The TAG Heuer Monaco enjoys a special kind of recognition in the world of Swiss watchmaking. It is a collector favorite, due to its role in the arms race to produce the world's first automatic chronograph during the late 1960s, and a pop culture icon, thanks to its presence on the wrist of Steve McQueen, during the filming of Le Mans in 1971, and Bryan Cranston, in season five of Breaking Bad. This delicate balancing act, between the worlds of brand penetration and insider validation, is executed in no better way than in the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11, a re-edition of McQueen's Monaco that epitomizes the watch's overall appeal.
Th dial
Instantly recognizable for its chunky square case, matte blue dial, and crown orientation on the left side of the watch, the original Monaco was introduced on March 3, 1969. The watch stood out not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for the new movement inside, calibre 11. This movement was the result of "Project 99," a three-year joint venture between a consortium of four brands – consisting of Heuer-Leonidas, Breitling, Hamilton-Buren, and Dubois Dépraz – in preparation for a launch that the group hoped would invigorate sales and lead to new growth. The Monaco was a completely new collection for Heuer at the time, and though it was created more as a design-oriented watch than the Autavia and Carrera that came out alongside it, the watch became immortalized as a racing watch icon when the actor and "King of Cool" Steve McQueen selected it to use while filming Le Mans. The Monaco also bears the distinction of being one of the first square-shaped watches to have a waterproof case.
Exactly 50 years have passed since that initial launch, and most watch enthusiasts are aware of what happened next. Zenith, Seiko, and the Heuer-led coalition all released their version of the first automatic chronograph mere months apart. With the Quartz Crisis right around the corner, growth was unfortunately not in the cards for Heuer, who discontinued the Monaco in the 1970s, before reviving it in various limited-edition runs throughout the 1990s and 2000s. None of those releases, however, captured the authentic spirit of the Monaco 1133B – the same watch that appeared on McQueen's wrist – quite like the version being added to the Shop today.
Released in 2015, the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 CAW211P features the same blue dial with red accents as the 1133B, a near-identical case profile – defined by sharp angles and an extra-tall, raised crystal – save for the tiered pushers, the same crown orientation at nine o'clock, identical horizontal hour markers, the vintage-appropriate logo, a date aperture at six o'clock, and the same racing-style strap. The biggest difference in function between the 1133B and the CAW211P is the movement inside. Despite sharing a name with the original calibre 11, the contemporary movement is based off a workhorse Sellita SW-300 that has a chronograph module courtesy of Dubois Dépraz, an authentic relationship that references the original consortium collaboration. The difference is noticeable through the dueling square registers, which include a running seconds display at three o'clock and a 30-minute totalizer at nine o'clock, compared to the 30-minute and 12-hour counters of the original watch.
During its lifetime, the Monaco has been many things. It helped break down the notion that square watches were only suitable as dress pieces, something many modern brands have Jack Heuer – and case supplier Ervin Piquerez – to thank for. It's a watch that is recognizable across the room, befitting its celebrity patronage. And it's a timepiece whose consistent design language remains one of a kind, 50 years later.
Exactly 50 years have passed since that initial launch, and most watch enthusiasts are aware of what happened next. Zenith, Seiko, and the Heuer-led coalition all released their version of the first automatic chronograph mere months apart. With the Quartz Crisis right around the corner, growth was unfortunately not in the cards for Heuer, who discontinued the Monaco in the 1970s, before reviving it in various limited-edition runs throughout the 1990s and 2000s. None of those releases, however, captured the authentic spirit of the Monaco 1133B – the same watch that appeared on McQueen's wrist – quite like the version being added to the Shop today.
Released in 2015, the TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 CAW211P features the same blue dial with red accents as the 1133B, a near-identical case profile – defined by sharp angles and an extra-tall, raised crystal – save for the tiered pushers, the same crown orientation at nine o'clock, identical horizontal hour markers, the vintage-appropriate logo, a date aperture at six o'clock, and the same racing-style strap. The biggest difference in function between the 1133B and the CAW211P is the movement inside. Despite sharing a name with the original calibre 11, the contemporary movement is based off a workhorse Sellita SW-300 that has a chronograph module courtesy of Dubois Dépraz, an authentic relationship that references the original consortium collaboration. The difference is noticeable through the dueling square registers, which include a running seconds display at three o'clock and a 30-minute totalizer at nine o'clock, compared to the 30-minute and 12-hour counters of the original watch.
During its lifetime, the Monaco has been many things. It helped break down the notion that square watches were only suitable as dress pieces, something many modern brands have Jack Heuer – and case supplier Ervin Piquerez – to thank for. It's a watch that is recognizable across the room, befitting its celebrity patronage. And it's a timepiece whose consistent design language remains one of a kind, 50 years later.
Product Description
Product Information
Brands Tag Heuer
Model Monaco Calibre 11 Automatic Chronograph
Model Number CAW211P.FC6356
Gender Gents
Movement Automatic
Strap Material Calfskin
Case Material Steel
Buckle Folding Clasp
Dial Blue
Case Size 39.00x39.00mm
Water Resistance 100m
Brands Tag Heuer
Model Monaco Calibre 11 Automatic Chronograph
Model Number CAW211P.FC6356
Gender Gents
Movement Automatic
Strap Material Calfskin
Case Material Steel
Buckle Folding Clasp
Dial Blue
Case Size 39.00x39.00mm
Water Resistance 100m
Our watch store
Our TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 CAW211P replica watches are in a price range between $100 to $500. Of course, we also carry the latest models of well-known manufacturers such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Breitling. The latest models such as the TAG heuer replicas are offered here directly as a replica watch when the original appear in the boutique. We are just as up to date as your watches concessionaire around the corner. That’s why we recommend you to visit our website regularly. Welcome!
