If the narrative around Watches & Wonders 2024 is a slate of subdued, iterative watches that are somewhat short on the “wonders,” a take that has been forming even before the beginning of the show, counterpoints will inevitably be offered in the discourse. This year’s flashiest release from TAG Heuer, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, is perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence that some brands, even the absolute largest among them, are still trying to wow us. It’s a big, bold reminder that the “AG” in TAG stands for avant-garde, and after a year spent focusing on one of the best consumer products the brand has released in years in their Glassbox line of Carreras, it points toward their other key strength. 

TAG is showcasing the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph as the next stage in a long line of precision chronographs, going back a more than a century, beginning with the legendary Mikrograph in 1916, a stopwatch used in Olympic timekeeping in the 1920s and 1930s that was capable of recording timing intervals to the 1/100th of a second. This watch was followed by the Microsplit, which could do the same, but with the addition of rattrapante functionality. Heuer continued to produce iconic chronographs and stopwatches throughout the 1960s, always making the most of the watchmaking technology available. That includes quartz timekeeping, with the introduction of a battery powered split-second chronograph worn by some of the most recognizable names in motorsport of the 1980s and 90s, including Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. 

And now TAG Heuer is bringing the split-second chronograph to the Monaco, one of their most important designs. But this isn’t about just dropping a movement into a Monaco case – the movement itself is the real feat of engineering here, and has been crafted entirely in titanium. The TH81-00 caliber is among the lightest chronograph movements ever made by the brand, and has been produced in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. According to TAG, the total weight of the watch, which is cased in grade 5 titanium with a sapphire crystal and bezel, is just 85 grams. 

Rendering an entire movement in titanium is of course a fairly impressive technical achievement, given the difficulties in working with the material at the tight tolerances required for a watch movement. The fact that this is an automatic rattrapante chronograph makes the whole process that much more complex, increasing the total number of components required by a not insignificant degree. The TH81-00 operates at 36,000 VPH and has a power reserve of 65 hours with the chronograph off and 55 hours with the chronograph on. 

The case has been designed in such a way to highlight the movement from every vantage point. As mentioned, it’s titanium in construction, a decision that makes a lot of sense given the lightweight material used for the caliber. The entire caseback is made of sapphire, and the main dial is sapphire as well, which provides for a nearly unobstructed view of the movement from the front and the back. Both variants of the dial (one in blue, and one in black with red accents) feature dramatic titanium arches running diagonally, creating the appearance of an “X” and giving the whole package structure and added visual interest. The chronograph pushers, crown, and the push-button to activate the split-seconds functionality are all crafted from titanium as well. 

All of this precision titanium manufacturing and an entirely new movement equates to a somewhat eye watering price. The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph retails for CHF 135,000. That’s, obviously, a lot for a TAG Heuer, and puts it in the same category as their experiments with lab grown diamonds, and the like. It seems to me that TAG sees this watch as an ultralight racing instrument that is meant to compete with the Richard Milles of the world. If TAG elects to pursue dual tracks going forward, focusing on heritage inspired classics at a consumer level coupled with extremely high end and tech forward experimentation, that could be a very interesting path indeed, particularly given the recent appointment of Julien Tornare, formerly of Zenith (a brand that has recently been best in class at balancing history with innovation and the avant-garde), as CEO. TAG Heuer