VIDEO: Heuer Monza '40th Anniversary' Chronograph by The 1916 Watch Co Reviews

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Monza 'Carbon' Special Edition Chronograph

 

TAG Heuer Boutique / 28th September 2024, Meadowhall, Sheffield

It's kinda funny, this one has been around for so long that when I clocked it in the display case in the TAG Heuer boutique in Sheffield's Meadowhall centre, I honestly didn't even think about whether I had ever seen it or tried it on or not. I was just like... 'Oh there's the carbon Monza'... and it wasn't until the (always fabulous) Maxine asked me if I'd seen it before that the penny finally dropped. I mean it's been at least two years since the Monza CR5090 first appeared on (Red Bull Racing boss) Christian Horner's wrist, so it just feels very familiar, even though before today I'd never actually come across one in person. 

Thinking about it it's been quite a number of years since I had any kind of Monza on the wrist and I'd kinda forgotten quite how big a 42mm 'square' watch really is. I think even from this photo you can tell that it's quite a lump of watch and it sits quite high too. But with its carbon case and nylon strap, of course it's anything but heavy. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monza Carbon Flyback by Swiss Watch Expo

 

FEATURE: A Review of 2023 with Jim Dollares

 

Hello again dear readers, we're really knocking on the door of 2024 now so it's time to take one final look back at 2023 in the company of our favourite Swedish Aquaracer enthusiast Jim Dollares. 

ROB: Hey Jim, are you excited to look back over this massive year for TAG Heuer?

JIM: Merry Christmas from a snowy, cold and beautiful Sweden! Yes indeed, what a year it has been for fans of TAG Heuer. Plenty of highlights but also some of the worst releases in modern times.

ROB: Controversial stuff from the start, but yes I have to agree with you on that one... but oddly we seem to be in the minority when it comes to talking about the new 39mm Glassbox Carreras. Why is it do you think that everyone and his dog loves these new ones, when they are clearly inferior to the old glassbox re-issues?

JIM: I truly don't know and it confuses me. For years, all we heard was that the Heuer logo and vintage inspired pieces were what they all wanted, 'Sure it looks decent, but I wish it had the Heuer logo', was what they told us on repeat. 

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's 2023 Releases (Jan/Jun)

 

Greetings dear readers, can you believe we're half way through this wonderful year already? And so of course it's time for a brief look back at our favourite Swiss watch brand's 2023 output so far. I'm not going to lie, it's been a very busy start and there are no less than FIVE June releases that haven't even been covered yet; as such I'm afraid I won't be including the ladies green dial Aquaracer, the steel Solargraph, the French limited edition Carrera, the 'Year of the Tiger' limited edition Chronograph or the Japanese limited edition mother of pearl dial Carreras in this round-up - but rest assured 'First Impressions' posts for all those are coming very soon!

In fact I might have to switch things up and fire out a few posts in double-quick time, because as it stands I'm scheduled to catch up on the June releases at the start of August, which is frankly ridiculous... (never mind the Monaco Rattrapante for Only Watch and the striking Chronotempvs Collectors Club Carrera which have both emerged in the last few days). 

Okay, with all that out of the way, let's crack on

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monza Carbon Heuer 02 Flyback Chronograph by Monochrome Watches

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monza Carbon Heuer 02 Flyback Chronograph

 

CR5090.FN6001

Well this is different, isn't it? But is it good different? Or bad different? I'm pretty sure if you ask people who like the 'classic' Monzas you're probably not going to get the most positive responses, and that's  rather borne out in the comments at the foot of the page... but does that matter? Because clearly this is not aimed at someone who cherishes their Calibre 36 gold cased Monza, but rather a (possibly) younger customer who wants their own take on the Monza, but with a modern slant and more on-trend materials.

And so was born the carbon Monza, a slightly curious choice to be fair, but I suppose they'd already done the carbon Monaco with George Bamford back in 2017 and what better way to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Monza? It is somewhat perverse that TAG Heuer wish to be edgy and avant garde, but they choose to do it with a watch case that was born in the 1960s, but that's the watch industry for you - new cases and model names are death to sales, so this is what we get instead. 

