A deliciously candid video interview with the eldest dwelling a part of TAG Heuer’s legacy – Mr. Jack Heuer – performed for us at TAG Heuer’s 50th anniversary of Monaco watch celebration, in Monaco. In it, the origins of the Heuer Monaco watch identify have been revealed. A paraphrased account of a smiling Mr. Heuer’s sentiments: “Monte-Carlo as a reputation was taken however Monaco was obtainable and sounded nice. We agreed it will make for an excellent wristwatch identify.” You’d be forgiven for not figuring out this reality as a result of the Monaco watch is a historic fixture on this planet of racing chronographs and likewise occurs to be the official watch companion of the Monaco Grand Prix race.
Certainly, the Monaco watch and the Monaco race got here collectively harmoniously solely later of their lives and are actually celebrating marriage-style bliss. The truth is, TAG Heuer dad or mum firm LVMH and the area of France surrounding and together with the principality of Monaco have an extremely particular relationship. Why? Properly, Paris-based LVMH with its giant variety of trend-setting luxurious manufacturers sees itself as a middle of French high fashion tradition and status. The south of France alongside the coast occurs to be the nation’s heart of luxurious spending. There isn’t a higher place for LVMH and its manufacturers to mingle and blend with its purchasers and prospects than cultural occasions in Monaco. An important and big of those is the Monaco Grand Prix.
Now in its 90th 12 months (though there haven’t been 90 runnings) the Monaco Grand Prix is a particular observe within the Method 1 race sequence circuit. I perceive that Method 1 race vehicles are the most costly on this planet to construct and develop. They’re extremely highly effective and constructed for pace, acceleration, and dealing with on comparatively flat tracks. TAG Heuer has a product assortment known as the Method 1, however my emphasis right here is on the Monaco Grand Prix as a result of, in the intervening time, Rolex is definitely the present title sponsor of Method 1 (although it was as soon as Hublot, one other LVMH model).
I got here to Monaco for my first time this 12 months as a visitor of TAG Heuer to expertise the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix. TAG Heuer shouldn’t be solely the official timepiece of the Monaco Grand Prix occasion itself, nevertheless it additionally sponsors one of many racing groups, Crimson Bull Racing. In Method 1, every workforce has two drivers who every drive the race on the identical time. Most Method 1 racing groups have wristwatch sponsors, and presently TAG Heuer is joined by manufacturers akin to Richard Mille, Bell & Ross, Hublot, and IWC.
Classic Heuer Monaco watch on authentic bracelet.
Monaco is likely one of the world’s uncommon principalities, which implies it’s below royal management, presently dominated by Prince Albert. (Why he isn’t known as the king is past my data of the subject.) Monaco is just about equivalent, culturally, to surrounding France, with the notable exception of its tax and cash guidelines. Monaco doesn’t have revenue tax and likewise occurs to have the world’s highest per capita variety of millionaires (and, more and more, additionally billionaires). Monaco is a really small metropolis and, as a result of having a passport (together with no revenue tax) requires truly dwelling there, it has the most costly actual property on this planet.
Even TAG Heuer will admit that the Monaco watch first gained recognition when, by probability, it was chosen to be worn on the wrist of actor Steve McQueen within the film Le Mans. The Monaco watch was first launched in 1969 to debut an necessary new motion expertise from TAG Heuer, that being the Calibre 11 motion, which was each an computerized and a chronograph. In 1969, three corporations — Seiko, Zenith, and TAG Heuer — launched an computerized chronograph motion, so it’s laborious to say who was truly the primary. In the present day, TAG Heuer continues to supply what remains to be referred to as the Calibre 11 computerized chronograph in lots of (however not all) modern-day Monaco watches. Probably the most distinctive characteristic of the Calibre 11 motion is that the crown and pushers that function the chronograph are positioned on totally different sides of the case. Virtually talking, this has the impact of giving the Monaco watch extra potential to be visually recognized whereas being worn.
Monaco watch-spotting on the Monaco Grand Prix was spectacular. TAG Heuer’s invited friends introduced with them a dizzying array of the Monaco watches TAG Heuer has produced through the years. These embrace a few of the now very uncommon authentic Monaco watches, in addition to the nice number of fashionable variations that embrace each forward-thinking futuristic Monaco watches and vintage-style remakes. What hasn’t modified a lot through the years is the form of the Monaco case (although there are totally different sizes), which continues to be a basic.
