TAG Heuer’s stunning tribute to one of the most famous colours in motorsport

A new edition of one of the most iconic watches produced in the past 60 years is always a cause for celebration as fans of the famous TAG Heuer Monaco welcome a new Chronograph Racing Green version.

In the famous maison’s latest tribute to the motorsport heritage its timepieces are such a part of, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green honours traditional British racing colours.

From the early 20th century through to the 1960s, drivers competed in races with cars bearing country-specific colours – Italy in vibrant red, Germany first in white and later in silver, the French in distinctive blue and the British in an unmistakeable racing green.

A Napier 50 that won the 1902 Gordon Bennett Cup under Selwyn Edge was the first car to bear the colour, while modern British racing teams and distinguished car manufacturers continue to use variations of the famous shade.

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Now TAG Heuer’s famous square-cased chronograph first made internationally famous by Steve McQueen when he wore one in the 1970 film Le Mans has been given the British racing green treatment.

The new Monaco bears a suitably retro appearance with an elegant silver, sunray-brushed dial evoking the engine-turned dashboards of 1920s and ’30s sports cars.

Silvered hour markers as well as 12 light green Super-LumiNova dot markers make for easy reading of the time in dim light, while a faceted baton marker at 12 o’clock is adorned with a vibrant yellow stripe to connect it to chronograph’s yellow central hand and the touches of yellow which were also seen on racecars turned out in British racing green. Green chrono subdials honour the traditional hue in which the cars raced.

Heritage is also referenced in the inclusion of the traditional Heuer logo and the placing of the crown in the original position at 9 o’clock (it has swapped sides in other models since it first debuted in 1969).

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Under the good, the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green is powered by the automatic chronograph Calibre 11, protected by a sandblasted grade-2 titanium case which is sporty, tough yet elegant, the sapphire caseback showcasing the internal movement.

This beautiful limited edition watch is presented on a green perforated strap secured with a titanium folding clasp featuring the Heuer logo. Each caseback is engraved ‘ONE OF 1000’ and it arrives in custom-designed black packaging with vivid yellow details.

For those who love the retro charm of TAG Heuer’s motorsport heritage, the thrilling backstory to the introduction and evolution of the iconic square-case Monaco, and the traditions of British motor racing, this will be an absolute no-brainer… if you can secure one.