VIDEO: LVMH Watch Week Interview with Frederic Arnault by Wei Koh for Revolution Watch

 

If you haven't already seen this video it is well worth watching. Frederic confirms that the latest 'Panda' Heritage Carrera is the last of the so called glassbox Carreras and basically reveals that in 2023 TAG Heuer will introduce a standard 39mm chronograph Carrera to their range. Interesting stuff! 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monza CR2113 by Watch Once Over

 

HISTORY: TAG Heuer Monza (2000-2016)

 

The history of the TAG Heuer Monza is relatively short and simple (certainly compared to our last two trips down memory lane!), and begins in the year 2000. New TAG Heuer owners LVMH, clearly pleased with the success of the Carrera and Monaco re-issues in the late 1990s, decided their next revival piece would be the Monza... and so began six years of watches, before the model once again returned to obscurity, returning only for one solitary 35th Anniversary piece in 2011).

Then in 2016, under the helm of Jean Claude Biver, and celebrating its 40th Anniversary the Monza returned once more in a 42mm titanium and PVD case, but if you thought that was radical, think again, the Monza isn't finished yet... 

VIDEO: Heuer Monza 40th Anniversary Calibre 17 Chronograph by Escapement24

 

GALLERY: Heuer Monza 40th Anniversary Special Edition Calibre 17 Chronograph by Anthony Ranalli

Instagram @ Anthony_ranalli

GALLERY: Heuer Monza 150.501 Chronograph by Anthony Ranalli

Instagram @ Anthony_ranalli

FEATURE: My Top Five TAG Heuer Monzas

WR5140.FC8145

The Monza is perhaps the most overlooked of all TAG Heuer's model ranges and most definitely plays second fiddle to the ever popular Monaco. The case is a truly curious shape; from some angles it suggests a squarer shape than it really is (though it's impossible to deny that it has four 'sides'). Looking through the post-1985 Monzas I quickly realised that I'm not a big fan of the three handed models and with those discarded I wasn't left with a huge pool of references from which to compile a top five. Still, that's never stopped me before and the Monza has definitely been overlooked on this blog in the past, so let's begin...

 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monza 40th Anniversary Edition by Doug FNJ

 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monza 40th Anniversary Chronograph by WatchBox Studios

SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at TAG Heuer Bicester Village (Part 3 of 3)

Phone the store on (01869) 249008

Finally we come to the third and final part of this epic stock update; 50 watches in total, a phenomenal intake of new pieces - I can't wait to pay a visit myself! Apologies to my overseas readers, for whom this is a little bit meaningless - normal service will be resumed tomorrow, thank you for your patience.

For those of you in the UK, if you've seen something which takes your fancy, please contact the store before travelling as numbers may be very limited... 

CAS2111.FC6292

41mm Carrera Calibre 16 Automatic

List Price: £3950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2765

CR2080.FC6375

42mm Monza 40th Anniversary Calibre 17 Automatic

List Price: £4395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3075

CAR201T.FC6406

43mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £4450

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2670

CAR2090.BH0729

43mm Carrera Heuer 01 Ceramic Skeleton

List Price: £5150

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3090

*(Currently on sale, pre-owned at Watchfinder for £3950!)*

CAR2A1T.FT6052

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £4395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2635

CAR2A5B.FT6044

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Gold Skeleton

List Price: £10550

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £6330

CAZ1111.BA0878

42mm Formula 1 Ceramic Quartz

List Price: £1695

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1185

WAH1212.BA0859

37mm Formula 1 Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1365

WAT1313.BA0956

34mm Link Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1395

WAY1313.BA0915

32mm Aquaracer Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

WAY1351.BD0917

35mm Aquaracer Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £3395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2375

WAY2113.BA0928

41mm Aquaracer Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

WBD2111.BA0928

41mm Aquaracer Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

CAR2A91.FT6121

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Ceramic Skeleton

List Price: £5195

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3115

CAR2A8A.FT6072

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £5150

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3090

WAR215C.FC6336

39mm Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £2895

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2025

SBF818001.11FT8041

41mm Connected Smart Watch

List Price: £1095

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £765

SBF8A8014.11FT6081

45mm Connected Smart Watch

List Price: £1250

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £875

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Monza 40th Anniversary Calibre 17 Chronograph

CR2080.FC6375

TAG Heuer Boutique / Bicester Village, 28th February 2020

Of all the TAG Heuer / Heuer watches released over the last few years, the Monza 40th Anniversary has to be one of the most written about and one of the most universally well regarded. Indeed, while I had my reservations about the strap when I wrote my first 'On the Wrist' post back in October 2016, I was pretty clear on my feelings about the watch in general (even if my opinion has perhaps wavered back and forth just a little in the meantime). So it was nice to get a chance to get one of these on the wrist again and see where I stand with it now at the tail end of February 2020.

