Heading into round eight of the 2025 Formula 1 season in Monaco we’re getting a trio of new releases from TAG Heuer, in what has become an annual occurrence for the brand. This is TAG Heuer’s first year as a title sponsor, so it’s a bit different this time, and the watches being released follow suit. Oh, it’s also the Indy 500 weekend, an event also sponsored by TAG Heuer. To mark the eventful weekend of racing action, TAG Heuer is releasing the Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch; the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph 2025; and the Monaco x Gulf. Each brings something unique to the table, but it’s that Monaco Chronograph Stopwatch that’s worth a closer look here.
Precision mechanical timekeeping hit a peak in the ‘60s and ‘70s, just prior to the advent of electronic devices which quickly made everything else irrelevant from a performance perspective. These specialized tools hold a special place in the hearts of many, regardless. This era is arguably Heuer’s best, as the brand boasts a fully mature Carrera wrist watch, and a plethora of hand held timing chronographs for trackside use. It is here that TAG Heuer have drawn inspiration for a new Monaco designed to reflect these highly functional stopwatches within the famous square case.
That’s a very good thing as those stopwatch designs are all-time classics. The newest Monaco features a black central dial set within an opaline silver surround to recreate the contrast of the original stopwatches. This puts all the focus on the timing, and in the case of the square Monaco, gives the impression of the same round case. The hour markers are set horizontally, and the dial simply signed ‘Heuer’ for max throwback vibes. Red accents tie things up nicely and bring a final nod to the stopwatch design.
All of this is set within a 39mm titanium case that’s received a black DLC coating. Inside sits a caliber 11, placing a date at six o’clock, the crown at nine o’clock, and the pushers at two and four o’clock. It’s an old-school configuration in the best way possible, and it easily the most compelling version of the Monaco since the titanium reference released back in 2021.
In addition to the Stopwatch, TAG Heuer is also releasing a Monaco x Gulf celebrating their history with the Indianapolis 500, and featuring the familiar orange and blue stripe set down the right side of the dial. Topping things off is a Split-Seconds Chronograph constructed from the brand’s own TH-Titanium, weighing a mere 30 grams and boasting a split-seconds mechanism courtesy of the caliber TH81-00 inside. All impressive stuff, but the character of the Stopwatch makes it a clear standout of the bunch.
If you’re a fan of racing you’ll undoubtedly see these watches feature prominently at both the Monaco GP and the Indy 500, though with the Red Bull car’s low speed corner weakness at the moment, I’d be surprised to see it on the podium. That said, you can never really count Max out of the fight. TAG Heuer
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