Watch & Jewelry
April 1, 2015
TAG Heuer | Monaco 24 Concept Chronograph
TAG Heuer
Monaco 24 Concept Chronograph
By Yasuto Shibuya
Floating mount for the entire movement
Every year, alongside new releases, TAG Heuer excites fans and watch enthusiasts by unveiling compelling concept models equipped with new technologies, intended for future production. The development theme for this year's Baselworld concept model is "shock resistance." The entire 10-beat mechanical movement, which marks time, is floatingly mounted on four steel tubes within the case. Furthermore, by surrounding it with a synthetic filter material derived from aerospace engineering, it almost completely absorbs external shocks, creating a structure that ensures high precision even under harsh conditions. The cool, racing atmosphere born from the black dial, stainless steel case and dial with black PVD coating, and the Gulf-colored stripes on top is also superb.
TAG Heuer Monaco Vintage Chronograph Gulf Limited Edition
Automatic winding
42-hour power reserve
Case diameter x thickness | 40.5 x 40.5mm
Strap | Alligator strap
Water resistance | 10 bar
Price | Undetermined
BRAND HISTORY
TAG Heuer is a brand that has been actively involved in sports since its inception, particularly supporting the evolution of motorization, earning respect from many athletes, including racers.
Its predecessor, Heuer, was founded in 1860 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by Edward Heuer, who was then only 20 years old. In 1868, he obtained a patent for a key-wound pocket watch, and in 1889, he exhibited a split-secondschronographat the Paris Exposition Universelle, winning a silver medal, demonstrating his talent from an early stage.
Then, in 1916, they unveiled the "Micrograph," a masterpiece stopwatch that is still talked about today. With this groundbreaking measuring instrument capable of measuring to 1/100th of a second, Heuer became globally recognized as an indispensable brand in the sports scene.
In fact, in recognition of this achievement, the company was appointed as the official timekeeper for three Olympic Games, starting with the Antwerp Games in 1920.
Although the company had already introduced the "Time of Trip," an onboard clock for automobiles, in 1911, its deep involvement with motorsports continued thereafter.
In 1964, they released a chronograph named after the legendary road race "Carrera," which was favored by many racers at the time.
And in 1969, they introduced the "Monaco," equipped with the world's first self-winding chronograph movement. It is also well-known for being personally and publicly favored by Hollywood star Steve McQueen, and its image was seared into the minds of race fans worldwide through the masterpiece film "Le Mans."
Subsequently, like many other brands, Heuer faced a temporary management crisis due to the quartz shock of the 1970s. However, in 1985, it made a remarkable comeback with investment from the TAG Group, which was also the owner of the F1 McLaren team, and was renamed the current TAG Heuer.
In addition to deepening its involvement with motorsports more than ever, the brand has actively promoted itself by welcoming ambassadors such as Tiger Woods, Maria Sharapova, Brad Pitt, and Uma Thurman. In terms of mechanics, it has also garnered significant attention, releasing the "V4" prototype in 2004, which adopted a timing belt and ingot, and in 2005, the "Calibre 360," a self-winding chronograph capable of measuring to 1/100th of a second, a first for a wristwatch.
Year of Establishment | 1860
Place of Establishment | Saint-Imier, Switzerland
Main Series Names | Grand Carrera, Carrera, Link, Monaco, New Aquaracer, Formula 1
Contact | LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan TAG Heuer Division 03-3613-3951
Official Website: http://www.tagheuer.com/
LVMH Watch & Jewelry Japan TAG Heuer Division
Tel. 03-3613-3951