TAG Heuer Offers a Glimpse Into The Future of Watchmaking with Its Monaco 24
Chronograph
BASEL, Switzerland, March 26 /PRNewswire/ — Invoking the electrifying spirit
of the world’s most arduous sports car race, TAG Heuer continues to push the
boundaries of watchmaking with its Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph.
Introduced today at BaselWorld, this provocative timepiece features the same
state-of-the-art engineering as the powerful GT cars that take to the 24 Hours
of Le Mans circuit. Additionally, the Monaco boasts a shock protection system
invented by TAG Heuer that is the first of its kind, underscoring the brand’s
passion for revolutionizing the way timekeeping works and looks.
The Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph’s race car-inspired functionality
is found in every aspect of the piece’s design, most notably in the energy
manifold that houses the Calibre 36 movement. Comparable to a GT car’s
cockpit cage, this proprietary steel-tube structure safeguards the mechanism,
ensuring that the watch can better withstand shock.
The movement gains additional protection from a shock-absorbing composite
filter material that comprises the manifold’s arms. Used in the racing and
aerospace industry, this material insulates the Calibre 36 movement by
directing vibrations into the composite filter, which absorbs and dissipates
their energy. Unlike a conventional timepiece’s Incabloc system, which
protects the mechanism only from external shocks, TAG Heuer’s revolutionary
Advanced Dynamic Absorber insulates the movement entirely. The Monaco Twenty
Four Concept Chronograph is able to withstand an impact of 24,000 G, the
equivalent of a 65-foot fall, compared with the industry standard of 2,000 –
5,000 G, or a three-foot fall. These additional safeguards ensure the Monaco
and its components will remain unscathed whether the wearer is skydiving from
15,000 feet or attending a very enthusiastic business meeting.
Another definitive attribute of the chronograph is its annular oscillating
weight. Unlike conventional watch weights, the Monaco’s is made out
industrial-grade tungsten, a rare metallic element that is extremely hard and
infusible. The heaviness of the tungsten – and ultimately the oscillating
weight – allows the chronograph to be more fully wound, resulting in more
accurate timekeeping. Such attention to detail epitomizes TAG Heuer’s passion
for perfecting even the tiniest increment of time.
The Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph features the same iconic square
dial as the original Monaco Automatic Chronograph, but advances its look with
a black PVD-coated case and an oversized “24” at the 12 o’clock position.
Additionally, the 40.5 mm piece bears a two-part dial: The upper part is
embellished with a blue and an orange stripe, the same design found on Grand
Prix champion and TAG Heuer ambassador Jo Siffert’s racing suit from the
1960s. The lower portion of the dial boasts two semi sub-counters at 3 and 9
o’clock – the first part of the hand at 3 o’clock displays zero to 15 minutes
and then triggers the hand at 9 o’clock to count 15 to 30 minutes.
Other features of the timepiece include: scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
and caseback, anti-reflective double-sided treatment and water resistance to
100 meters. It is featured on a blue alligator strap with orange stitching.
The History of Le Mans
Hosted every second week of June, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s most
famous sports car race held near Le Mans, France. Known as The Grand Prix of
Endurance, the 86-year-old race runs on a circuit of closed public roads
designed to test a car’s and driver’s ability to withstand a day of intense
driving. Le Mans was immortalized in the 1971 film of the same name starring
Hollywood legend and TAG Heuer ambassador Steve McQueen.
The History of the Monaco
The Monaco’s introduction in 1969 marked a radical departure from the
conventional codes of watch design and engineering. Prior to the Monaco’s
debut, watchmakers had been unable to create perfect water-resistant square or
barrel-type cases, forcing them to produce only circular dials. TAG Heuer’s
patented water-proofing system allowed for a break from the standard, rounded
case, and the creation of the Monaco’s iconic square dial. Housed within the
watch’s distinctive case is the Calibre 11 movement, the first-ever
self-winding automatic chronograph with micro rotor. This mechanism provides
wearers with precision timing comparable to the standards of professional
chronometer instruments.
About TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer, the leader in prestigious sports watches and chronographs since
1860, is one of the largest and fastest growing luxury Swiss watch Brands. The
Swiss watch making legend draws upon its active engagement in the world of
sports to create the most accurate measuring instruments and sports watches in
the world. TAG Heuer is today the first watchmaker ever to master luxurious
Chronographs with an unsurpassed precision of 1/10th, 1/100th and 1/1,000th of
a second. From the Olympic Games in the 1920s to its role as official
timekeeper to within 1/10,000th of a second for the legendary Indy 500, TAG
Heuer, in a constant quest for innovation, excellence, performance and
prestige, continues to aim ever higher, as reflected in its partnerships with
Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in Formula 1 and its two aces: Fernando Alonso,
youngest ever and already two times Formula 1 world champion, and Lewis
Hamilton, the GP2 world champion in 2006. With two times Formula 1 world
vice-champion and Scuderia Ferrari F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, with No. 1 golfer
Tiger Woods and WTA No. 1 tennis player Maria Sharapova, three times world
Champcar champion Sebastien Bourdais, promising talent Bruno Senna as well as
Hollywood and Bollywood icons Leonardo DiCaprio and Shah Rukh Khan, TAG Heuer
more than ever epitomizes Sport and Glamour !
For information:
Rachel Branch Dana Lenetz
973-467-1890 ext 9271 973-467-1890 ext 9302
[email protected] [email protected]
SOURCE TAG Heuer
Rachel Branch, ext 9271, [email protected]; or Dana Lenetz, ext 9302,
[email protected], both of Tag Heuer, +1-973-467-1890
