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TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition Watch Review
OCT 15, 2018 — BY BILAL KHAN
The latest iteration of the TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf watch was introduced last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the relationship between the brand and Gulf racing. My time with the watch led to the realization that it very well may be my favorite Monaco of all. I spent a few weeks with the classic blue dial Monaco last year at the eponymous Grand Prix and was taken with the instantly recognizable rectangular-cased chronograph. It had been nearly a decade since the last Monaco Gulf and the design coupled with the use of the calibre 11 movement makes for some of the most fun I’ve had with a Swiss watch in a long time. The fact that TAG Heuer charges no premium for the Gulf edition over the standard calibre 11 ($5,900) just further affirmed my adoration for it.
Since this newest Monaco Gulf watch is only stylistically different from the standard TAG Heuer Monaco calibre 11, I want to spend some time going through the evolution of the Gulf Monaco so everyone can understand its context, evolution, and history. Special thanks to TAG Heuer history aficionados Calibre 11 who outlined the history of these watches which you can check out here
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TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf ’Vintage’ Ref. CW2118 & Ref. CW211A (2005-2007)
While this Monaco Gulf celebrates the 50th anniversary of the relationship between the watchmaker and the oil company, the first Gulf co-branded Monaco came out 12 years ago in 2005. The TAG Heuer ‘Vintage’ Monaco ref. CW2118 was a limited edition run of 4,000 watches (which is a lot) that came with a white dial that featured red and blue stripes, which was inspired by the colors of Steve McQueen’s racing suit in Le Mans. The release in 2005 also coincided with McQueen’s 75th birthday.
Like with all Gulf Monacos before this latest model, it had the crown on the left side of the case alongside the chronograph pushers. It was, however, the only Monaco to not feature the word “Gulf” on the dial (check out the Calibre 11 article if you want to read about that whole story). This model also used the pre-calibre 12 modified-ETA calibre 17 movement that was housed in the smaller 38mm x 38mm case that is 13mm thick. While it was a limited edition run, it’s not super difficult to find one of these on the secondary market (here are the current listings on Chrono24) ranging between around $3,500-$6,000 depending on condition, box, and papers.
TAG HEUER MONACO GULF SPECIAL EDITION 50th ANNIVERSARY
50 years after the rise of the Gulf Racing blue and orange stripes, TAG Heuer presents a new TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition.
TAG Heuer and Gulf: a historical partnership for a mythic timepiece that changed the face of the watchmaking industry. In 1969, the TAG Heuer Monaco and its square case – equipped with the first in the world automatic chronograph, the Caliber 11 – is a genuine revolution, regarding both technique and aesthetics.
A watch passed into posterity thanks to the Le Mans movie in which Steve McQueen, driving his Porsche 917 bearing the Gulf colors, carries a TAG Heuer Monaco 1133B Caliber 11 on his wrist.
Revisited for this special edition, its iconic blue sunray dial features the emblematic blue and orange Gulf racing stripes. A calfskin perforated blue strap, with orange stitching, completes the very racing look of the watch inspired by the King of Cool and his famous blue and orange sports car.
Drawing from the origins of the TAG Heuer Monaco, the special TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf edition celebrates the rich inheritance of the watchmaking brand with motor racing. A way to perpetuate a legendary partnership through a timepiece, as racy as it is everlasting.
KEY FEATURES
MODEL FEATURESmobile_title_border
- Blue sunray brushed dial
- Blue flange with 60 second / minute scale
- 2 counters
- Rhodium plated polished, facetted applied indexes with white superluminova®
- Red, rhodium plated polished, facetted hour and minute hands with white superluminova®
- Red lacquered central hand
- 39 mm diameter
- Steel alternate finishing case
- Steel alternate finishing fixed bezel
- Domed, beveled sapphire crystal
- Alternate finishing steel screwed sapphire case back
- Water resistance : 100 meters
- TAG Heuer Calibre 11, Swiss Made
- Automatic calibre, rapid date correction
- Diameter: 30 mm (13''') — 59 rubies
- Balance frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
- Power reserve: about 40 hours
- Blue calf skin strap ; alsavel orange lining
- Polished steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
