TAG Heuer Monaco Titan Special Edition

The Monaco is one of the most recognizable watches from the 20th century. So iconic is its design that when one says “Heuer Monaco”, one immediately thinks of its square case and square sub-dials, a blue dial with touches of red, and maybe Steve McQueen sporting it with racing overalls.

It has since been reworked into many different iterations, from sleek black versions to bold and colorful collaborations. In 2021, to celebrate the return of the Formula 1 Grand Prix post-pandemic, Tag Heuer unveiled the Monaco Titan Special Edition — a cool, minimalist take on the classic racing watch.

Its silver sunray-brushed dial has a fascinating grainy texture that adds a plethora of tiny shifting highlights. Two rounded black square sub-dials for the running seconds at 3 and the 30-minute chronograph counter at 9 offer a striking contrast, while the bright red central seconds hand and the red index marker at 12 o’clock add a dash of color and pay homage to the colors of racing circuits.

Like all Monaco models, the date window is situated at 6 o’clock, and the hour and minute hands are treated with a center strip of Super-LumiNova similar to the dots sitting above the hour markers. A sapphire crystal with domed bevel shields both the dial and caseback from external elements.

Beady-eyed fans will also notice the eight horizontal indices set on the dial at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 o’clock – a characteristic that is present on the earliest Monaco models and, more recently, on the Monaco Caliber 11 Gulf 50th Anniversary.

The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan solidifies its racetrack credentials with a black alligator leather strap that bridges the gap between sporty and sophisticated. It has an almost rubbery feel that significantly tones down the rather formal material. Racing car tire groove patterns add interest, while a titanium folding clasp keeps the strap secure on the wrist.

The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan runs on an upgraded Caliber 11, which has been a part of the Swiss brand’s lineup for several years now. This movement is visible through the caseback and is based on a Sellita SW-300 automatic from 2011 with a Dubois-Depraz module for the chronograph functions.

The Caliber 11 also offers handsome finishing including a sharp rotor with two open-worked triangular portions and a tight perlage across the movement bridges and balance cock. Its power reserve sits at 40 hours at a 28,800 vibrations per hour beat rate.

While the original design of the Tag Heuer Monaco dates back to 1969, the Monaco Titan Special Edition transforms the iconic square watch into a modern statement piece. Explore our selection of Tag Heuer Monaco watches at SwissWatchExpo.com.