FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Monaco 'First Victory' 50th Anniversary Calibre11 Chronograph

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It seems like TAG Heuer are going a little bit crazy with the limited editions in recent times, we've  had the Calibre 11 and Hodinkee Autavias, the Rake, the Skipper, a carbon-fibre Bamford Monaco and now this... the Gulf Racing 'First Victory' 50th Anniversary (yeah, what...?), which is limited to 50 pieces and is essentially the same as last year's 'Special Edition' Gulf Monaco, save for a few critical details.

The first thing you'll probably have noticed is that the blue stripe on the dial is much lighter and much closer resembles the actual 'Gulf Racing' blue (as seen on those legendary Porsche 917s). This has been something of a bone of contention on previous Gulf watches, since the brand have deviated from the original colour and used a much darker tone for some of the pieces.  

When I tried on the 50th Anniversary Gulf Monaco earlier this year I liked it, but from the pictures at least I'm tentatively tending towards this new one. In a way I think the standard version has a more classy look, being a little more subdued, but if you're going to have a blue and orange stripe then why not make it bold? If nothing else at least you can see this blue stripe properly, and it works really well with the lighter, brighter dial background - which looks more like the colour from the standard Calibre 11.

From the photos again, it looks very much like the subdials are from the Calibre 11 as well, because they definitely look more 'white' than the ones on the standard Gulf - which also appeared white in pictures but actually have a silvery sheen to them in person. I think maybe this also helps to make the dial pop a bit more, as perhaps does the black strap on this model - another point of difference from the standard version. The strap retains the orange stitching and I can't help but think it's a pity they didn't give it some blue stitching (either instead of or alongside the orange) to differentiate it even more. But then again, maybe not...

I can't say I'm overly impressed with the back...

I find it quite annoying when watches have display backs ad then have a printed logo which obscures the view. It's kind of pointless isn't it, why not just have a solid caseback with an engraving instead? I thought the Carrera Nismo was bad, but this one really takes the biscuit.

No doubt some people will chunter about there being yet another Limited Edition, but I really don't see a problem with it. Fifty people have paid their money and taken their choice, and besides - I think it's something we're just going to have to get used to. I don't really mind limited editions, as long as TAG let us know about them, and I'd much rather have proper limited versions with completely unique dials than some half-arsed 'collectibles' with some small modification to a standard watch.

Also, if you're going to make a limited edition, then I think you should send it out in a pukka box, something which TAG seem to have done well here.

It would be interesting to see both watches side by side and get a better comparison, but as the five pieces destined for the UK have already been sold, that's clearly not going to happen. Hubert at the Calibre 11 forum has one on the way, so at least we should be able to get a comparison photo and I suppose we'll have to make do with that...

Love it or hate it, with the very limited number of pieces made and the authentic lighter blue stripe, this has the potential to become THE Gulf Monaco of choice for the collectors, and I expect this to be a reasonable investment in the long term, if not quite up there with the iconic 'Steve McQueen' Limited Edition Monacos.