Tag Heuer brings back the Heuer Monza Chronograph, and we’re overjoyed

Vintage Vantage

From creating a stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second in 1916 to the world’s first chronograph movement with an automatic micro rotor in 1969, Tag Heuer has always had a knack for coming up with precision timing instruments suitable for the rigors of competitive motor racing. When Niki Lauda won his first world championship with Ferrari in 1975, the excitement surrounding the achievement inspired the creation of a chronograph unveiled a year later in 1976. This timepiece was the Heuer Monza Chronograph, named after the Italian city that’s one of the destinations on the grand prix circuit.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the timepiece. In line with the occasion, Tag Heuer has unveiled a bigger, better version of the watch. Now in 42mm instead of the original 39, the new Heuer Monza Chronograph comes with pulsometer and tachymeter scales, which were not in the first timepiece. Bringing this vintage reissue into the 21st century is the grade 5 titanium used for the case, which was previously in stainless steel. What has remained unchanged, however, are the recognisable all-black coussin (or cushion-shaped) case, the black and white lacquered hands, as well as the orange SuperLuminova indices in the same font as that used in the original watch. Completing the vintage inspired look is the full-grained black calfskin strap, which evokes the design of the steering wheels on racing cars from the bygone era of the first Monza timepiece.

Powering the watch is the Tag Heuer Calibre 17, an automatic chronograph movement that puts two chronograph counters at three and nine o’clock. A date window at six o’clock gives balance to create aesthetic harmony on the dial.

www.tagheuer.com