D.C. Hannay
TAG Heuer has been synonymous with motorsport for decades, and they're back with an eye-popping new edition of their classic Monaco chronograph. The Monaco is one of the cornerstones of the brand's legendary foundation, and has been since it burst into the spotlight way back in 1969, as one of the very first automatic chronographs the world had ever seen. By the mid-’70s, due to changing tastes and the dominance of quartz watches in the marketplace, the model disappeared from Heuer's catalogue. After Heuer evolved into TAG Heuer, the Monaco was brought back in the late 90s, and the iconic model has evolved in the ensuing years. The new Night Driver is the latest iteration, and it brings with it a refined monochromatic look, but one with a hidden twist. In fact, you could say the Night Driver has a bit of a split personality after dark. Let's put on the night vision goggles and get a closer look.The caseThe Night Driver keeps the form factor of modern Monacos, with the square case sporting the crown and pushers on the right, as opposed to the left hand crown of the original and vintage reissues. But something different is going on here, starting with the case material, now in lightweight grade 5 titanium, which perfectly suits the race-inspired aesthetic.The case, crown, and pushers are all rendered in black DLC, and there's a nice mix of fine brushing and polishing that brings some real dimensionality to the unconventional shape. The diameter is a reasonable 39mm, with a case height of 14.7mm and lug-to-lug of 47.4mm. However, since it's a square case, it's going to wear larger than a round one. The dial is protected by a domed and beveled square sapphire crystal, and a round sapphire caseback protects the movement while offering a clear view. Water resistance is listed at 100 metres – impressive for a chrono without screw-down pushers.The dialThe dial is where the Night Driver sets itself apart from other Monacos. In fact, it's where the watch gets its name. At first glance, the dial has a cool, greyscale monochrome look by daylight, with an anthracite inner dial, set off by light grey opaline in the outer corners and the two squared-off subdials. Dial hardware is all black gold-plate, including the indices, hour, minute, and subdial hands. A light grey chrono hand sits in the center, with a date window at six.Kill the lights, however, and you'll see why TAG Heuer calls it the Night Driver. The outer dial, subdials, hour markers, and hands glow with the intensity of a searing blue flame, due to the generous application of Super-LumiNova. The glow is so intense, TAG Heuer claims it'll stay legible hours after charging. This has to be one of the most effective uses of lume on a chrono dial I've seen, and it reminds me of the intensity of the infamous full lume dial of TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer Night Diver.The movementSo, the dial is obviously the star of this show, but the rest of this Monaco is equally impressive, including the movement, which can be fully appreciated through the sapphire of the visible caseback. It's the Calibre Heuer 02, an automatic column wheel chrono with 33 jewels, a beat rate of 4Hz, and an impressive 80-hour power reserve. As far as decoration, it's got Geneva striping, a matching blue column wheel, and a black oscillating weight that resembles an alloy racing wheel, which gets engraving in a complementary blue that recalls the light show going on up front.The strapThe strap goes for a vintage feel, in perforated black calfskin that features contrast stitching. Like a pair of well-crafted driving gloves, it looks the part of a race-ready accessory, and fastens with a black DLC titanium folding clasp that matches the case.The verdictThe Monaco lineup continues to expand, and with the dual personality of the dial, along with the blacked-out Grade 5 titanium case, this one looks like it's ready for the winner's circle. The monochromatic vibe is cool and understated, but when it's lights out, all bets are off when that bright blue glow hits.TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Night Driver price and availabilityThe TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Night Driver is available now as a limited edition of 600 pieces. Price: A$13,800, US$9,550BrandTAG HeuerModelMonaco Chronograph Night DriverReference NumberCBL2181.FC6515Case Dimensions39mm (D) x 14.7mm (T) x 47.4mm (LTL)Case MaterialDLC grade 5 titaniumWater Resistance100 metresCrystal(s)Domed and bevelled sapphire front, sapphire casebackDialAnthracite with lumed outerLug Width22mmStrapBlack calfskin with DLC grade 5 titanium claspMovementHeuer 02, in-house, automatic, column wheel chronographPower Reserve80 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronographAvailabilityNow, limited to 600 piecesPriceA$13,800US$9,550
14.09.23