TAG Heuer Monaco Unveiled Its First-Ever ‘Skeleton Dial’ During This Year’s F1 Monaco Grand Prix 2023

When Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer first debuted its ‘Monaco’ chronograph timepieces line in 1969, it quickly became one of the most iconic watches in history.

From racing icons like Joe Siffert, Jochen Rindt, and Steve McQueen, the watch’s bold, square case design and innovative chronograph functions captured the hearts of racing enthusiasts and watch lovers across the world, making the brand’s partnership with the Monaco Grand Prix near and dear to its heart. 

And last weekend during this year’s 80th Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer launched the latest addition to its iconic ‘Monaco’ collection with three new beautifully designed chronograph timepieces that marked the brand’s first use of a ‘skeleton dial’ within its ‘Monaco’ collection.

For 163 years, TAG Heuer has demonstrated its pure avant garde watchmaking spirit and commitment to innovation with revolutionary technologies – ranging from the oscillating pinion for mechanical stopwatches in 1887 and the Mikrograph in 1916 to the 1969 Calibre 11, the first automatic winding chronograph movement and the first luxury smartwatch in 2015. 

Today, the TAG Heuer brand has expanded to include three iconic families designed by Jack Heuer – TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco, and Autavia, along with the contemporary TAG Heuer Link, Aquaracer, Formula 1, and Connected lines.

Cementing the TAG Monaco in History

TAG’s ‘Monaco’ project began when its founder Jack Heuer set out to create a watch that would be visually striking and technologically advanced. The watch’s first prototype, which was first unveiled in 1969, featured a square-shaped case, blue dial, and bold chronograph functions. 

But for the public, it was something else entirely. The timepiece, which was paired with Calibre 11, the first automatic chronograph movement, quickly became an industry favorite as the first automatic chronograph movement to be offered to the public.

From the late 1960s of the watch exhibiting a contemporary design, featuring midnight blue and bright white to the contrasting gray tones it showcased in the early 1970s, the Heuer Monaco undoubtedly reflected popular culture. 

By the late 1970s, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph was fully cemented, unveiling an entirely different look that brought forth the legendary “Dark Lord” dial and a sharply finished matte black case. 

Thanks to timeless, tasteful product placement on Steve McQueen’s character of Michael Delaney in the 1971 film “Le Mans,” the timepiece’s global exposure helped solidify its status as a cultural icon.

The ‘Monaco’ collection has since undergone several design changes and technological advancements, with it being reissued in 1998 as part of the brand’s ‘Vintage’ series and again in 2003 with the Calibre 360 movement, capable of measuring time with accuracy of up to 1/100th of a second.

Meet the New ‘Skeleton Dials’

In celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Monaco Grand Prix, which ran on May 28, 2023, TAG Heuer Monaco debuted its new ‘skeleton dial’ watch as that “next perfect step” in today’s avant garde mindset and testament to fashion. 

It’s worth noting that this is also the brand’s first time unveiling the mechanism of the underlying timepieces to the ‘Monaco’ collection.

Spread across three different dials – “Original Blue,” “Racing Red,” and “Turquoise” – the new ‘Monaco’ timepieces are this generation’s avant garde interpretation of the racing universe that each comes with its own unique history. 

The new collection undeniably showcases a vibrant, contemporary style that is only destined to resonate with today’s younger generation of collectors, and without a doubt, the brand’s most loyal collectors. 

“Original Blue,” which features blue and red colors on its dial, draws inspiration from the first-ever TAG Heuer Monaco blue dial, paying homage to the OG 1969 TAG Heuer Monaco and its original success.

As a nod to the racing DNA of the TAG Heuer Monaco, the “Racing Red” dial pays tribute to the red that is often referenced through the racing sparks made on the tracks. The black and silver color touches, most notably, are almost impossible to miss on the dial along with the red column wheel and red engravings being visible on the oscillating mass – collectively, completing that racing-inspired feel of Formula One racing.

The “Turquoise” piece, on the other hand, offers a fresh and avant garde take on the brand’s Monaco design. With a light nod to Monaco’s coastline, the engaging turquoise mixed with the red color can be seen specifically on the dial, making this timepiece iteration stand out from other iconic timepieces.

Powered by the in-house Heuer 02 movement, all three timepieces contrast from the brand’s OG depictions in the 1970s with a fairly conventional column wheel to activate the chronograph. 

With an 80-hour power reserve, the newly debuted ‘Monaco’ collection now maintains one of the biggest power reserves for a chronograph in the watch industry. The new ‘skeleton dials’ also give off a rugged appearance due to their sandblasted titanium grade 2 case, lending a blend of strength and lightweight properties while also being corrosion resistant – a signature element of the TAG Heuer brand.

2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Last weekend, the brand invited a star-studded lineup of A-list celebrities, incuding Spider-Man: Homecoming star Tom Holland, who rocked a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph as he waved the iconic checkered flag and hung out with the Red Bull Racing team, alongside other F1 Monaco VIPs like Orlando Bloom and Maria Sharapova.

Together, both Oracle Red Bull Racing Team and their longstanding partners TAG Heuer, celebrated another remarkable achievement last weekend at the 2023 F1 Monaco Grand Prix as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen fearlessly pushed the boundaries of what seemed impossible during Sunday’s thrilling race.

And of course, Verstappen who could be seen rocking the new TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Skeleton on the podium, was nothing short of racing beauty. The two-time Formula 1 chamption also wore a special edition TAG Heuer Monaco in 2021, kept the timepiece on his wrist for the remainder of the 2021 racing season.

“Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is a dream come true for any driver, and we are incredibly proud of Max Verstappen for achieving this remarkable 2nd victory,” said Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer. “This victory is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and talent that our team embodies, and we are honored to be a part of this historic moment in racing with our partner, the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team.”