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TAG Heuer brings the Monaco closer than ever to its 1969 roots, refining the iconic square chronograph with sharper vintage-inspired details. Now backed by the new TH20-11 movement, this latest generation of the Monaco proves that it can still feel fresh, relevant, and built for today.

TAG Heuer is going back to the drawing board with this one, giving the Monaco some subtle tweaks to create a more contemporary design while at the same time showcasing its roots. It has been more than half a century since the Monaco first debuted in 1969. Its introduction to the watch industry marked a pivotal moment, not only for TAG Heuer but also for a number of other Swiss brands, as the Monaco carried with it the infamous Calibre 11, a chronograph movement co-developed by TAG Heuer, Breitling, and Dubois-Dépraz.

The Monaco served as the perfect platform for TAG Heuer’s avant-garde creations, with the timepiece’s birth being one of pure innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. Throughout TAG Heuer’s watchmaking history, the Monaco has always made a powerful statement. While it may initially have taken some time for the general public to fall in love with such a bold design, it gradually gained popularity, even being featured in pop culture films and on the wrists of racing drivers, further emphasising the timepiece’s importance to TAG Heuer.

The Legacy Of Iconic Watch Designs: TAG Heuer Monaco

The TAG Heuer Monaco represented a pivotal shift in both watchmaking design and movement innovation. In the mid-1960s, there was a race between different manufacturers to see who could come up with the first automatic chronograph movement. While Zenith was the first to achieve this feat with the El Primero movement and its impressive 5 Hz beat rate, TAG Heuer delivered a solution that could be more easily put into mass production.

For this innovative movement, TAG Heuer didn’t want to simply create a traditional timepiece to house the calibre. Instead, it had to be something bold and just as innovative as the engine sitting inside, and this is exactly what the Monaco achieved by becoming the first square-shaped chronograph design with an automatic movement. With such an impressive history, it only makes sense that TAG Heuer revisit one of the most iconic creations in the brand’s history and bring it forward once again into contemporary watchmaking.

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“Drawing inspiration from the original reference 1133 launched more than 50 years ago, this new generation enhances the TAG Heuer Monaco’s signature shape with dynamic lines, offering improved ergonomics while reinforcing its contemporary character.”
TAG Heuer on the new generation of Monaco’s

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When the TAG Heuer Monaco was first unveiled in 1969, it stood apart through its brushed and polished angular case, defined by sharp lines and striking geometry. Although production of the first Monaco run lasted only five years, it was relaunched in 1997 with a slightly different design, where only a few elements from the original Monaco were carried over, most notably the square case shape.

TAG Heuer decided to revisit the design of the very first Monaco edition, doing so in 2024 with a redesign of the overall Monaco collection that referenced the Monaco 1133. With this latest release for Watches & Wonders 2026, TAG Heuer takes that design even further by refining the smaller details to make it more faithful to the original. Presented in three colours, the lineup includes the signature TAG Heuer Monaco blue, which is directly inspired by the Monaco worn by Steve McQueen in his 1971 film Le Mans.

A Faithful Monaco Design

The design of this new Monaco Chronograph collection goes back to its roots, with the case’s sharp, angular edges now being reinforced even further. Even the sapphire crystal references the original Monaco 1133, sitting closer to its true square form, while the 39 mm case, created in Grade 5 titanium, has a smooth curvature that extends to the sides of the case.

The signature Monaco details are all present here, as expected, with the two slanted chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, along with the crown positioned at 9 o’clock. The case’s mix of sharp angular lines and curved details is really what gives the Monaco its timeless design.

In this new Monaco Chronograph collection, two models are presented in a Grade 5 titanium case that features brushed surfaces throughout for a more industrial aesthetic, while the third model features the same Grade 5 titanium case, now paired with an 18K 5N rose gold polished fixed bezel, as well as 18K chronograph pushers and crown. These 18K 5N rose gold elements elevate the watch into a more luxurious aesthetic, beautifully contrasting against the grey tones of the titanium and the rich black dial.

The caseback follows this “reinforced design”, where a smaller round central section curves toward the edges, echoing a design feature of the original while also enhancing overall comfort on the wrist. This construction allows the Monaco’s bold square profile to remain visually faithful to its historic roots, while the softer curvature underneath ensures the watch wears with a more natural and ergonomic feel.

