There are few brands as closely linked to the chronograph as TAG Heuer. For many decades, the Swiss marque has been virtually synonymous with chronographs and racing timekeepers, but there are a handful of surprising gaps in this sporting legacy. For example, TAG Heuer has never made a mechanical rattrapante chronograph wristwatch available to the public — until now. Adapted from its offering for the canceled, ill-fated (and still deeply controversial) Only Watch 2023 auction and presented as part of its Watches and Wonders 2024 novelties, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph adds a wild, futuristic, radically priced new halo to the brand by adapting its most recognizable silhouette into a no-holds-barred, avant-garde celebration of its chronograph expertise.

Although the broad strokes of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph’s 41mm-wide case echo the classic square Monaco silhouette in photos, on closer inspection, this is a far more ornate, ultra-modern design. Available in either DLC-coated or bare brushed, polished, and matte blasted titanium, this case keeps many familiar elements intact – the short, squared-off triangular lugs, gently bowed case sides, and tall box sapphire crystal are all Monaco staples — but embellishes the core design with a variety of new elements. The chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock are prime examples of this design philosophy at work. While the wedge-like pusher designs are still recognizable Monaco elements, these components are far more heavily faceted than their stablemates, with broad mirror-polished chamfers that should deliver a brighter, more dynamic look on the wrist. Along the 9 o’clock side of the case, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph adds a dramatic, almost architectural new skeleton pusher for the rattrapante function with a dial-matching colored central accent. When combined with the low, sloping guards at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock, this pusher adds a muscular new visual bulk to the Monaco form in images while also subtly paying homage to the outline of the classic left-hand-crown Calibre 11 Monaco design. However, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph’s most dramatic addition to the Monaco case formula is arguably its caseback. Faceted, gem-like, and fully crafted from sapphire, the display caseback stands out prominently from the main case body here and offers a striking, fully unimpeded view of the movement within in photos. This sort of visual spectacle isn’t without drawbacks, however. Thanks to this unorthodox caseback, the TAG Heuer Monaco Spilt-Seconds Chronograph manages only an anemic 30 meters of water resistance.

Like the case, the sapphire dial of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph takes the familiar Monaco design concept into far more ornate, avant-garde visual territory. The overall layout is dominated by a pair of chamfered, angular bridges (black-coated for black-cased models, and deep blue for bare titanium cases), around which the rest of the dial elements are framed. These bridges show an impressive level of modernist finishing in images, split between deep, nuanced vertical brushing and variable-width chamfers with a mirror polish. Given how deconstructed and futuristic the design concept is here, it’s impressive how much of the character of the base Monaco shines through here. Of course, the two rounded-square chronograph subdials firmly solidify the Monaco feel here, as do the partially skeletonized, red-tipped hands and the red indices on the suspended sapphire minutes track. While these elements clearly show a Monaco lineage in photos, each of these is also simplified and visually streamlined for a crisper, more futuristic ethos. Of course, the new additions to the Monaco formula extend this sense of razor-sharp futurism, especially the skeletonized, hexagonal 6 o’clock running seconds subdial and the skeletonized, brushed, and dial-colored twin chronograph seconds hands. Given how much complexity there is in the skeleton dial layout here, TAG Heuer opts for a simple and sporty approach to the underlying movement finishing. Most of the visible bridges are matte-blasted and black-coated, allowing them to fade into the background in photos, but the brand adds some subtle complexity by including them in the traditional Monaco dial layout. The Monaco emblem itself is engraved directly onto one of these matte black bridges, while the complex polished applied TAG Heuer shield sits atop a deeply brushed inner bridge. The overall effect in photos is thoughtful, layered, and suitably forward-thinking, with a feel that calls to mind dashboard gauges on modern hypercars.

For a brand so closely intertwined with the chronograph in the public consciousness, it’s almost shocking that the in-house automatic Calibre TH81-00 inside the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is the brand’s first-ever commercially available mechanical rattrapante chronograph wristwatch movement. Although it may have been a long time coming, the TH81-00 is, nonetheless, impressive in terms of performance, offering an ultra-complex column wheel rattrapante chronograph mechanism, a smooth 36,000 bph beat rate, and a healthy 65-hour power reserve. According to TAG Heuer, this is the lightest automatic chronograph ever developed by the brand, thanks to its full titanium construction. Equally impressively, TAG Heuer claims the power reserve will stand up to a considerable 55 hours of continuous, traditionally power-hungry chronograph usage. Like most TAG Heuer movements, the TH81-00’s finishing is sporty and modernist in images, with a focus on simple matte-blasting for the lower bridges. For the upper bridges, however, the brand employs an intricate, eye-catching checkered flag-brushing pattern that should catch the light brilliantly at varied angles. The skeletonized shield-motif rotor continues TAG Heuer’s creative use of directional brushing, with a brushed chevron design that accentuates the shield shape in images. Given the dynamism and complexity of the rest of the design, TAG Heuer plays things rather conservatively with the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph’s strap. Both case variants are fitted with an embossed, fabric-effect calfskin deployant strap, with muted tone-on-tone stitching. The DLC-coated case variant uses a striking race red hue for this strap, while the bare titanium case is instead paired with a remarkable reserved and versatile navy blue.

A rattrapante chronograph is no small feat of horology, even for a brand as tightly connected to the world of chronographs as TAG Heuer. The new TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph stands as a suitably dramatic, high-performance first foray into the world of mechanical rattrapante wristwatches for the brand and adds a much-needed high-end conversation piece to its Watches and Wonders 2024 novelties. However, even by rattrapante standards, this is an extravagantly priced watch, with an MSRP of $138,000 USD for standardized models, and $169,000 USD for factory customized examples as of press time. The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph will be available through authorized dealers in June 2024. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.