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INTRODUCING: The new TAG Heuer Monaco Titan is a future-proof vision of a stone-cold classic INTRODUCING: The new TAG Heuer Monaco Titan is a future-proof vision of a stone-cold classic

INTRODUCING: The new TAG Heuer Monaco Titan is a future-proof vision of a stone-cold classic

Thor Svaboe

As a motorsport fan with a predilection for vintage-inspired wristwear, I’ll freely admit that the original fresh blue Heuer Monaco might just be my favourite square piece of horology. It’s cushion-softened steel ingot evocative of a different age, exuding glamour, petrol fumes and an oil-stained Steve McQueen in racing overalls. The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan aces this vibe while also being a retro-tinted vision of the future.

Sure, I got the hots for last year’s deep cherry red Monaco Grand Prix Historique edition, but this time we are invited to take the venerable Monaco with us to a cool, minimalist future. This is a special edition that transforms the feel of the famous square, while still keeping the vintage feel in a shrewd move by TAG Heuer.

TAG Heuer Monaco Titan

But first impressions here are pure 2021, even with the solid dose of history within the case, opening the Monaco up to a new demographic. In a sandblasted Grade 2 titanium case, we get the impression of an almost raw beauty, and the soft tactility that brushed steel lacks. The quiet elegance of the Monaco Titan is matched by it’s reduced weight, imbuing the quite perfect 39 x 39mm case with a new lease of life. And with its cool tones, we have a veritable chameleon that will work just as well with denim as pin-striped wool, the discreet feel on the wrist more than made up by its visual presence.

TAG Heuer Monaco Titan

The cushion-esque square case has very short lugs, ensuring a sleek comfort, while the bezel-less dial with its boxed and pronounced crystal will make a strong visual imprint on your wrist-roll shots. 

TAG Heuer Monaco Titan

The slab-like design of the sapphire crystal is one of my favourite aspects of any Monaco, and here the reflections in the bevelled side makes a discernible contrast against the soft feel of the matte titanium, with two small colour-pops pulling us into the world of square silver dial architecture. The recognisably horizontal hour indices are applied, orbiting satellites outside the circular minute track with its Super-Luminova dots matching the fresh white inlays in the sword hands.

In its pure monochrome silver sun-ray finish, the dial is a smooth match to the grey softness of the case, its tonality being graphically challenged by a measured touch of lacquer red. A red centre stripe in the double baton-sharp 12 o’clock indice makes itself known as the chronograph seconds hand gets to work sweeping across the icy cool dial, its visual weight balancing the sixties date window at six. Twin registers are how I like my chronos, and the Monaco does it well, with soft squares for running seconds and the chronograph minute counter recessed at three and nine.

TAG Heuer Monaco Titan

While the registers are here for a reason, whether it be measuring a fast lap, a run or something far more mundane, the graphic impact of the square panda dial is a graphic designer’s delight, and creates a lot of life without the need for flashy colours, and they are eminently readable.

TAG Heuer Monaco Titan

Residing under the round sapphire crystal case-back porthole, is the latest version of the famous Calibre 11. If you’re a fan, you’ll recognise this as the latest version of the original movement, an easy 28,800vph and a shorter 40 hour power reserve than we’re used to. But this is more than made up by the historical significance of this being based on one of the first automatic chronograph movements from the late sixties. You could argue that this futuristic sand-blasted shape should have the new Heuer 02 movement with its small seconds at 6 like the delicious green fume version here, but I say no. Why? The self-winding Calibre 11 movement makes the TAG Heuer Monaco Titan complete, even a full circle of sorts (or should that be a full square), combining the contemporary twist of tactile titanium with a historical heart.

The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan special edition, price and availability:

The TAG Heuer Monaco Titan is limited to 500, with a price of AUD$11,400 on a leather strap. For more details, visit TAG Heuer right here.

Made in partnership with TAG Heuer. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.