In 1969 the world of Swiss watchmaking experienced a mini-revolution: it was the first time any individual had witnessed a chronograph by using a square case, and it was waterproof to boot. Its title was the Heuer Monaco. With its major square case, uncompromising corners, metallic blue dial, bright red direct-drive seconds hand and domed plastic crystal, not forgetting its popular left-mounted crown, this daring style and design shattered the aesthetic codes of traditionalbuy longines watchescreating. At its heart beat the Chronomatic Calibre 11, the very first automated chronograph movement to go on sale inside the history of watchmaking.

TAG Heuer Monaco 1969: the birth of an icon

The Heuer Monaco did not really consider off until one particular year after its launch, when Steve McQueen, among essentially the most charismatic actors of your time, decided to wear it whilst shooting the film Le Mans, which came out in 1971. To the star's wrist the Monaco rapidly acquired iconic status and joined the pantheon of legendarytudor watches replica. Above the years TAG Heuer has continued to bring out new versions. The timepiece would see its case size reduced, its sharpest angles reworked, the authentic plexiglas crystal replaced by sapphire, its movement updated as well as historic Calibre 11 replaced. By way of these variants the Monaco has nevertheless remained faithful to the unique 1969 model, continuing to exude a passion for motor racing and TAG Heuer's avant-garde spirit.

The Monaco and its movements

A quantity of unique Swiss Made calibres drive the current Monaco models, but three are worthy of note. The calibre six is really a three-hand automated motion supplying hour, minute, smaller seconds and windowed calendar functions. The Calibre 12, an automatic chronograph movement, can measure occasions as much as 12 hours using a precision of 1/8 second. It's easy to implement and has a quantity of functions which have been practical for both high-performance sport and everyday lifestyle, this kind of as measuring both elapsed time and split time. The latest calibre to date may be the number 11. Primarily based over the Sellita SW300 that has a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module, this motion drives the Monaco Chronograph Calibre 11, a reworking on the TAG Heuer Monaco of 1969, unveiled just a couple of months in the past.

Monaco V4: a revolutionary concept

The following step in the evolution with the iconic Monaco, the V4 concept watch, created a stir when it was unveiled at Baselworld in 2004. The V4 title of your model comes in the V-shaped plate that carries the four barrels, which are series-mounted on ball-bearings. Set at a 13?? angle, they resemble the cylinders of the Formula 1 car or truck engine. With its belt drive and linear mass that moves along a straight rail rather than rotating within the usual way, the Monaco V4 also symbolises TAG Heuer's commitment to innovation. Right after 5 years' research, the engineers' drawings were finally translated into a finished product. In 2009, for its 150th anniversary, TAG Heuer unveiled the Monaco V4, that's readily available today within a amount of versions.

Monaco Chronograph Calibre 11: a legend reborn

On the end of 2015 TAG Heuer presented a brand new interpretation of its legendary square automatic chronograph with metallic blue dial. Faithfully inspired through the tissot watches for saleworn by Steve McQueen in the 1971 movie Le Mans, the Monaco Chronograph Calibre 11 is usually a direct descendant with the 1969 unique: 39 mm square situation, petrol blue dial with two white counters, vintage Heuer brand and crown at 9 o'clock. The new interpretation differs from its predecessor in that it sports rectangular chronograph pushers and a operating seconds sub-dial at 3 o'clock.