; rhodium plated hand – 9 o’clock: green opalin minute chronograph counter; rhodium plated hand/ Rhodium plated polished applied indexes/ Rhodium plated hour and minute hands with blue Super-LumiNova® / Light green Super-LumiNova® dot hour markers/ Yellow lacquered central hand Black HEUER printed logo 6 o’clock angled date / MONACO AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH SWISS MADE printed
Case
39mm / Grade-2 titanium sandblasted case / Beveled, domed sapphire crystal / Sapphire caseback / Water resistance: 100 meters
Bracelet
Green calfskin perforated leather strap with matching green lining / Grade-2 titanium folding clasp with double safety push-buttons; HEUER logo
Dimensions
Lug-to-lug: 47,4mm /Thickness: 14,35mm
Availability
September 2024
Estimated SRP
9’100 CHF
