There are watches you wear for their practicality and others for their aesthetic charm. Then there are watches like the TAG Heuer Monaco, a watch so intertwined with motorsport history that its chronograph functionality and wrist appeal come after its pedigree and prestige.
I spent Memorial Day weekend at the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 with the new TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre TH20-11 strapped to my wrist. About 350,000 fans packed into the Speedway to watch a race that would be an instant classic. After 200 laps and a staggering 70 lead changes, Felix Rosenqvist crossed the Yard of Bricks just 0.0233 second ahead of David Malukas, the closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.
Rosenqvist’s dramatic last-lap charge instantly secured a place in Indy lore and transformed the 2026 Indy 500 into one of the most memorable races the Speedway has ever seen.
Motorsport Bloodline
The Monaco has always occupied a unique place in watchmaking. Introduced in 1969, it wasn’t simply another racing chronograph. It was the world’s first square, water-resistant chronograph and among the first automatic chronographs ever sold to the public. More than half a century later, the watch remains instantly recognizable. Even among people who know nothing about watches, the Monaco tends to generate reactions. Mention Steve McQueen. Mention racing. Show someone the square blue dial. They usually know they’re looking at something special. That recognition comes from a design that has remained remarkably faithful to the original.
The latest Monaco, the Calibre TH20-11, continues that tradition while making meaningful improvements where they matter most. The case is perhaps where TAG Heuer has made the most meaningful developments. Measuring 39 mm across, the Monaco remains true to its original proportions, but the use of grade 5 titanium means it’s significantly lighter compared with previous steel models, making the watch feel surprisingly comfortable during long days on the wrist.
Throughout an entire weekend of walking through Gasoline Alley, climbing grandstands, navigating crowds, and spending hours under the Indiana sun, the Monaco never became cumbersome.
The case remains angular, unapologetically geometric, and unmistakably Monaco. It brings to mind the body lines of something like a Countach or a Renault 5. The finishing deserves particular praise. The transitions between brushed and polished surfaces create a level of visual complexity that emphasizes the piece’s geometry.
The Monaco’s signature left-side crown remains one of the most charming details. Positioned at 9 o’clock, it serves as a direct homage to the original Monaco introduced in 1969. Flip the watch over, and you’ll find the caseback is fitted with a sapphire display window. Through it, the Calibre TH20-11 can be seen in motion.
The domed sapphire crystal is another highlight. Its broad, nearly square shape gives the dial tremendous presence while maintaining excellent clarity from nearly every angle. The crystal also contributes to the watch’s vintage-inspired character, while providing the durability expected of a sports watch. The case is water resistant up to 100 meters, which is far more than most owners are ever likely to require.
Green and black are available face options, but the Monaco blue dial is arguably one of the most iconic colors in watchmaking. The rich opaline finish shifts depending on lighting conditions. In the bright Indiana afternoon, it appears vibrant and electric. Under softer evening light, it deepens into a richer navy tone.
The layout is classic Monaco. A 60-second and minute scale frame the dial, while two silver opaline counters anchor the design. At 3 o’clock sits the chronograph minute counter, sporting a black lacquered hand; opposite it, at 9 o’clock, is the permanent seconds display, matching the minute counter with its own black lacquered hand. A date display sits at the 6 o’clock mark. The symmetry gives the watch a purposeful, motorsport-inspired feel, the likes of a well-laid-out gauge cluster.
TAG paid close attention to the finer details. Rhodium-plated applied indexes feature a combination of fine brushing and polished surfaces, with white Super-LumiNova and subtle red lacquered hour markings integrated into the minute track. The hour and minute hands receive the same treatment, combining polished rhodium plating with Super-LumiNova–filled centers and red lacquered tips. The red lacquered details provide just the right amount of contrast to reinforce the watch’s racing credentials.
