Comments on: A Look at the TAG Heuer Monaco Range

By: DC

DC — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:35:14 +0000

Hi Cat,

Men’s watches can look very cool on women- especially a Monaco. Anyway, I’d better keep this post from my wife else my Monaco might go missing…

By: Cat

Cat — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:26:15 +0000

Some women get it. Like me…I wear a Steve McQueen Monaco current Cal. 12. I originally got a Breitling, and had a metric ton of trouble with it. Returned it to the jeweler for the Monaco because it’s very readable and it makes my hands look small (haha). And I thought it was a V7750 derivative. I like the crocodile strap and the big sapphire crystal, too. Plus, it’s brush finish and those wear better, and I like the blue/white/red colors on the dial and hands. And it has a date I can easily read. Then I got home and looked closer at it…it’s a 2892A2 with the Dubois Depraz piggyback! It has 55 jewels, and that might not be a big deal to some but I think it’s darn cool. And that combination has a history of reliability and accuracy. Plus, it goes with most of my suits for work. What’s not to like?

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:24:53 +0000

I agree with Hank that lesser people are appreciative of premium watches primarily due to the market being flooded with counterfeits and since the invention of digital watches and mobile phones, it continues to dwindle. Many settle on the fact that both show the time and never skip a beat (until they run out of juice).

Mass production of counterfeits indirectly de-value the genuine article, and as a result, many hesitate to buy a geniune in fear of people (without the ability to decipher it from a geniune or a counterfeit) possibly accusing them of having purchased a counterfeit item.

Bling in my personal opinion cater for the shallow, pretetious, and the rich and insecure. It is thankfully coming to an era, but there will unfortunately always be a market place for bling and major companies will always exploit it if there is money to be made.

Finally, in my personal opinion; people today simply do not understand the amount of attention to detail required, time, effort and accuracy to manufacture one of these premium time pieces. My wife for one is one that couldnt justify my obsession with Heuer Monaco’s and once we had the following conversation (she never asked again after this):

Wife: “why do you want something that’s ancient, large and doesnt keep time as accurately as your mobile phone or a $20 digital watch?”
Me: “why have you spent so much money on all your Louis V bags, wallets, agendas, keyring and pens? Other brands make the same thing for a fraction of the price, so why not buy those instead?
Wife: “they use quality materials, and they are carefully handcrafted by artisans…”
Me : “same as the watch”

By: DC

DC — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:06:43 +0000

Hank, I’d agree that the sapphire is scratch resistant, but not scratch-proof. Its true that some people don’t like the plexiglass, believing that its cheap to have plastic on an expensive watch. I however like the plexi on the Monaco.

Firstly, the original Monaco had the plexi and that did its legacy no harm. Sapphire has the issue of Anti-reflective coating- something that I don’t really like as it gives the watch a blue-ish hue. Plexi also has the benefit of being easy to buff out small scratches.

Do people not appreciate the Monaco as much as they used to? Not so sure about that. I agree with you on the bling-factor, but this era is coming to an end. Take a look at the new watches coming out at SIHH in Geneva- AP have released a mid-sized men’s Royal Oak (37mm)…and others are doing the same.

cheers

David

By: Hank

Hank — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:22:02 +0000

I like the idea of sapphire glass which I believe is more scratch proof. But sure, a direct replica in every way would’ve been better. But is that poosible using sapphire instead of plexi crystal? Do the materials have individual properties that makes sapphire unfit for the kind of crystal that the original McQueen had? I don’t know. Btw, I love the Monaco but it’s a bit sad that people nowadays don’t appreciate them as much. Now there’s so many watches in the square format and a lot of cheap crap that looks big and blingy. People don’t know the difference between premium watches and crap. But at least we do, right?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:14:01 +0000

It looks really good. Probably too flashy for me to actually want to wear. What do you guys think?

By: DC

DC — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 09:20:50 +0000

I didn’t like the sound of the black McQueen when I heard about it- but I have to admit that I think it looks good. Yes, I would like to keep the “re-edition” Monaco to only a couple of colours…and the use the modern LS case to showcase new colours/ dials/ movements.

By: Richardc

Richardc — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:01:12 +0000

Oh dear, im really not a fan of this version! I think the details just look wrong in comparison to the originals. Either a direct copy such as the new Silverstone or a totally new design like prototype Monacos for me…