The year 2023 has barely begun yet the first trade fair, LVMH Watch Week, is already underway – and with it come many innovations that are worth discussing in more detail. The fourth edition of LVMH Watch Week will take place in Singapore at the luxurious Capella Hotel, where the four watchmaking houses of the LVMH Group – Bulgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer and Zenith – will present their latest creations. TAG Heuer unveils the Monza Flyback Chronometer and the Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary Edition, two exciting new interpretations dedicated to racing.
In 1975, TAG Heuer launched the first Monza to celebrate Niki Lauda’s incredible victory in the Formula One World Championship. When he triumphed that year with five wins for the Ferrari team – a team that had not won a title since 1964 – it was a huge event and the Monza became a fitting symbol. The Monza is named after Italy’s most famous race track and the fastest Formula One circuit in the world; another indication of TAG Heuer’s passion for racing. The TAG Heuer Monza is one of the designs that the brand regularly translates into the modern age.
The TAG Heuer Monza makes its comeback in a 42 mm case made of ultra-light carbon. It has a fixed bezel in carbon, a black crown in DLC-coated stainless steel and round pushers in the same resistant material at 2 and 4 o’clock. The Monza has a water resistance of up to 100 m (10 bar).
The striking black dial is complemented by two subdials: the transparent blue sapphire crystal at 3 o’clock and the permanent seconds display at 6 o’clock. The skeletonised dial reveals the inner workings of the timepiece. For the first time at TAG Heuer, the date window at 9 o’clock is blue luminescent; Super-LumiNova coats the black and white lacquered indices as well as the hour and minute hands for optimal readability. Red accents such as the hour hand and date provide a striking contrast to the black dial and case. No less striking are the indexes, the second hand and the seams of the custom-made textile strap, all of which come in a bright blue.
The TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer offers three functions that could be useful to a driver during a race. They include a chronograph, a tachymeter scale that visualises the average speed over one kilometre with the indicator on the black inner ring, and a heart rate monitor. The indicator for this particular function is located in the upper right quarter of the dial and is calibrated to 15 beats per minute.
Those who want to use the heart rate monitor must first start the chronograph and then count 15 heartbeats, while they then receive their individual measurement when the chronograph is stopped. The measurement range is 60 to 200 heartbeats per minute. These functions are powered by the COSC-certified Calibre Heuer 02 with flyback function. The TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer is available now.
The history of the Carrera goes back to 1962, when Jack Heuer and the Rodríguez brothers crossed paths during the 12 Hours of Sebring. It was here that he learned about the dangerous but short-lived Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico. This race inspired him to name a chronograph after it, with the launch of Jack Heuer’s first Carrera taking place a year later, in 1963.
The steel case with a diameter of 39 mm has a fixed bezel, which is also made of steel. Both the dial and the caseback use anti-reflective sapphire crystal for improved legbility. The crown of the timepiece is located at 3 o’clock, while the two round pushers in polished steel are neatly placed at 2 and 4 o’clock. A steel ring with an engraved serial number set into the screwed case back further adorns the watch. The timepiece is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar).
Aesthetically, the Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary Edition takes its cue from one of the vintage Carrera models; Reference 2447SN from the late 1960s. This first-generation Carrera model was available with a silver-coloured dial with black subdials – or vice versa – also known as the “Panda” or “Reverse Panda”. This watch was intended to be an instrument for racing drivers, guaranteeing easy legibility thanks to the contrasting colours.
Thus, the colour scheme of the novelty, as well as the black stripes on the central hands and the hour markers, the double marking at 12 o’clock and, of course, the black counters with the white markers can be traced back to the 2447SN. The sunray dial also features the classic Heuer logo above the ‘Carrera’ lettering, all in a brushed silver finish.
Through the caseback, wearers can admire the Calibre HEUER 02 automatic, which has a power reserve of 80 hours. With the new Carrera Chronograph 60th Anniversary Edition, TAG Heuer presents a collectible version in an edition of 600 pieces.
