FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Alec Monopoly Limited Edition Aquaracer

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Here's a truly limited edition Alec Monopoly piece, just 25 pieces of this Aquaracer have been produced and... well, it's kid of odd isn't it? Alec's art is generally stuffed to the gills with bright colours but this one is completely off message and bizarrely muted in comparison. 

There was an idea put forward on the Calibre 11 forum that this one may have been produced in association with the Beverley Hills hotel, whom Alec has previously collaborated with... and clearly there has to be some reason why this watch is so completely out of character, doesn't there?

This one is being offered for sale on the website 'Chrono 24', for the sum of £4600 - no word on the actual list price, but given that it's a quartz piece it shouldn't really be any more than £2000 even if it is a super limited edition. Presumably this isn't going to be something the owner will be wearing day to day, which is a good thing because a replacemet strap probably isn't going to be something that's readily available and without it, you've got a black, quartz Aquaracer with some doodles on the dial...

This picture taken from the Beverley Hills Hotel website certainly suggests a possible tie in, especially as Alec has or has had an artwork displayed at the hotel in recent months... maybe there's a TAG Heuer boutique in the lobby? Or maybe just a glass cabinet with some novelties for well-heeled guests to buy on their way through? I just can't really see Alec Monopoly fans going crazy for this, it definitely makes more sense as a hotel tie-in.

So then, one of the rarest and mysterious TAG Heuers of recent times, it would definitely be interesting to hear how and why this piece came about, if anybody knows then please leave a comment. I have to say, novelty value aside I'm really not feeling this one too much, the dial just looks a bit of a mess if I'm being brutally honest!