Tag Heuer dipped into the archives to recreate one of its most iconic models. The special edition piece is a remake of its Monaco watch, made famous when Steve McQueen wore it at Le Mans.
The watch was first introduced in 1974 and remained a coveted item. The sought-after edition was only made in 200 pieces, so the watch fetches a six-figure digit whenever it pops up on auction. The latest edition, however, has been updated with an all-black matte dial and matte PVD case. When the initial Monaco was released, the now pervasive blackening treatment was something that had just been born. In fact, Heuer’s Dark Lord was one of the first watches ever to be coated in PVD.
The reimagined Dark Lord comes almost 50 years after the initial watch was released. The modern iteration is cased in black Grade 2 titanium coated in DLC. The choice of material means that the modern iteration is less corrosive and lightweight than the initial version. The “022 edition of the Dark Lord is also only the second time that the company will use titanium on its watches. Back in ’74, when the Dark Lord was first conceptualized, titanium was not a metal used for watches.
The Dark Lord features an in-house Calibre Heuer 02 movement built with a traditional column wheel. The movement offers up to 80 hours of power reserve. The movement finishes off with a rose-gold oscillating mass that can be seen through the back of the sapphire crystal case. The watch’s dial of the special edition features a satin-brushed finish. The exterior of the dial and the chronograph registers are treated with a sandblasted grain finish – which is meant to evoke tires on the track. The second hand and the chronograph register have been given a deep red dip, while the hour and minutes hand is featured in rose gold and sport Super-Luminova.
The Monaco Tribute to Dark Lord Special Edition features a 39mm case and comes with a classic black alligator leather strap. The watch will be available this month in TAG Heuer boutiques and retails at $8,200.
Images: Supplied
