In Singapore, today TAG Heuer presents the new Monza Flyback Chronometer, the return of a TAG icon with its bearing case but with an unusual material and an even more unusual dial.
LVMH Watch Week 2023 kicks off with several models from the group, which are the first to usher in the new year.
Monza and Niki Lauda: one of the most important circuits together with an F1 legend
In 1971 Enzo Ferrari asked for Heuer timing systems to be installed, as he was convinced they were cheating at Le Mans. Subsequently he refused to pay and to reach an agreement, Jack Heuer asked to put his logo on each car. Enzo gave the go-ahead on the condition that a gold watch be provided to each driver and 25,000 CHF each.
These stories are incredible if we think about the present day. Jack Heuer considered it the greatest marketing stunt of his life, as Ferrari was among the brands that already at the time received the most attention from all the newspapers. Thus began the relationship between the two houses.
In 1975 Lauda triumphed by winning the world championship. In 1976 Heuer celebrated this historic victory with one of the brand’s (in my opinion) most beautiful watches. The history of Motorsport is inextricably linked with TAG Heuer and a few lines would not be enough to tell it, especially if we are talking about the Monza.
The celebratory model was actually supposed to be called Modena, the birthplace of the prancing horse, but the importance of the name of the circuit was much better known worldwide. Hence the decision to call it Monza. In this article you will find the complete history of this model, from its origins to the present day.
The new Monza Flyback Chronometer in carbon by TAG Heuer
The new Monza Flyback Chronometer sports a carbon case, which incorporates the shades of the first model created in ’76, which had a black PVD treatment. With a diameter of 42mm, we are dealing with a watch of rather large dimensions, but which maintains the sportiness and robustness that one must expect from a modern Monza.
This model says goodbye to its dial to showcase the Caliber 02, which as you know has the crown on the right side of the case, compared to the Niki Lauda. At a glance we notice that the two sub-dials have a semi-transparent blue disc with red lacquered hands, blue Super-LumiNova indexes and a particular skeletonized date.
In fact, the disc has perforated numbers, which contrast with a white background at 9 o’clock. In this way, the numbers are masked in the circumference of the watch in the following days.
The COSC-certified Caliber 02
The mechanism inside the new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer is the now famous in-house Caliber 02, COSC certified.
What makes it special is the flyback function, more commonly called “return in flight” in Italian. It allows you to reset the running chronograph and restart it without having to stop it. In this way you will have the instantaneous possibility of timing a time immediately afterwards.
The only modern TAG Flyback before now was the Autavia, today the Monza is added.
The relationship with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team and Christian Horner
A few months ago a photo of TAG Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault appeared on Instagram together with Oracle Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner. The caption didn’t say much, but a watch could be glimpsed being handed over from Frédéric’s hands to Christian’s. Today we know that it was precisely the new edition of the Monza Flyback Chronometer.
Christian Horner talks about the importance of this timepiece and how it marked his career. It was the first TAG Heuer he bought, on his return from winning Ardern. The prize was given in cash, so Horner decided at Nice airport to buy that watch, making it a piece of history for his career.
Price and availability of the TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer
The new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer in carbon will have a retail price of €13,350 and will be available from January 2023. To read all the other news from LVMH Watch Week 2023 click here.
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