Jewellery & Watch News
The new pink skeleton version of the TAG Heuer Monaco watch is inspired by the bright and lively Las Vegas strip and was released in time to mark the Las Vegas F1 event, where it was seen styled on the wrist of Max Verstappen. Pushing the limits of performance, its flamboyant pink accents deliver precise timekeeping for 80 hours whilst away from the wrist, proving to be a design that is rich in mechanical virtue. Before we jump into its spec list, let’s look at the story of the Monaco and where it evolved from.
The story of where this pink chronograph originates from is the tale of the sporty TAG Heuer Monaco – an icon amongst TAG fanatics, motorsport enthusiasts, and chronograph collectors alike. It is true that Jack Heuer did not conceptualise the Monaco as an icon. Moreover, it evolved into a coveted timepiece soon after, and within time became one of the world’s most recognisable sports watches. The birth of the Monaco in 1969 signified the introduction of the brand’s square-shaped watch. It was powered by a revolutionary movement and came integrated with 100 meters of water resistance, making it a reliable everyday watch with bucketloads of style. The Calibre 11 marked a significant milestone in TAG Heuer’s history. It was part of “Project 99” in which TAG, Breitling and Hamilton all collaborated to create a formidable movement during a fiercely competitive time. The likes of Seiko and Zenith were reaching the point of launch for their own automatic chronograph too, forcing Jack Heuer to go one better. Together with Eric Piquerez, he launched the Monaco, which made more of an impact than simply equipping it to the heart of the already popular Autavia or Carrera. This way, the Calibre 11 would always be remembered as it marked the first chapter of the legendary Monaco watch.
The Monaco soon rose to fame having been styled on the wrist of Steve McQueen in the film “Le Mans” in 1971. But another clever decision made by Jack Heuer gave the Monaco more leverage. The company established a commercial deal with F1 driver Jo Siffert, cementing the brand’s links with the motorsport world and becoming the brand’s first ambassador. Many collectors of the Monaco would agree that this special sports watch has aged particularly well. Some would even argue its design has improved with age. Back in 2009, TAG Heuer marked the Monaco watch’s 40th anniversary with a 100-piece limited edition model in the popular McQueen colour scheme (blue dial and white sub-counters). The 38mm reference with a left-sided crown bore some very subtle changes to the dial. Aside from those modifications, however, the Monaco has stayed the same since then, albeit with different dial options offered and the addition of the see-through caseback.
The New Monaco Pink Skeleton Watch
The latest addition to the TAG Heuer Monaco watch collection is the stealthy Pink Skeleton Watch, clad in a sleek black DLC-coated titanium for a lightweight finish on the wrist. The top of the case is fitted with a piece of anti-glare sapphire crystal glass to match the see-through caseback, which affords a clear view into the mechanical performance of the Calibre 02, complete with exquisite decoration in the form of black skeletonised bridges. The use of the black-coated titanium case is an unusual one for the brand, yet the core design features of the Monaco stay perfectly intact. The real head-turner, however, is the bold use of neon pink in the chronograph sub-dials and the slim stick hour markers. Despite being such an unusual and unexpected choice of colour, TAG Heuer experts use the pink sparingly and tastefully so as not to throw the watch overboard into tacky territory. Instead, the clever use of pink is used to bring out the sub-dial and finer features of the dial, serving as a distinguisher between the surface of the display and what lies underneath. Being a skeleton watch, the Pink Monaco model donates a sense of depth and detail to the wrist, enabling the eye to venture further into the heart of the case when admiring the workings of the Heuer 02. This is a mechanical calibre that performs with an impressive 80 hours of power reserve once fully wound. Suffice to say, if you wanted to alternate this watch with another TAG Heuer favourite over the course of a weekend, you could do so. The engine will keep perfect time for you while away from the wrist, constituting a great weekend watch.
Comfort-wise, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Pink Skeleton Watch is fitted on a black leather band with tone-on-tone stitching running along the sides and an engraved TAG Heuer folding clasp. The underlayer of the leather strap is crafted from rubber for added comfort. Simultaneously, the rubber layer prevents the watch from sliding whilst on the wrist and makes for a great finishing touch to the titanium case’s black-coated finish.
Back to the dial and legibility is the priority here. While the neon pink accents add a head-turning pop to the wrist, the hands and hour markers are treated with Super-LumiNova for legibility, affording a clear and crisp view into the critical details of the dial by night. This is a bold and daring addition of the Monaco to own. The colour scheme is unusual and sure to make for a great conversation starter. Because the pink and black chronograph is such a unique design, it strays away from the classic chronograph, but only slightly. For the best part, its design is easy to identify and full, from lug to lug, with contemporary, playful charm.
Should you wish to learn more about the TAG Heuer Monaco Pink Skeleton dial you can email us a question at C W Sellors on sales@cwsellors.com, or call us and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 216004.
