Monaco Madness: TAG Heuer Revs Up With Three New Releases
The Monaco Grand Prix is Formula 1’s crown jewel— a race unlike any other in motorsport. Nestled in the heart of the glamorous French Riviera, the Monaco Grand Prix combines blistering speed, razor-thin margins, and high-stakes drama, all played out against a backdrop of superyachts and celebrities. Notoriously narrow, twisting through the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine and with 19 corners packed into just 3.337 km (2.074 miles), it's the shortest and slowest track on the F1 calendar, with it’s pure racing spirit some refer to as a Monaco madness.
As the first title partner in the history of the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, TAG Heuer, which became once again the Official Timing Partner of the F1 in 2025, the luxury watchmaker marks this moment in motorsport with the introduction of the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch, Monaco Chronograph x Gulf and Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph. While the first two revive fine moments in racing history, the last one represents the latest in cutting-edge development with a new titanium grade.
Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph
The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph revs up in a pioneering titanium alloy developed entirely in-house over the course of four years by the TAG Heuer Lab. Dubbed TH-Titanium, it is based on a titanium grade that is typically used in aerospace components, industrial settings and high-performance automotive parts. It marks a leap forward in material science for the Swiss brand, delivering not only lightweight performance–the entire watch weighs a mere 86 grams including the strap–but a uniquely textured aesthetic.
Water-resistant to 30 meters, the square case has a diameter of 41mm and houses the caliber TH81-00— a split-seconds chronograph movement made almost entirely of titanium. Developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this "engine" weighs just 30 grams and powers the watch’s rattrapante (split-seconds) function that allows the user to time two events simultaneously. Beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, the self-winding movement has up to 65 hours of power reserve in the tank. Its stunning architecture is framed by both a crystal over the dial and a fully transparent case back. The partially skeletonized rotor, designed in the shape of the TAG Heuer shield, is accented with hand-painted racing stripes—a tribute to the Monaco’s motorsport heritage. The checkered pattern and some of the intricate details of the chronograph mechanism, like the column wheel, are on full display.
But it's not just the case back that impresses—the dial captivates just as much. Beneath the surface, black opaline chronograph counters provide a bold contrast, while the rattrapante hand stands out in a vibrant lime green. This same striking hue also accents the titanium rattrapante pusher and the hands of the subdials, ensuring excellent legibility while creating another nod to the world of racing, where such colors are often used to evoke speed and high performance.
The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph comes on a black calfskin strap with textile-style embossing and will be available from May 2025. Pricing is marked at CHF145,000 or $175,250 when converted to USD.
Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch
Born from the intense world of 1960s and ’70s motor racing, Heuer stopwatches were once draped around the necks of pit crew timekeepers, chosen for their uncompromising clarity and mechanical precision. The new Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch draws a direct line to these measuring instruments, celebrating both their utilitarian design and their place in racing history. This limited-edition chronograph is restricted to just 970 pieces as a nod to the era that shaped its DNA.
In an authentic homage to yesteryear's stopwatches, the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch presents a circular black dial layout set within the iconic square Monaco case against a white backdrop— a first for the Monaco. A vivid red minute track runs around the dial’s periphery, echoing the bold color schemes of Heuer’s timing instruments. The black opaline sub dials at 3 and 9 o’clock offer high-contrast white hands and markings, prioritizing legibility when the pressure is highest. Blackened hour indexes and facetted hands with blue Super-LumiNova provide nighttime readability, while a red-lacquered central chronograph hand punctuates the aesthetic with a racing stripe of urgency. There's also a date window included, which is place at 6 o’clock.
The 39mm case is forged from sandblasted black DLC-coated grade 2 titanium and water-resistant to 100 meters. Besides the diameter of the original, the watch retains the Monaco’s distinctive left-side crown at 9 o’clock, a feature that has defined the model since its groundbreaking debut in 1969 as one of the first automatic chronographs. In 2019, TAG Heuer introduced a new in-house movement, the Heuer 02 which debuted in 2017, to the collection featuring a column-wheel mechanism with a vertical clutch, a power reserve of 80 hours and a small seconds sub dial at 6 o’clock. This design places the crown on the right side of the case. In contrast, the Calibre 11— named after the original movement and based on a Sellita— allows for the crown to be positioned on the left.
The strap is a classic black perforated calfskin—a subtle nod to the racing gloves of vintage Grand Prix drivers. Pricing is marked at CHF9,600 or approximately $11,560 when converted to USD.
Monaco Chronograph x Gulf
They say three is a charm and to make the Monaco trio complete, TAG Heuer introduces a new edition of the Monaco Chronograph x Gulf that channels the spirit of 1970s endurance racing and the cinematic cool of Steve McQueen’s iconic Le Mans performance. Limited to 971 pieces, it takes us back to 1971—to the release of the legendary movie, to the roar of race car engines, and to the legendary actor behind the wheel of the Porsche 917K in its white livery adorned with the Gulf stripes.
The latest edition remains faithful to its legacy while bringing fresh details and refined craftsmanship to the forefront. It is also powered by the Calibre 11, echoing the original’s movement architecture and maintaining the signature left-positioned crown.
The dial features a silver-grained texture overlaid with vertical Gulf racing stripes. The Gulf logo is placed beneath the hand set, while the vintage Heuer logo—reserved for special heritage models—sits proudly at 12.
The case, also water-resistant to 100 meters and sized at 39mm, is made from sandblasted grade 2 titanium, offering a matte finish that references the raw textures of race car workshops.
Perhaps the most compelling detail is the white Nomex strap—a flame-resistant textile used in professional racing suits. TAG Heuer sourced the material from Hinchman, the American manufacturer that produced the suits worn in the original filming of Le Mans, including McQueen’s own. This makes the strap not only a functional racing component but also a rare piece of film and motorsport history. The watch also includes an optional blue perforated calfskin strap for a more traditional look.
Pricing is marked at CHF9,300 or approximately $11,200 when converted to USD. As with the previous two releases, availability is scheduled for May 2025.
To learn more, visit TAG Heuer, here.
