From the Carrera to the Monza and Formula 1, TAG
Heuer makes no shortage of watches that appeal to automotive enthusiasts. The
Monaco certainly ranks high among them, but this latest version takes the car connection
even further.
Revealed at the Baselworld watch and jewelry show in
Switzerland, this version of the iconic Monaco is based on the same model made
popular by Steve McQueen in Le Mans. Only this one replaces the usual metal
case with one made out of forged carbon fiber.
The unique timepiece stems from a partnership with
the Bamford Watch Department, which has established a name for itself
customizing high-end watches. Its lightweight 39-millimeter rectangular case is
made from the same kind of forged carbon that Lamborghini uses on its
supercars.
Like the original, it features a crown on the left
side (so it won’t get in the way of your driving gloves), while its face is all
blacked out, save for the bright blue hands and indices for which Bamford is
known. It’s powered by TAG Heuer’s in-house developed Calibre 11 automatic
chronograph movement and is fastened with a black leather and rubber strap.
Moreover, the dial says just Heuer (sans TAG), which
was the brand’s name from 1860, when it was founded by Edward Heuer, until
1985, when it was acquired by Mansour Ojjeh’s Techniques d’Avant Garde (TAG)
holdings company. TAG was also a sponsor and share owner in McLaren – and, from
1983 until 1987, slapped its logo on McLaren’s Porsche-designed F1 engine.
We wouldn’t expect the Monaco Bamford to be the last
automotive-related special edition to come out of the company, though. Not by a
long shot, considering a. its history, and b. sponsoring both the Red Bull
Racing and Aston Martin F1 teams.
The Swiss watchmaker also serves as official
timekeeper for racing series and events as the FIA World Touring Car
Championship, Formula E, the Indy 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hill
Climb. It also counts the likes of Patrick Dempsey, Alexander Rossi and,
perhaps most famously, the late Ayrton Senna among its brand ambassadors.