The introduction of the Heuer Monaco was one of the several major events in watches that occurred in 1969. In time for this anniversary and to coincide with the 77th Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race that gave the motorsport-themed watch its name, a new iteration of the Monaco has been released — with a green dial and striking pops of color, the “1969–1979” limited edition is the first of several watches that will celebrate the Monaco’s anniversary this year.
The Monaco was a big deal in 1969 for several reasons: Most notably, it introduced (along with Zenith and Seiko in the same year) one of the first automatic chronograph movements with the legendary “Chronomatic” Calibre 11. Confusingly, TAG Heuer has chosen to also name the modern movement inside this model “Calibre 11,” though it is based on a Sellita SW 300 movement. However, the sourced movement has been significantly modified to recreate a similar layout to the 1969 Monaco, with pushers on the right and crown on the left.
The 1969 Monaco was also notable for its water-resistance, since this presents a specific challenge for square-shaped watches, and the new TAG Heuer Monaco 1969–1979 limited edition features a respectable water-resistance of 100m. It is sized one millimeter larger than the original, at 39mm wide, and although square watches tend to wear larger, this should provide an authentic feel for the nostalgic modern wearer.
As mentioned, the new TAG Heuer Monaco 1969–1979 limited edition is the first of five watches to be released this year, each highlighting a particular decade in the history of the Monaco. The watch’s green dial with Geneva-striped finish and sporty highlights is pretty representative of designs from the time following the Monaco’s 1969 release, but the name makes it explicit on the engraved case back. Limited to just 169 examples, the TAG Heuer Monaco 1969–1979 has a price $6,550.
Gear Patrol also recommends:
Oris Chronoris Watch ($3,550)
Bell & Ross BR 03-94 Chronograph Watch ($5,300)
Omega Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch ($5,350)
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