ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Monaco 'Las Vegas' Monaco Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield, 30th November 2024 

Another fruitful visit to the TAG Heuer boutique in Sheffield on this November morning, not only did I get to try on this 'Las Vegas' Monaco and the Porsche 963 Extreme Sports Carrera, but I also got to handle the limited edition Hodinkee Carrera Seafarer. More on that another time though... today we will concentrate on this DLC coated Monaco, and well if you've tried on any recent black Monaco you'll have a good idea how this wears.

These pictures make it look enormous, but in reality it's not. It sits well and of course the black coating shrinks it a little. These rubber straps are comfortable enough too, but they still don't really look (or feel) 'luxury' and considering this watch costs nigh on £10,000 I really do think they could do a little better.

As for the watch itself, well I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. The novelty of a skeletonised Monaco has pretty much worn off for me and I still think the nigh on £3000 premium over the normal dial versions is unjustifiable. But I guess you're paying for exclusivity here as there are no older pre-owned models you can pick up more affordably instead.

The renders for this one suggest the watch has very bright pink highlights, almost neon... but they really aren't. Maybe that's a good thing for the long term but if I want a black watch with pink highlights then I want it to make a statement. Especially since it's supposedly inspired by 'the night lights of Las Vegas'! 

And as I believe I mentioned before that black painted running seconds is verging on useless as it's very hard to see; why they didn't just paint it pink I don't know...

I was also a little disappointed that the pink is two distinctly different shades, which looks a little odd. It's not really apparent in my photos but the lume is quite a different pink to the subdials (which stand out way more in person).

I feel like I'm being very critical here and I'll admit I was perhaps quite fortunate to catch this one as it was about to leave the store to go to its new owner, so perhaps the £9850 price tag isn't as off-putting to others as I thought it might be...? However, I feel like I have to take it into account and rightly or wrongly I expect quite a lot from a watch at this price point.  

I don't know, I just find it difficult to reconcile the idea that a Monaco, even a skeleton dial Monaco like this (but still with a regular TH20-00, not even COSC certified) can cost this kind of money. When I got into the hobby just eight years ago a Monaco was around the £4300 mark. Admittedly those particular watches are now around the £7000 mark, but I just feel like a £3000 premium for a skeleton dial, black DLC and a not that great rubber strap is hard to understand or get behind.

Sure, we know that's how luxury goods work these days (and if people are willing to pay then you can't really blame the brand), but if I was going to buy any current Monaco it would probably be the blue dial Heuer 02 on the bracelet (currently on offer from Fraser Hart at £5000), or perhaps more likely I would pick up a pre-owned Dark Lord tribute which is easily available for under £5000.