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INTRODUCING: The Hour Glass celebrates its 40th with an awesome TAG Heuer Monaco LE INTRODUCING: The Hour Glass celebrates its 40th with an awesome TAG Heuer Monaco LE

INTRODUCING: The Hour Glass celebrates its 40th with an awesome TAG Heuer Monaco LE

Felix Scholz

A few months ago we introduced you to the first in a series of limited edition watches made to celebrate The Hour Glass’s 40th anniversary. Well, we’ve just had a look at the latest in the series, which takes the form of a TAG Heuer Monaco. Now, if this were any other watch it would run the risk of being a touch underwhelming, what with all the 50 years of Monaco celebratory LEs getting dropped this year. But you know what, I don’t think this ‘TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Special Edition’ (to give it its formal, boring name) needs to be too concerned, Mostly because it’s freaking stunning. 

The Hour Glass 40 TAG Heuer Monaco LE

The case evokes the iconic ‘Dark Lord’ Monacos (one of the earliest black-coated watches), with its PVD coating — including all the pushers. But this is no mere phantom execution (that might have worked for The Hour Glass’s Tempus celebrations back in 2007, but times — and tastes —  have changed). No, the dial here is an opaline beige, and the sandy tones play oh-so-nicely with the dark case, and even more nicely with the red Super-LumiNova dial details. The lack of applied hour markers makes the whole situation a little cleaner, except for that somewhat unusual ‘12’ marker. 

The Hour Glass 40 TAG Heuer Monaco LE

To my mind, this is one of the most interesting Monaco versions I’ve seen in some time, and I don’t think I’ll be alone. The good news is the watch is available from September. The bad? It’s limited to 50 pieces. 

The Hour Glass 40 TAG Heuer Monaco LE

TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Special Edition for The Hour Glass price

TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Special Edition for The Hour Glass, limited to 50 pieces, $8900 AUD