New TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf & Stopwatch at the Indy 500
Zach BlassTAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf or Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch? Of these two new limited edition watches, which would you pick? I got a hands-on closer look at both while attending the 109th running of the Indy 500 with TAG Heuer, and now I would love for you to check out our latest video below and let me know your answer in the comments.
The launch of the two editions coincided with the Indianapolis 500 motorsport event, a massive moment in which upwards of 350,000 people come together to watch the racers drive 500 miles across 200 laps, travelling over 200 miles per hour. But, amidst all the hot laps, racing excitement, and wrist-checks with special guests like Sean Wotherspoon and Jeff Stein, the latter of which brought some special Heuer pieces for me to take a closer look at as well. You can get the jist of these two new Monaco Chronographs below, but be sure to watch the video above!
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf Limited Edition
The new TAG Heuer x Gulf Monaco Chronograph has a fine-grained silver dial framed by a 100 metres water-resistant sandblasted grade 2 titanium case that expectedly measures 39mm in diameter, 15mm thick, and 47.4mm lug-to-lug. When you look at this dial, accompanied by the blue and orange pinstripes, it really harkens back to the Gulf livery of McQueen’s Porsche 917K and race suit in the Le Mans film. This is further driven home by the two bundled straps, a white textile strap with orange stitching and a perforated blue leather strap with orange stitching.
Of the two, I personally find the white textile strap more compelling as it is made in partnership with Indiana-based race suit manufacturer Hinchman, the very same manufacturer who produced McQueen’s race suits for Le Mans. Although modernised with titanium and remixed with a grained silver Gulf dial, the TAG Heuer x Gulf Monaco Chronograph remains faithful to the original Monaco design layout, featuring a left-side crown and utilising the calibre 11 that was found in the original Monaco as well. A 40-hour automatic chronograph movement is hardly record-breaking, but it is clear this limited edition of 971 pieces (a nod to both the 917K Porsche and 1971 release year for the Monaco), priced at US$9,550, is a strong effort that will surely tug at the heartstrings of enthusiasts of motorsport, Gulf, and especially of Le Mans and Steve McQueen.
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Monaco Chronograph x Gulf |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 15mm (T) x 47.4mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Sandblasted grade 2 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Silver, blue and orange pinstripes, fine-grained texture |
| Crystal | Bevelled domed sapphire crystal, exhibition caseback |
| Strap | White textile strap, orange stitching Additional blue perforated leather strap, orange stitching, sandblasted titanium folding clasp |
| Movement | Calibre 11, Sellita SW300-1 a base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited to 971 pcs. |
| Price | US$9,550 |
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch Limited Edition
Next, we have the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch. It is also encased in sandblasted titanium, and shares the same case dimensions, depth rating, left-side crown, and calibre 11 movement, but it differs from the Gulf Limited Edition with its stealthy black DLC coating and panda-esque dial. The colour scheme and dial layout, as its name suggests, takes inspiration from Heuer stopwatches – in particular the ref. 11.402 split-seconds stopwatch that was a significant timing device and advanced piece of tech in its day in the late ‘60s it is offered with a case-matching black-perforated calfskin leather strap and folding clasp. This model is limited to 970 pieces and is priced at US$9,850 – likely ever so slightly higher due to the black DLC coatings.
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch |
| Reference Number | CAW218F.FC6356 |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 15mm (T) x 47.4mm (LTL |
| Case Material | Sandblasted black DLC grade 2 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black and silver opaline, vintage Heuer logo |
| Strap | Black perforated calfskin strap, sandblasted black DLC grade 2 titanium folding clasp, Heuer logo-shaped buckle with double safety push-buttons |
| Movement | Calibre 11, Sellita SW300-1 a base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited to 970 pcs. |
| Price | US$9,850 |