The TAG Heuer Monaco is easily one of the most famous watches from the world of automotive racing, and while the collection has been home to a wide variety of different models throughout the years, it most frequently adheres to colorways that fall somewhere within the realms of blue, red, black, or white. However, for its latest release of 2024, TAG Heuer has created a new limited-edition titanium version of its signature square-cased chronograph, and the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green features a silver sunburst dial punctuated by rich green accents and bright yellow highlights.
The new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green (ref. CAW218E.FC6565) is essentially the green version of the Monaco Chronograph Racing Blue that was released last year, and just like its blue-colored predecessor, the new Racing Green version will be produced as a limited edition of 1,000 examples. Both models feature the Monaco’s original vintage-style configuration with their crowns located on the 9 o’clock side of the case (rather than between the pushers at 3 o’clock), and in addition to being identical from a design and construction standpoint, both Monaco models are also fitted with silver sunburst dials that showcase their respective colors on their chronograph registers. Swap blue for British racing green, and you pretty much have the idea behind this latest limited-edition model.
Crafted from sandblasted grade 2 titanium, the case of the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green measures 39mm in diameter by 14.35mm thick, with lugs that are set 22mm apart and extend to create an overall lug-to-lug profile of 47.4mm. Sitting above the bezel is a box-shaped sapphire crystal with a curved upper profile and beveled edges, while the reverse side of the watch is fitted with a screw-on display caseback. Just like other modern Monaco models, the chronograph pushers have an angular oblong profile (rather than the traditional circular pushers that can be found on vintage examples), and just like its siblings from the current-production collection, the new Monaco Chronograph Racing Green offers 100 meters of water resistance to protect against most forms of moisture contact.
Similar to last year’s limited-edition blue version, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is fitted with a silver sunburst dial that follows the Monaco’s original two-register layout with a date window at 6 o’clock (rather than having an additional running seconds hand above the date display like the modernized Monaco models). Both versions also feature small bright yellow accents on their 12 o’clock markers and centrally-mounted chronograph seconds hands; however, while last year’s model featured blue-colored chronograph registers, the new Racing Green Monaco receives a green-finished pair of registers. Additionally, the small dots of Super-LumiNova placed along the outer perimeter of the applied hour markers have been updated to match the new green colorway, and while last year’s Racing Blue Monaco had blue luminous dots, the new Racing Green version receives pale green-colored lume for these elements.
Just like its blue-colored predecessor, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is powered by the brand’s Calibre 11 automatic movement, which is based upon the architecture of the Sellita SW300-1 with a Dubois-Depraz module to provide it with chronograph functionality. Performance specs of the TAG Heuer Calibre 11 are more-or-less identical to the various other movements that follow this same fundamental design, and it runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. White the Calibre 11 is a proven design that simulates the distinct crown/pusher layout of vintage Monaco models, it undeniably feels a bit outdated compared to the various in-house movements that now exist in TAG Heuer’s lineup, and I would love to see the brand create a manufacture left-crown chronograph movement to bring the Monaco’s signature configuration into the modern era.
Much like the rest of the watch, the strap for the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is pretty much just the green version of its blue-colored predecessor, and fitted to its 22mm lugs is a perforated leather strap that is made from green calfskin. While the blue strap that accompanied last year’s Racing Blue model had a black lining, the strap for the new Racing Green version receives a bright yellow lining to match the small splashes of yellow that appear on its dial and hands. Aside from its updated colors, the strap for the new Monaco Chronograph Racing Green appears to be identical to what can be found on last year’s blue version, and it is completed by the same sandblasted titanium folding clasp that operates with a double push-button release and is shaped like the vintage Heuer shield emblem.
While the similarities between the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green and is blue predecessor are significant, last year’s blue-colored model is no longer available, and the new Racing Green version can be seen as somewhat of a replacement that extends this core concept to another 1,000 examples. To denote its limited-edition status, the caseback is engraved with “One of 1000” (the same inscription appears on the Racing Blue version from last year); however, I think most people would have preferred an individually numbered caseback, as this always makes a limited edition feel a bit more special. With an official retail price of $9,300 USD, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green (ref. CAW218E.FC6565) is a bit more expensive than the brand’s entry-level Monaco watches, although it is important to remember that this isn’t just a limited-edition colorway, and the higher cost of the model is due to its use of titanium. For more information on the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green, please visit the brand’s website.
