Tag Heuer Monaco 40th anniversary Re-edition

Time heals all wounds. Basel 2009 is over, but we still have plenty of watches left to cover. Even in these trying economic times so many new excellent watches are being released. It is just a reminder that, life will go on, an no matter how bad things seem now, the situation is temporary.

1969. The TAG Heuer Monaco was launched simultaneously in Geneva and New York on March 3rd, 1969. The watch was striking with its square-cased Avant-Garde design. The watch was named after a racetrack, but its racing spirit was more than just in name. In the same year, Jo Siffert Swiss racecar legend, was sponsored by the watch company Heuer. Siffert was the first-ever driver sponsored by a watch brand. After seeing the watch on the wrist of Siffert, acting legend Steve McQueen decided to wear that watch in the 1971 movie Le Mans. The watch made it from the racetrack to the big screen, and made it one of the most iconic watches of its day.

It was not just the racetrack and the silver screen that made the Monaco iconic. Powering the watch is Tag Heuer's Calibre 11 self winding movement. This made the Monaco the first commercially available watch with an automatic powered chronograph movement.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the watch TAG Heuer has released another limited edition Monaco watch.


Tag Heuer Monaco 40th anniversary Re-edition. The Tag Heuer Monaco 40th Anniversary has the blue dial and red themed hands of the watch worn by Steve McQueen. The watch is a chronograph with a date function. The date is displayed at the window at the 6 o'clock position. A subdial at the 3 o'clock position displays continuous seconds while the one at the 9 o'clock position is used in conjunction with the chronograph function as a 30 minute timer.

The case itself is small by contemporary standards with a 38mm case diameter. This is refreshing in a world of watches which seem to be growing larger by the year.

The Tag Heuer Monaco 40th Anniversary is powered by the Tag Heuer Calibre 11 self winding movement that powered this watch when it was originally released. Other Tag Heuer Monaco watches now use the Calibre 17 movement. The use of the Tag Heuer Calibre 11 movement makes this watch rare. The fact that only 1,000 of them will be built also guarantees its collector status.

About TAG Heuer. TAG Heuer is a Swiss watch company founded by Edouard Heuer who founded a watchmaking company in 1860. TAG Heuer concentrates on chronographs with some less expensive models in each line lacking chronograph features. The lines include Formula One, Aquaracer, Link, Carrera, Monaco, and others.