TAG Heuer is the official sponsor and timekeeper of the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and last week the Swiss watchmakers announced they would also be the sponsor of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique race.
Like the annual F1 Monaco Grand Prix, the biennial Grand Prix de Monaco Historique has been canceled for 2020. Regardless, TAG Heuer still had a timepiece dedicated to the partnership in its product pipeline and will release the 1,000-piece limited edition for sale in August 2020 as planned despite the event cancellation.
The Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition comes in the (smaller vintage sized) 39 mm diameter stainless steel version of TAG Heuer’s iconic square-shaped case. The dial has a rhodium-plated sunray brushed silver circular center with printed red hour dots, rhodium-plated baton-shaped hour and minute hands, a date aperture at 6, the TAG Heuer logo and minute/second track printed in black, and dual crimson red sunken square-shaped chronograph counters. The needle-shaped central chronograph seconds hand and matte crimson red-colored exterior section of the dial contrast the center section and complement the counters. In addition to painted crimson dots, applied faceted rhodium-plated baton-shaped indices mark the hours.
The small historic car logo of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique painted in silver at the 1 o’clock position on the crimson dial subtly connect this special model to the historic namesake race.
According to TAG Heuer, “The biannual Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend is one of the highlights of the classic-car racing calendar, and its passionate community of owners, drivers and spectators relish the spectacle of historic grand prix racing and love the warm spirit and camaraderie around the circuit. More than 200 grand prix cars representing 50 different car makers enter each event. Selected for their historical value and degree of originality, they compete in seven series spanning the periods from the 1930s to the 1970s. Drivers from more than 21 countries took part in the 2018 edition.”
A sapphire glass caseback with “MONACO GRANDPRIX HISTORIQUE” laser engraved on the inside in red and black denote the association with the historic car race event. Underneath the glass, you can see the in-house caliber Heuer 02 chronograph movement with vertical Geneva stripes on the bridges and a blackened and skeletonized oscillating weight. The 4Hz automatic movement has 33 jewels, 168 components, a premium column-wheel and vertical clutch configuration for the chronograph, and an 80-hour power reserve.
The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique timepiece is packaged in a red watch box that is decorated with a chequered racing flag — a nod to the historic Heuer watch box. It will be on display especially for racing enthusiasts at the Automobile Club of Monaco and available for pre-order via TAGHeuer.com and in select boutiques before its launch on July 27, 2020.
This model is produced in a limited edition of 1,000 watches, each of which is engraved with its unique number and the words “One of 1000.” The timepiece comes on a black perforated calfskin leather strap with a folding clasp in polished stainless steel. A boxed sapphire glass protects the dial and water-resistance is rated to 100 meters. The TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition (Ref. CBL2114.FC6486) will retail for approximately $6,750.
Learn more at TAG Heuer.
