The Las Vegas-Inspired TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Skeleton

TAG Heuer is synonymous with the racetrack, and Jack Heuer’s legendary motorsport-inspired chronographs have not lost an iota of popularity. Following fast on the heels of the 1963 Carrera chronograph, in 1969, Heuer produced a bold, square chronograph with a blue dial and a crown on the left side and named it after the Monaco Grand Prix. Immortalised on Steve McQueen’s wrist in the cult 1971 film Le Mans, the Monaco has adapted to the new materials and technologies of the watch panorama over the past fifty-five years. The latest Monaco has enjoyed a pit stop in Las Vegas as it reveals its engine with a skeletonised dial and bright pink accents inspired by the neon lights of the Strip.

To give you an idea of the ever-increasing allure of TAG Heuer’s square chronograph, the first of the six Monaco prop watches used in Le Mans was sold in 2009 for USD 87,600, a second reference in 2012 for USD 799,500, a third in 2020 for USD 2.2 million (the highest price any Heuer watch has ever reached at auction) and a fourth model is due to be auctioned in 2024 by Sotheby’s. Reinforcing TAG Heuer’s presence in Formula 1, we recently covered LVMH’s 10-year deal as Global Partner of F1, a partnership that should bear fruits for TAG Heuer and secure its position as an official timekeeper.

Over its long lifespan, the Monaco has sported closed dials, with exceptions like the unique piece in carbon made for Only Watch 2021. In 2023, we covered the first non-limited Monaco Skeleton Chronograph with a more contemporary skeletonised dial, followed by the Monaco Skeleton Dark Blue launched earlier this year.

The new Monaco Skeleton races in with a 39mm black sandblasted DLC-coated titanium case with a thickness of 15.2mm, a lug-to-lug of 47.4mm and a 100m depth rating. Sleek and stealthy, the lightweight titanium ensures comfort on the wrist, and the matte black case shrinks the dimensions visually. Classic features like the bevelled sapphire crystal over the dial and the elongated chronograph pushers on the right are retained.

Playing with shapes, the black square base of the dial hosts a circular minute track with white markings and bold indices that reach the confines of the dial. Among the more radical features of the model are the prominent black elongated indices that double as bridges for the sub-dials, date arrow and applique logos.

Standing out against the black background, the indices are highlighted with bright pink luminescent material that emits a light blue glow in the dark. Although they are white in daylight, the black gold-plated and faceted hour and minutes hands are also treated with light blue emission SLN. Positioned horizontally, the two squared counters – 30-minute totaliser at 3 and 12-hour totaliser at 9 o’clock – are held in place by the elongated pink indices flanking them.

The outer track of the squared sub-dials is picked out in a bright pink opalin and indicated by pink lacquered hands, matching the colour of the central chronograph seconds hand. The numerals inside the sub-dials are arranged in a linear, not circular fashion, emphasising the squareness of Monaco. The bar uniting the indices at 5 and 7 o’clock features a small pink arrow pointing to the date at the bottom of the dial. A similar structure at noon hosts the name of the watch and the TAG Heuer shield logo. The small seconds are indicated by a black hand above the pink date arrow that is admittedly difficult to see.

Perhaps the most prominent component of the movement that can be appreciated on the dial is the skeletonised date wheel. The window on the caseback reveals a black openworked rotor with pink inscriptions, a bridge with Geneva stripes and, more to the point, the column-wheel mechanism of the chronograph movement picked out in bright pink. Powered by the integrated automatic calibre Heuer 02, this movement operates at 4Hz and delivers a robust 80-hour power reserve.

The strap is a combination of embossed black calfskin leather and rubber with a black DLC-coated titanium folding clasp with push buttons. The watch is now available and retails for CHF 11,000.

More information at TAGHeuer.com.