Sq.-shaped watches are laborious to get proper, and there are only a few well-known sq. sport watches. What makes the 39mm-wide Monaco case so good is that it combines proper angles and curves. It isn’t a wonderfully sq. watch, though it has a sq. form. The case additionally has a really attention-grabbing approach of integrating the sapphire crystal with the case when it comes to the faceted sides of the crystal. Adore it or hate it, most watch lovers agree that carrying a Monaco says one thing very daring in regards to the wearer.
TAG Heuer likes to consider the Monaco watch-wearer as somebody akin to the picture of Steve McQueen — hip, a insurgent, and extra desirous about standing out than mixing in. Does that outline the everyday Monaco wearer? The design of the watch is elegant however actually totally different. One must be snug with the eye that carrying one thing totally different and daring will get you. The Monaco shouldn’t be a brash watch within the scheme of daring watches however it’s noticeably avant-garde.
Collector expectations of what TAG Heuer would do for the 50th anniversary of the gathering have been excessive. Particularly within the context of a market during which 50th anniversaries for lots of watches come and go with out a lot fanfare or spectacle as of late. Some individuals needed TAG Heuer to completely redesign the Monaco, and others needed to see much more staunch celebrations of the timepiece’s historical past, versus its future. TAG Heuer selected an attention-grabbing center highway.
To have fun 50 years of Monaco TAG Heuer determined to carve up the 50 years into five-decade-long chunks. Every decade would get its personal limited-edition watch impressed by the visuals of that period. Solely one of many 5 limited-edition 50th anniversary Monaco watches was introduced on the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix. The watch is called the Heuer Monaco 1969-1979 Restricted Version and it’s typified by a metallic olive-green dial produced with vertical Côtes de Geneve-style ornament stripes. aBlogtoWatch went hands-on with the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969-1979 Restricted Version watch right here with extra particulars, photos, and backstory.
Was there a celebration in Monaco? You wager. TAG Heuer selected the Monaco Grand Prix as the perfect time to have an elaborate LVMH-style celebration full with model ambassador friends, necessary associates of the model, and naturally aBlogtoWatch to signify the up to date watch-collector neighborhood. The late 1960s and early 1970s-themed celebration was a good way to ring within the new Monaco and assist have fun one in all TAG Heuer’s most cherished collections. The stylish music and light-filled nights of Monaco are contrasted by the race days, that are typified by the scream of high-revolution engines and the smells of octane quickly incinerating.
The Monaco Grand Prix race itself, just like the Monaco area, has particular guidelines that apply solely to it. The areas’ rulers have a deep reference to racing tradition themselves and, due to this, the Monaco Grand Prix is likely one of the most tightly curated and tweaked circuits, with modifications to every subsequent version. The race can also be some of the dramatic, being an exceptionally tough course (so many turns) in addition to operating straight by the town and alongside the yacht-crowded marina. There aren’t too many different locations the place you’ll be able to expertise the sights and sounds of Method 1 from the consolation of your individual boat.
Having an expertise in Monaco whereas carrying a Monaco is a pairing I like to recommend to all watch collectors. One thing in regards to the design and quirky character of the Monaco lends itself effectively to free spirits and quick riders. Monaco is likely one of the world’s finest locations to point out off your watch and, provided that it shares a reputation with one in all TAG Heuer’s best watches, there is no such thing as a excuse to not mix the 2. You don’t have to faux to be Mr. McQueen if you wish to think about the character you’ll be able to anticipate from a TAG Heuer Monaco. For me, it’s a watch about open-ended potentialities and taking dangers. It’s the anti-conservative luxurious sport watch, although, in all respects, it satisfies what a luxurious watch truly is as we speak. The Monaco is among the many few “large model” watches that also has a really adventurous, entrepreneurial spirit. I sit up for what TAG Heuer does with the Monaco subsequent and hope I get to expertise it in Monaco as soon as once more. Study extra on the TAG Heuer web site right here.