The first thing to say is, my feelings about the strap have softened somewhat, I still don't really like it but I'm not as 'vehemently' opposed to it as I was way back then. If I bought one of these I would undoubtedly change the strap, perhaps for a leather racing strap with smaller perforations and some red stitching; y'see those big holes just don't sit right with me I'm afraid and I don't see that changing any time soon. But, I get that this is a homage to the 1970s and as such the strap is entirely appropriate, it just doesn't float my boat... which is fine, it can be easily replaced (and kept in the box in mint condition, obviously).

The design remains super-cool and the faux aged lume doesn't seem as offensive on the eye as the last time I came across one in a jeweller's window. Actually, looking at the watch again today I was a little thrown by the 'bezel' since it looks a lot like polished ceramic. I never remembered anyone saying it was ceramic so I looked into it and it seems that no it isn't ceramic, but it is a higher than usual grade of titanium which can be highly polished. I'm still having a hard time believing it isn't ceramic though and I keep trying to reassure myself by checking various websites because the bezel and case genuinely don't look as if they are made of the same material.

The Monza is perhaps the perfect watch for someone who kinda likes the Monaco but can't quite commit to the fully square case, it certainly wears a lot more 'organically' on the wrist as the chamfered edges smooth out the shape somewhat. The white hands are super legible here, I really like the contrast with the black dial and the red detailing really pops on this watch. Incredibly, I've only just noticed that the two sub-dials are completely different sizes, which is odd because that kind of thing usually stands out a mile to me! I have to say I think TAG Heuer did a superb job of balancing the dial using the red flashes on the left hand side and whatever you think of the case, this one truly has a very good looking dial.

Clearly the grade 5 titanium (oh yes it is) bezel is fixed and as you'd expect from a proper racing chronograph this one features a white tachymetre scale around the edge, with another subtle but very worthwhile piece of red detail highlighting the higher numbers at top right. The backplate is solid rather than crystal and marked with a red Heuer logo over which is printed 'Monza' in white. These watches are individually numbered at the bottom of the caseback but unfortunately there's no mention of the total number of pieces (best guess is that it's likely to be somewhere in the region of 4-5000).

I'm not sure how I feel about those silver pushers and crown, I do kind of wish they were black, but I think they've taken their design cues from the 1976 model. I guess I would get used to them, and actually I think they are more noticeable in these pictures than they are on the wrist, which is interesting.

I do like this one a lot, but I still don't think it's one that I will pick up - mainly because the prices have held up a little too well. A brief glance at Chrono 24 tells me that for a pre-owned model you are going to be looking at the extremely high £2000s (and by that I really mean £2995!) to secure one of these and at that price I think I'd find something I liked more. If the Monza appeals to you though and you live in the UK, you can actually get one of these new with a two year warranty from the TAG Heuer Bicester Village boutique for £3075, which seems to make more sense to me; this is a 30% reduction on the current list price which is £4395.

As always, stock is limited (may well be only one piece available) so call the store on 01869 249008 for details and stock availability.

VIDEO: Heuer Monza Calibre 17 40th Anniversary Paid Review by Archie Luxury

BUYING EXPERIENCE: Heuer: The Haslinger Collection / Bonhams Auction Hardback Catalogue

Admittedly my focus here is largely on the 'TAG Heuer' era (ie 1986 onwards), but with so much of the range rooted in historical models I can't help but have a passing interest in the Heuer era as well, even if a lot of it doesn't really appeal to me all that much.

But maybe that could change... this book is certainly a convincing place to start, featuring as it does a plethora of models including some that I actually like already such as the Jo Siffert Autavia.

The book was printed in 2010, has very nearly 200 pages and a hard cover (which is in excellent condition), I don't know if it's normal to print such a book as an auction catalogue, it seems an awfully expensive way to go, I would have assumed it would more likely be a paperback, but it seems no expense has been spared here with each watch getting its own double page spread and forewords from both Arno Haslinger and Jack Heuer.

One thing which is interesting is the guide prices, which seem awfully low considering the provenance of the pieces sold in this auction; but then in the last ten years Heuer prices have risen considerably. If only we knew then what we know now... anyway, I can't help thinking that in this instance the old adage 'show don't tell' applies, so here you are...

This is a fantastic book and I'm sure some of you are salivating at the prospect of finding one of these for your own book shelf. Surprisingly, it does seem like there are some about, there's one on eBay currently for a very reasonable £35, but if you are prepared to wait and hunt one out, or as I did - stumble across one by accident, you might be able to get yourself a bargain. I watched this for a few days on eBay at £15 and eventually bid £33 for it, but secured the lot for just £17, which I think really has to be the best £17 I've ever spent.