TAG Heuer Upgrades the Monaco and Re-Engineers the Chronograph

When the Heuer Monaco reference 1133 was unveiled on March 3, 1969, it was powered by one of the world’s first automatic chronograph movements.

Known as the Calibre 11, it was developed by coupling a micro-rotor base caliber from Buren with a chronograph module by Dubois-Dépraz. The architecture necessitated placing the crown on the left flank of the case. This unconventional quirk would become a defining feature of the Monaco, quietly signaling that its energy-hungry chronograph no longer required manual winding.

With its rich blue dial, sharp geometry, and alternating brushed and polished finishes, the Monaco quickly became a favorite among cultural luminaries such as Sammy Davis Jr., Oscar Peterson, Stanley Kubrick, and, most famously, Steve McQueen. Today, this distinctive icon returns with refined aesthetics and newly engineered movements.

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph 2026

At Watches and Wonders 2026, TAG Heuer unveiled a redesigned Monaco Chronograph powered by the TH20-11, offering an 80-hour power reserve. The movement is derived from the brand’s in-house TH20-00 caliber of 2017, and introduces several thoughtful aesthetic refinements.

Housed in a 40mm Grade 5 titanium case, the new Monaco is offered in three executions: the signature Monaco blue (US$9,350), which is an affectionate nod to the model worn by Steve McQueen in Le Mans; a sunray-brushed dark green dial (US$9,350) referencing Great Britain’s historic racing color; and a more opulent black opaline variant featuring a two-tone titanium and 18k rose gold case (US$13,050).

TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph

More radical in both form and function, the Monaco Evergraph introduces the new TH80-00 caliber. Its starkly different style of architecture and openworking immediately draws the eye, revealing a movement that departs from the traditional chronograph construction of levers and springs.

Developed by TAG Heuer Lab in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier (which was involved in the creation of the TH81-00 and TH81-01 split-seconds movements), the TH80-00 employs a compliant chronograph mechanism built on flexible components. This approach dramatically simplifies the system, reducing the chronograph to just two key elements: one governing start and stop, and the other reset.

COSC-certified, operating at 5Hz and packing 70 hours of autonomy, the movement is equipped with the TH-Carbonspring oscillator—first introduced in the TAG Heuer Monaco Flyback Chronograph TH-Carbonspring—which enhances resistance to magnetism while maintaining chronometric stability. Despite its simplified construction, the TH80-00 is engineered to deliver a precise and consistent tactile response.

As the brand notes: “Whether on the first press or the ten thousandth, the (TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph’s) chronograph always delivers the same sensation.”

Encased in titanium with blue accents that echo the original 1969 Monaco, the Evergraph is also available in a black DLC-coated titanium version with racing-inspired red highlights.