Over the last 20 years or so, TAG Heuer has often had some very high-end specialty watches in the brand’s otherwise mostly mainstream-priced luxury timepiece collection. That essentially means $100,000-plus exotic watches that push the limits of current technology and design are occasionally offered in addition to the company’s mostly under $10,000 timepiece offerings. In 2024, TAG Heuer reintroduced its top-tier product family by taking the concept in a new direction, and under new leadership (multiple leaders actually). On aBlogtoWatch, this discussion began on the SUPERLATIVE Podcast featuring TAG Heuer guests Carole Kasapi and Nicholas Biebuyck. TAG Heuer shared how it wanted to make its highest-end products more artistic and architectural, while also maintaining a direct connection with the timing heritage of the brand. The result was the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph collection, featuring a duo of titanium watches with new rattrapante-style stopwatch automatic movements.
What is important for collectors to understand is that the brain behind the movement is Kasapi, TAG Heuer’s movement engineer, and the production muscle behind it is Swiss movement specialist Vaucher. It isn’t that TAG Heuer cannot produce such movements — the brand does produce some of its own calibers — but rather that it is far more efficient to have a specialty firm like Vaucher do so on spec. TAG Heuer still designs the concept, while its production is tasked to a third party. This actually helps reduce the price of the watch since TAG Heuer would have to recoup considerable investment by doing all of this itself. Yes, the price of the Monaco Split-Seconds (Split Second) Chronograph is still high, but it could have been a lot worse.
The overall watch concept begins with the Monaco profile, which really is TAG Heuer’s most beguiling case design (even though it isn’t for all tastes). Rendered in titanium, this Monaco case takes a decidedly futuristic direction and is a good mixture of restraint and novel shapes and features. The caseback, with its mostly clear sapphire crystal segment, is one of the best features of the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph case design. When I first started getting into watches, TAG Heuer’s wilder side also featured the Monaco. In the early 2000s TAG Heuer unveiled the Monaco V4 watch collection. While a very different watch in execution, it was also a concept watch from TAG Heuer based on the Monaco profile. Now about 20 years later, TAG Heuer repeats this design exercise but with new people and in a new way.
At launch, there are two versions of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, both featuring a titanium case. That said, the company seems to have suggested that it is producing special one-off versions (presumably with small color or cosmetic differences) for VIP clients. One version of the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is the reference CBW2181.FC8322 and it has a black DLC-coated titanium case with red color accents. The other is the version featured in this article: the TAG Heuer reference CBW2182.FC8339 Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph with a natural titanium case and mostly blue accents. The blue, white, and red colors mixed with the natural metal case are meant to be reminiscent of the first Monaco watch model released back in 1969.
The titanium case is 41mm wide, and water resistant to only 30 meters. The squarish proportions wear on the larger side, but the overall weight is impressively light partly because the movement is very lightweight; according to TAG Heuer, it is the lightest automatic chronograph movement it has ever used. The movement is far less exotic than that in the Monaco V4, and more about traditional features with a modern look and great performance. The movement inside of the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is the TAG Heuer caliber TH81-00, produced by Vaucher. The movement begins with a “high beat” 5Hz operating regulation system, and an automatic winding system with a power reserve of 65 hours. The dial includes a three-register subdial layout, with the subsidiary seconds dial being de-emphasized but still there. The 12-hour chronograph is supplemented with the rattrapante split-seconds chronograph system. The second chronograph timer is activated via a pusher on the left side of the case. The split-seconds system allows the user to time a separate 60-second max instance via a different chronograph seconds hand that “lives” under the main hand.
The watch comes on a fabric-style strap paired with a folding titanium deployant strap. The watch is comfortable and practical enough to wear regularly. In that way, it is a very sensible exotic watch, because it doesn’t sacrifice much utility or sensibility for style and novelty. While these watches are clearly not for everyone, they are very competent high-end sporty chronographs that feel suitable under the TAG Heuer brand. The movement development proves how innovative and resourceful Kasapi and her team are, and there are clearly more surprises awaiting enthusiasts in the future. I like that her team is not seemingly limited by actual in-house production capabilities at TAG Heuer and that she likes to have fun with spirited-looking dials and thoughtful mechanisms. The creativity is probably only limited by TAG Heuer’s interest in investing in such projects, and what personality happens to be running the brand at the time.
The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph watches are not part of a limited edition but will be produced in small numbered series. This is a very interesting and avant-garde watch from TAG Heuer that aBlogtoWatch has now discussed four times given that there is so much to talk about. Looking deeply into the openworked dial and skeletonized movement is a worthwhile experience for any enthusiast. Price for the reference CBW2182.FC8339 TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph watch is $138,000 USD. Learn more at the TAG Heuer website.
