TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer’s Monaco Gulf: My thoughts after some wrist time.

 

  Though TAG Heuer did release a 40^th Anniversary version, I’m glad to see that they’ve tweaked the design just enough to justify celebrating the Monaco Gulf, turned 50. Back are the horizontal markers  at the 1, 5, 7 and 10 o’clock positions. These are true to the original, but sorely missing from the dial of the 40^th Anniversary model.

  What I like most about TAG Heuer’s approach to this re-edition, is that they are not trying to reinvent the wheel. This, the 50th Anniversary Gulf model, clearly pays tribute to the original Gulf model without trying to be a duplicate.



  As much as I respect the original Monaco, (I’d certainly love to add some to the collection!), for me they are simply too small for daily wear. That’s why my first TAG Heuer was a Monaco LS. Fortunately, the new Gulf case is a perfect hybrid of the original Monaco and the LS case design. At first glance, it looks vintage until a slight twist reveals a much deeper case.



  There’s nothing not to love about the dial. The gentle sunburst texture of the dial radiates through the softly muted colors of the rally stripes. The allure of this piece is in its powerful subtlety.



  The design is vintage in almost every way, yet it doesn’t feel old or dated. The new Monaco is a formidable timepiece in its own right. It’s built for the modern world; beefy and rugged.



 I do agree with several comments that some would prefer an in-house movement. While the Calibre Heuer 02 used in the new Autavias would have been a logical choice, my guess is that as a new movement, production numbers might have precluded availability in time for the 50th Anniversary Gulf. I’ll see if I can find out more about this decision.



 There’s little to say about the strap that a single glance won’t reveal. It’s simply the most perfect strap you could put on a Monaco Gulf. It looks great, wears well. Again, it’s perfect.



  On the wrist, this piece makes me giddy. I’m a car nut and race fan, so I was immediately drawn to this design. Best of all, with modern amenities such as a sapphire crystal (as one would expect), this piece is much more wearable (in my opinion) than the original.



  As a “Special Edition” rather than an “LE,” I suspect that the new Gulf isn’t trying to capture collectors or the vintage market, but rather gear heads who simply appreciate its race inspired design. Isn’t that what the original Monaco was all about? In this sense, I’d argue that TAG Heuer has kept the new Monaco closer to the spirit of the original Monaco Gulf than many give it credit.