Just unveiled at LVMH Watch Week in Singapore, the TAG Heuer Monza returns in a contemporary tribute to the indelible link between the company and competition motorsport. In 1976 the original Heuer Monza was introduced to celebrate Niki Lauda’s historic 1975 victory in the F1 World Championship. After difficult years for the team, which had not been victorious since 1964, the 1975 win was incredibly meaningful and Jack Heuer marked the achievement with a watch no less remarkable, the Heuer Monza.
Interestingly the model was originally meant to be called the Modena after the hometown of Ferrari but the strength of the name of Italy’s premier racing circuit was soon realized. The choice of the name was indicative of the brand’s deep love for motorsport, paying homage to the fastest F1 track in the world, an iconic location whose high-speed turns such as the legendary Parabolica in the shadows of the original banked track, have stood the test of time, remaining a career-defining race for even the most experienced drivers for more than 100 years now.
The Heuer Monza authentically expressed this fierceness, it was one of the first black-coated watches of the era; the first reference 150.501 was powered by the Calibre 15 with its signature running second at 10 o’clock, and it was later complemented with a version powered by the Calibre 12 thanks to its resounding success.
Revived in the early 2000s and reintroduced occasionally since then. The 2023 edition is therefore an exciting launch that will delight collectors and fans of the rarely-seen yet highly sought-after design.
“We are delighted to reintroduce the TAG Heuer Monza, one of our most important designs that holds such rich emotional and historic motorsport heritage” says Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer, “The 2023 TAG Heuer Monza is a very special reinterpretation of its famed ancestor, in which its unmistakable racing spirit comes alive in a bold and resolutely modern way, showcasing TAG Heuer’s most advanced expertise in dial design and performance timekeeping.”
Things to Know About the Watch
The new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer is a special edition with a 42 mm carbon case that is ultra-lightweight and resistant. The crown and pushers are made of black DLC steel, while the screw-down case back is made of black PVD titanium. Its striking black dial features a two-register layout with a translucent fumé blue sapphire crystal chronograph counter at 3, running seconds at 6 o’clock and date aperture at 9 o’clock for a very unique look.
The unique skeletonized dial reveals the movement underneath and echoes the piece’s mechanical roots. At 9 o’clock, the date window is in blue luminescent, a first for TAG Heuer, and the blue lacquered indexes and black and white lacquered hours and minutes hands are applied with SuperLumiNova for optimal legibility in low light.
Delivering high precision and high-performance timekeeping the TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer is powered by the in-house Calibre Heuer 02 Flyback, a chronograph movement with COSC certification. The notable advantage of a flyback function is the ability to reset the chronograph without stopping it, using the black DLC steel pushbuttons. Such a feature was only available on the TAG Heuer Autavia in the contemporary collection until now and allows for even faster and more accurate timekeeping.
The watch offers three functions that are essential to a racing driver in action: a chronograph, a tachymeter scale that indicates average speed for a 1-kilometer or 1-mile distance, measured using the indicator on the black flange, as well as a pulsometer, which helps determine one’s heart rate per minute. This function is used based on the blue line in the top right quadrant of the dial which is calibrated to 15 heartbeats per minute. The user launches the chronograph and counts 15 heartbeats, obtaining his personal read when stopping the chronograph. The pulsometer offers a range of 60 to 200 beats per minute.
Red details, on the dial such as the sub-counter hands and the framing of the date window, evoke exhilarating speed and racing hearts. They contrast elegantly against the black dial and case and the bright blue indexes, seconds hand, and stitching on the custom textile strap.
The new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer Carbon is a collector’s piece in a special edition but with no limitation and is available from January 2023. The chronograph is presented in special packaging and will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques, on the brand’s e-commerce websites, and in selected retail stores.
Sticker Price $13,850 USD. For more info on TAG Heuer click here.
