The TAG Heuer Monaco has lived somewhere in the back of my mind for years. It’s one of those watches I’ve never owned, but could never fully shake either. Maybe it traces back to its cameo in the later seasons of Breaking Bad, or maybe it’s just that unmistakable square case doing something irrational to me every time I see it. Either way, TAG Heuer just gave me a reason to think about it a lot more. The brand has announced a refreshed Monaco Chronograph in Grade 5 titanium, featuring a new in-house chronograph movement and three colorways launching this month.
At first glance, the updates feel solid. The 39mm case now leans into sharper, more geometric lines with a small, flat-topped bezel and rounded corners. TAG Heuer describes it as reminiscent of integrated steel sports watches, which tracks visually, but the effect still reads as distinctly Monaco. It’s an exaggeration of what was already there and I dig it.
The case is finished in uniform vertical brushing, measures 13mm tall, and carries 100m of water resistance under a domed sapphire crystal. The crown stays at 9 o’clock. The bumper-style pushers are still splayed to the corners. If you know the Monaco, you’ll recognize this immediately.
Three dial options are available at launch. The classic blue “McQueen” variant anchors the lineup, joined by an emerald green with sunburst brushing and black subdials, and a rose gold and black combination pulled from a 2025 Monaco Split-Seconds. All three ship on a black perforated leather racing strap with a titanium pin buckle. No bracelet option, which is consistent with how the Monaco has traditionally been presented but still worth noting.
The bigger story here might be what’s inside. The new Monaco is the first generation powered by TAG Heuer’s TH20 chronograph movement family. The caliber is designated TH20-11, a deliberate nod to the original Caliber 11 that powered the 1133B back in 1969. That movement, co-developed by Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton, was one of the first automatic chronographs ever produced.
It’s a piece of history that tends to get overshadowed by Steve McQueen’s association with the watch, and it’s good to see TAG Heuer leaning into it. The new TH20-11 beats at 4Hz and delivers 80 hours of power reserve. It’s visible through a sapphire window in the square titanium caseback.
Pricing lands at $9,350 for the all-titanium models and $13,050 for the rose gold variant. That’s firmly in a territory where you’re buying into something beyond just the object. If I were picking one, I’d go for the blue. It’s the Monaco to me. Still, $9,350 isn’t a casual decision, and I’ll admit I’ve been hesitant about newer in-house movements lately. How the TH20 holds up over time is something we simply can’t know yet. For now, this is one of the more compelling high-end releases to come out of Watches & Wonders 2026, and I’m curious to see how it wears in person.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.