For the second time this week, TAG Heuer has introduced a rather audacious Monaco. Yesterday we told you about the all new Air 1, a flagship of sorts that puts all of TAG’s resources to bear on a split second chronograph with no compromises. Today, TAG debuts a Monaco that’s a bit more accessible but no less specialized, a watch that is meant for F1 fans celebrating the unique experience of the circuit’s night races.
Even a casual F1 observer (I count myself in this category) can appreciate the spectacle of a night race. It’s a very different aesthetic experience than a race run during daylight hours, and the new limited edition Monaco seen here really leans into that night race vibe with some dramatic applications of color throughout. To start, it’s built on a 39mm titanium case that has been DLC coated, and given a skeletonized dial treatment that we’ve seen from a bunch of earlier Monaco limited editions at this point. Where this watch really sets itself apart though a gradient effect that is layered throughout the dial and unique lume application.
Multiple lume colors are employed to draw the eye to either the chronograph or time telling functions, depending use case. The chronograph totalizers at 3 and 9 are rendered in blue, with turquoise hands, while green glowing lume is found on the primary hour and minute hands. There’s also additional purple lume throughout the minute track, and the bridges themselves have been given a gradient effect that ranges from purple to dark blue. In short, there is a lot of color here, set against a dark backdrop, that does a nice job of evoking a nighttime scene.
One of my favorite details here is actually the caseback. It’s a sapphire display caseback, which is common enough, but it’s been given what TAG calls an “iridescent metalization” which gives the glass itself a gradient effect that is similar to what’s achieved on the dial. This is a nice bit of coherence in design and a cool technique that I’d love to see more brands experiment with. Adding color to the crystal itself is an underutilized technique, and I can certainly envision a variety of ways that designers could have a lot of fun adding layers of color across additional materials.
Underneath that rear crystal, you’ll find TAG’s TH20-00 caliber, an automatic chronograph movement with a column wheel and 80 hours of power reserve. This Monaco comes mounted on a black rubber/leather hybrid strap with purple stitching to match the dial. Like other Monacos, it has 100 meters of water resistance.
This limited edition Monaco chronograph will be made in a run of just 600 pieces. The retail price is set at $11,600. TAG Heuer
Zach Kazan
2025-11-20 20:00:00