Just like the case design, the dials in these three new timepieces have also been refined and elevated. As TAG Heuer states, the “typography and text placement have been carefully considered to ensure absolute legibility”. The design goes back to the original Monaco 1133, particularly in the interplay of the hour markers, where a batten-style minute track is paired with rectangular horizontal indices on the four corners of the dial. The hands are also sharp and refined, reminiscent of a vintage 1960s aesthetic.

Then we have the well-balanced layout of the Monaco. From the two recessed rectangular sub-dials that mirror the shape of the case beautifully, to the oversized 12-hour counter, which is balanced by the date window at 6 o’clock, every detail has been carefully considered in the Monaco’s design to reflect a sporty timepiece with a purpose-built aesthetic.

Then there are the three new colourways of this Monaco Chronograph collection. First is a beautiful dark green refined sunray-brushed lacquered dial, which is said to draw “on the codes of classic British Racing Green”. The two-tone Monaco Chronograph, meanwhile, features a deep black opaline dial, which is the perfect colourway for this model as it offers a rich contrast against the 18K 5N rose gold-plated hour indices and hands.

The last colourway in this collection goes back to one of the most iconic Monaco timepieces in history: Steve McQueen’s Monaco. The opaline blue dial, with red accents on the hour indices and hands, draws direct inspiration from the Monaco timepiece Steve McQueen wore in his 1971 film Le Mans. This timepiece is an icon of watchmaking pop culture, making it the perfect addition to this new generation of Monacos.

The Brand New In-House Calibre TH20-11

While the aesthetic design of this new Monaco Chronograph collection goes back to its vintage roots, the engine inside is anything but. At the heart of the watch lies the next evolution of the standard Monaco chronograph movement. Based on TAG Heuer’s automatic Calibre TH20-00, which is a staple across many of the maison’s chronograph timepieces, this new collection features an updated version: the Calibre TH20-11.

It was given the name TH20-11 in reference to the movement that started TAG Heuer’s automatic chronograph journey: Calibre 11. And, just like the Calibre 11 movement, it supports a bi-compax layout and a date display at 6 o’clock, along with the crown being positioned, unconventional as ever, at 9 o’clock.

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“The internal development teams have spent several years reconfiguring, refining, and testing this new movement. With an 80-hour power reserve and a five-year warranty, the Calibre TH20-11 brings the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph to superior levels of quality and reliability.”
TAG Heuer on Monaco’s new Calibre TH20-11 movement.

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Initial Thoughts

TAG Heuer’s Watches & Wonders 2026 has seen a number of fantastic new releases; however, its focus on reinvigorating the Monaco has been the highlight for me. Yesterday, Matt wrote about the brand-new Monaco Evergraph models, featuring the new TH80 calibre movement, which really brought a fresh perspective to TAG Heuer’s avant-garde watchmaking.

Now the brand has also breathed fresh air into the standard Monaco collection. Over the last few years, we have slowly seen the Monaco collection transition back to its roots, with a design that is as iconic as it is timeless. This year’s Watches & Wonders brought the culmination of these tweaks, with the case and dial designs coming together to deliver a modern version of the Monaco in its truest form.

And while the outside may look like the Monaco from the 1960s, the inside is a reflection of TAG Heuer’s modern watchmaking progress, with the new movement ensuring this iconic design is backed by performance and reliability fit for today.

It is this balance between heritage-inspired styling and contemporary mechanical execution that makes this new trio of Monaco Chronographs such compelling releases. For long-time fans of the collection, it brings the spirit of the original back into sharper focus, while for new collectors, it offers one of the purest expressions of the Monaco to date.

Reference: TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre TH20-11 (Ref. CDW2150.FC8360)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: AUD $19,650

Availability: Available now through TAG Heuer boutiques and authorised retailers. For more information, please visit TAGHeuer.com.au

Reference: TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre TH20-11 (Ref. CDW2180.FC8360)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: AUD $14,050

Availability: Available now through TAG Heuer boutiques and authorised retailers. For more information, please visit TAGHeuer.com.au

Reference: TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre TH20-11 (Ref. CDW2181.FC8360)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: AUD $14,050

Availability: Available now through TAG Heuer boutiques and authorised retailers. For more information, please visit TAGHeuer.com.au