The high-end timepiece ushers a new era at Tag Heuer
To celebrate its 55th birthday, Tag Heuer’s Monaco shows up looking more dapper than ever. When it first appeared in 1969, the timepiece was resolutely avant-garde, long before the expression became part of the brand name when “Tag” (for “Technique d’Avant-Garde”) was added to “Heuer” in 1985.
Since its comeback in the 1990s, the Monaco has achieved cult status. The manufacture first carefully began introducing different variations, and then gradually took bolder risks in line with its profoundly disruptive character. The skeletonised versions are a recent illustration of this approach, proving as divisive when they made their 2023 appearance as the original Monaco was in 1969.
This is a good thing: the Monaco charts its own path, well off the beaten track of fashions and conventions. It was born a rebel and must remain so, no matter the opinions of vintage enthusiasts averse to change and progress. The Monaco is not and never will be a museum piece.
Tag Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph
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The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph will doubtless cause the same sort of stir, for several reasons. First, it’s resolutely haute horlogerie—meaning it features manual finishing, a case created especially for this model, a made-to-measure design, and a movement that is not modular but instead 100 per cent integrated.
It was developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. While at first glance this may seem surprising, there’s a good reason why: Tag Heuer does have its own in-house movements but these are industrial calibers and they are not equipped with the desired function.
The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph could not simply adopt such mechanisms, as it is positioned at the opposite end of the spectrum with its haute horlogerie characteristics and integrated split-seconds chronograph. Therefore, it made sense to source this base caliber from one of today’s leading movement manufacturers, Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier.
