Together with the Monaco Evergraph presented at Watches and Wonders Geneva, TAG Heuer also introduced a comprehensively reworked Monaco Chronograph, revisiting one of the most recognisable square watches in modern horology through a case redesign, upgraded ergonomics and a new in-house movement.
More than a simple update, the 2026 Monaco Chronograph was clearly conceived as a return to the spirit of the original 1969 reference 1133, while adapting the model to contemporary expectations in comfort, proportions and everyday wearability.
The Monaco remains a watch whose identity is inseparable from its unusual geometry. In 1969, the combination of a square water-resistant case, left-hand crown and automatic chronograph movement was genuinely disruptive (to learn more about this iconic watch, don’t miss our feature article “The history of the TAG Heuer Monaco“).
Over the decades, the model became an icon, not least through its association with Steve McQueen in Le Mans, yet successive generations often interpreted rather than directly echoed the first reference.
This latest version takes a more historically attentive route.
The case still measures 39 mm across, but it has been entirely reworked in Grade 5 titanium, with sharper edges, more defined surfaces and a profile that sits more naturally on the wrist.
Grade 5 allows for a sophisticated interplay of fine-brushed, polished, and sand-blasted surfaces, resulting in sharper edges and more defined facets that would otherwise be difficult to achieve in Grade 2 titanium.
The choice of titanium significantly reduces weight compared with steel predecessors, while the curved case flanks and reshaped caseback improve balance.
Water resistance is rated at 100 metres / 330 feet, making this one of the most practical Monaco executions to date.
The square sapphire crystal has been redesigned with a more faithful outline and rises above the bezel with a softened bevel, helping preserve the model’s architectural presence without excessive bulk.
The overall thickness is 13.9 mm.
Attention to ergonomics is also evident in the smaller round central section of the caseback, which curves toward the edges, echoing a design feature of the original while enhancing overall comfort.
The familiar crown remains positioned at 9 o’clock, opposite the chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, maintaining one of the collection’s most distinctive traits.
It is a layout that once derived from movement architecture but has long since become part of Monaco lore.
For our review, we photographed the blue and green dial executions, each highlighting a different facet of this new generation’s design language.
The collection is completed by a third version pairing a black dial with a two-tone Grade 5 titanium and 18K 5N rose gold case, offering a more elevated interpretation of the new Monaco Chronograph.
The blue model (ref. CDW2181.FC8360) is the most direct nod to Monaco history, recalling the colourway made famous in the early 1970s.
Its opaline blue dial is paired with silver counters, red accents on the central chronograph seconds hand and minute track, and rhodium-plated applied indexes.
It remains the most emblematic execution, and the one most closely associated with the Monaco’s public image.
The green version (ref. CDW2180.FC8360) offers a different personality.
The sunray-brushed and lacquered dial plays with changing light more dynamically than the blue opaline surface, shifting from deep forest tones to brighter metallic reflections.
Black chronograph counters provide strong contrast against the white printed scale and rhodium-plated hands.
Across both models, the dial layout adopts a bi-compax arrangement with a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, running seconds at 9 o’clock and a date aperture at 6 o’clock.
This configuration references the original Calibre 11-era Monaco while also bringing greater symmetry than some previous versions.
Typography and text placement have been carefully considered for optimal legibility.
For low-light conditions, white Super-LumiNova is applied to the hour markings on the minute track, as well as the hour and minute hands.
Powering the watch is the Calibre TH20-11, an in-house automatic chronograph derived from TAG Heuer’s TH20 platform but specifically reconfigured for the Monaco. It operates at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and delivers an 80-hour power reserve, a substantial improvement over older Monaco movements.
It features a column wheel and vertical clutch for precise actuation, paired with a bidirectional oscillating weight that echoes the shape of the TAG Heuer shield.
This winding system was designed to improve winding efficiency and help the movement spend more time near optimal torque levels, which can contribute to more stable timekeeping in daily wear.
In daily use, this longer autonomy is one of the most tangible benefits of the upgrade, allowing the watch to be left aside for several days without stopping.
The movement’s Geneva stripes and openworked rotor can be appreciated through the sapphire caseback.
The chronograph pushers feel positive and crisp, with a reassuring engagement that suits the model’s sporting roots.
On the wrist, the reduced weight of titanium transforms the experience. Monaco watches have often worn larger than their nominal dimensions suggest, but this version feels noticeably more manageable.
The perforated black calfskin strap reinforces the motorsport theme and closes with a newly designed Grade 5 titanium folding clasp featuring double safety push-buttons. The lug width is 22.5 mm.
For reference, the wrist shown in our pictures measures 17.8 cm / 7 in.
What emerges from this new Monaco Chronograph is not a radical reinterpretation but a carefully considered evolution that brings the model closer to its original spirit while addressing modern expectations.
Its redesigned case is both more ergonomic and more faithful to the proportions and character of the 1969 reference, improving comfort on the wrist and elevating perceived refinement.
The introduction of the in-house automatic Calibre TH20-11 further strengthens the package, adding a contemporary technical platform with enhanced reliability and an 80-hour power reserve.
Rather than trying to reinvent an icon through stylistic excess, TAG Heuer has focused on making it better.
The blue and green TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph references are priced at CHF 8,800 / €9,300 / US$9,350, while the two-tone titanium and rose gold version is priced at CHF 12,300 / €13,000 / US$13,050. tagheuer.com
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