TAG Heuer has given its 52-year-old Monaco a fresh new look with a sand-blasted titanium case ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The Monaco’s square case has been made of titanium several times in the past, most notably for its long-since shelved haute horlogerie Monaco V4, but here the lightweight, Grade 2 titanium receives a textured, sand-blasted finish, offering a new take on an old classic.

When it dropped in 1969, the Monaco was one of the first automatic chronographs in the world and the first watch to offer a square water resistant case, making it an avant garde alternative to the more popular Carrera and Autavia models it launched alongside. Jack Heuer, the legendary boss of Heuer, named the watch after what was, and arguably still is, the most glamorous of all Grand Prix races.

The 39mm Titan features a silvered Panda dial featuring a heritage Heuer logo and black small seconds and 30-minute chronograph counter sub dials at the three and nine o’clock positions, respectively, while the central chronograph seconds hand and the 12 o’clock hour marker are highlighted in a dark red.

The Tag Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition is out now as a 500-piece limited edition, exclusively via Replica TAG Heuer, priced $200 USD.

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On the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix, 20-23 May, one of the most prestigious event of the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, TAG Heuer is presenting a new and exclusive special edition of its iconic chronograph named after the legendary race (you can read the complete history of the Monaco here).

Limited to just 500 pieces, the new Monaco Titan Special Edition comes in Grade 2 titanium, an exceptionally light yet tough material here with a sandblasted finish.

The distinctive 39 mm x 39 mm square case is characterized by angled chronograph buttons on the right side and the crown on the left – an unconventional feature that has distinguished the Monaco over the past 50 years. When the watch was originally introduced, the crown was positioned on the left to remark that the watch did not need winding thanks to its automatic movement.

The domed, bevelled sapphire crystal protects a silver-coloured, sunray-brushed dial with contrasting and perfectly readable black sub-dials. Just like in the original Monaco from 1969, the hour markers are flat silver strips with bevelled edges. The hour and minute hands are filled with with Super-LumiNova to ensure readability even in poor light conditions.

A bright red colour is used for the central hand and the index marker at 12 o’clock to enhance the sporty character of the timepiece.

The watch is equipped with a modern version of the famous Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement which debuted in the original 1969 Monaco. Visible through the sapphire crystal porthole of the caseback, this celebrated movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and guarantees a 40-hour power reserve.

Matched to a black alligator leather strap with a Grade 2 titanium folding clasp with double safety push buttons and water resistant to 100 metres / 330 feet, the TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition ref. CAW218B.FC6496 will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques and online shop from 21 May 2021