The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Skeleton transcends time periods for the Monaco Grand Prix

Buffy Acacia

• The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph blends influences from the ’60s, ’80s, and ’00s for its navy and yellow colour scheme.
• Its release coincides with the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, finding a home on the wrist of Max Verstappen.
• It’s powered by the Heuer 02 automatic chronograph with an 80-hour power reserve.

In terms of associations with motorsport, TAG Heuer is about as far ahead as Max Verstappen was by the end of the 2023 Championship. There’s no competition, and the fact that TAG Heuer sponsors the most historic and legendary event of the racing season speaks volumes about its prowess. Now, just in time for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph has received a new skeletonised reference in attention-grabbing black and navy blue.

TAG Heuer skeletonised the famous Monaco for the first time last year, bringing the ’60s-flavoured chronograph into a Tron-like future with rigid lines and high-tech adrenaline. The version with a black DLC case and turquoise highlights specifically had a 1980s neon-fuelled quality which this new model echoes, but here the effect is tamed just a little bit. The darker shade of blue on the skeletonised dial and the textile-like rubber strap pay homage to the Côte d’Azur upon which Monaco sits. The new Monaco Skeleton is practically an instrument for time travel in that sense, drawing a line all the way from Monaco’s first Grand Prix in 1929, through to the introduction of the first Monaco watch in 1969, then to the ’80s with its retro-futurism. There’s also a hint of the early 2000s about it, with the bright yellow hands reminiscent of the old Renault Mild Seven liveries.

The case itself is bulky yet form-fitting, with the black DLC treatment helping to lower its visual impact. The diameter is only 39mm, however square watches always wear larger than their round counterparts. The lug-to-lug length is a modest 47.4mm thanks to clipped, blocky lugs, and the thickness does sit pretty chunky at 15.2mm including the beveled and domed sapphire crystal. This case is actually made out of grade 2 titanium, which is a bit softer than grade 5, but that weakness is made redundant by the application of the scratch-resistant DLC. You still receive the benefits of its lightweight qualities, which make the watch a breeze to wear. Combined with the rubber strap, it can be surreal to wear such a strong-looking watch that weighs so little. It’s water resistant to 100 metres, so it can handle a celebratory swan dive in a pool – proper Monaco-style – but be mindful not to hit any of the pushers while wet.

Visible through the sapphire caseback is the TAG Heuer in-house calibre Heuer 02. It has become the brand’s go-to movement for time-and-date chronographs, and boasts such healthy specifications as an 80-hour power reserve and a reliable 4Hz beat rate for a smooth-sweeping seconds hand. The column-wheel which actuates the chronograph is a point of pride for the Heuer 02, so it has been given a bright yellow coating for easy identification when viewed from behind. The skeletonised winding rotor is also coated with black DLC and contrasting yellow text above the movement which has a neat application of côtes de Genève decoration.

TAG Heuer Monaco Skeleton 2024 pricing and availability

The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph with its skeletonised blue and yellow dial is now available from TAG Heuer boutiques and retailers. Price: US$11,250

Brand	TAG Heuer
Model	Monaco Chronograph
Reference	CBL2188.FT6261
Case Dimensions	39mm (D) x 15.2mm (H) x 47.4mm (LTL)
Case Material	Grade 2 titanium with black DLC coating
Water Resistance	100 metres
Crystal(s)	Sapphire front and back
Dial	Skeletonised with navy blue and yellow highlights
Bracelet	Navy blue beads-of-rice rubber strap
Movement	Heuer 02, in-house, automatic, column wheel chronograph
Power Reserve	80 hours
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
Availability	Available now
Price	US$11,250