Straight from Watches and Wonders 2024, we present the newest addition to the Tag Heuer house. It is the unprecedented and stunning Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph that packs a fusion of tradition and innovation inside.

Let us now go on to find out the details within this article.

Tag Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph

Lately the Swiss maison had accustomed us to the launch of literally knockout models with increasingly interesting complications. We need only think of the recent Carrera Chronosprint inside which is encased a completely unusual chronograph with a seconds hand that can accelerate and decelerate during the chronograph minute.

This time, however, the La Chaux-de-Fonds-based house decided to break the mold and go one step higher still with its reinterpretation of an icon, not only of its own brand, but of the entire watchmaking world.

Indeed, we welcome the new Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, that is, a totally innovative version, both technically and in design, of a watch that represents a fundamental piece of watchmaking history.

Created in 1969 with its distinctive square shape, left crown and blue dial, the Monaco boasts the fact that it was the first square wristwatch with a water-resistant chronograph. Today, to celebrate the model’s 55th anniversary, Tag Heuer has decided to take the Monaco’s chronograph complication to the next level by equipping it with a split-seconds function, also known as a “split-seconds.”

This amazing watch has been declined in two different versions, one with red color accents, recalling the spirit of motor racing, and one with blue color accents, recalling the colors of the first Monaco. The result is inescapable, one cannot help but be amazed.

The first thing one notices, is the reduced weight of this futuristically designed watch, which combines materials such as grade 5 titanium together with sapphire, making the scale stop at only 85 grams. Inside the 41 mm diameter titanium case, protected by a sapphire crystal, we find the dial made of the same material which allows a glimpse of a front of the caliber that animates this crazy watch.

At 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock, on the other hand, are positioned the iconic square chronograph counters, which have always distinguished the Monaco and which, in this case, bear the words “chronograph” and “rattrapante” to emphasize the complication enclosed within. At 6 o’clock, on the other hand, is placed very discreetly, almost merging into one with the movement, the continuous seconds counter. In perfect contrast to the color of titanium, present on most of the watch, we find red and blue accents on the dial elements obtained by a process of anodizing.

Turning instead to the buttons located on the case and, consequently, the incredible function that this brand new watch packs inside, we find at 2 and 4 o’clock the traditional start/stop and reset chronograph pivot buttons.

At 3 o’clock, however, is the crown for setting the hours and minutes. At 9 o’clock, where the crown was located on the very first Monaco, we find instead the pusher for the rattrapante function. Once the chronograph has been started, using the pusher located at 1 o’clock, going to press the pusher at 9 o’clock will enable the rattrapante function, which will split the central chronograph seconds hand.

This is a highly sophisticated and complex mechanism that required the skill of expert watchmakers to fine-tune.

Thanks to this function, the watch is able to simultaneously measure two distinct time intervals such as, say, a couple of laps on a race car track. Bringing this incredible timepiece from the house of Chaux-de-Fonds to life, we find the brand-new in-house, self-winding caliber TH81-00.

Visible through the case back made internally of sapphire crystal, this movement features stunning finishes as well as truly unique technical features. Made entirely of titanium in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this is one of the lightest automatic chronograph movements ever created by TAG Heuer. The oscillating weight, molded with TAG Heuer’s iconic shield shape, features a brushed finish.

Finally, on the central movement bridge, TAG Heuer’s iconic checkerboard pattern stands out, perfectly matching the finely brushed balance bridge as well as the sandblasted surfaces and polished screws. Complemented by a hand-sewn calfskin strap, both watches are individually numbered above the oscillating weight.

Available from June 2024, the list price of the new Tag Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is CHF 135,000, corresponding to about EUR 138,000.

Final Thoughts

With these new Monacos, Tag Heuer, once again, has decided to push its own limits and break the traditional stylistic canons of a watch, which today becomes even more complicated and complements an already rich catalog of different versions of the model.

With the new Monaco Chronograph Rattrapante, we are sure that the message of the maison is clear and precise, to offer its customers the possibility of having a sports watch of the highest quality, an expression of the highest horological savoir-faire.

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