There’s something so special about a watch that’s become famous simply for being hand-picked by an icon. For his role in 1971’s Le Mans, Steve McQueen didn’t want some prop master’s selection; he wanted the Heuer Monaco, and that personal connection has coursed through five decades of watchmaking lore.
For this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer returns to that very moment with their latest Monaco x Gulf, but this time they may have outdone themselves.
The McQueen Connection Goes Deeper Than You Think
Going way beyond the stamp of “vintage-inspired,” the Swiss firm has actually tracked down the original textile supplier for McQueen’s cinematic racing suit and recreated that material for the new watch’s strap. Stitched with the same orange color that’s on the dial and lined with that color on the underside, the white Nomex strap comes from Hinchman, an Indiana-based manufacturer of racing uniforms that was tapped by CBS producers during the film’s production.
Obviously a white textile strap is just begging to get dirty, so TAG Heuer has also included a secondary perforated calfskin leather strap in navy blue that looks equally at-home on the Monaco, and will likely be worn in public more than the white option.
The Devil’s in the Details
The orange motif starts on the dial, with the Gulf Oil logo under the center and blue-white-orange Gulf stripes down the right side of the grained white dial that TAG is calling silver for some reason. Instead of being painted on, the stripes are actually integrated into the dial architecture alongside applied indices and that distinctive orange lacquered chronograph hand. For contrast, black serves as a tertiary accent here, with dual black opaline registers, black hour markers, and a black date window border.
Limited to just 971 pieces — a nod to the movie’s 1971 release — the new Monaco x Gulf sports a vintage Heuer logo on the dial instead of the modern TAG Heuer branding just like other heritage models. Despite the offset Gulf stripes, the square-cased Monaco still retains that same visual symmetry we’ve come to know and love from the watch. All of the dial work is housed in the same 39mm sandblasted grade 2 titanium of more modernized models, with a decent 14.35mm thickness.
New Look, Same Great Movement
Keeping things vintage, TAG Heuer has gone with the Calibre 11 — the same movement that powered the original 1969 Monaco. While this is a modular chronograph built on a Sellita base with Dubois-Depraz components, it’s no slouch. With 4Hz and 42 hours of power reserve, the movement is displayed through the sapphire caseback where you can view its Geneva stripes and perlage. The caliber also allows for the left-side crown positioning, which remains one of the most distinctive design elements in all of watchmaking.
Spec Sheet
Model: TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf
Case: 39mm
Case Thickness: 14.35mm
Case Material: Grade 2 titanium
Movement: Calibre 11 automatic chronograph (Sellita SW300 base, Dubois-Depraz module)
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: Domed sapphire
Band: White Nomex textile strap and navy blue perforated calfskin leather strap
Limited Edition: Yes, 971
Pricing & Availability
The Monaco x Gulf carries a $9,550 price tag, which is a bit heftier than the standard $8,000 Monaco Gulf. It’s available now from TAG Heuer’s website.
Recap
TAG Heuer Monaco x Gulf Chronograph
For this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer has debuted the x Gulf, a white-dialed variant of the iconic Monaco made famous by Steve McQueen. Best of all, the chronograph comes with a white textile strap sourced from the same exact fabric worn by the actor in his 1971 Le Mans film.
