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WATCH REVIEW TAG Heuer Monaco Twenty Four Concept

Editor's opinion
72 / 100
Suspended case, 36,000 VPH, let's review the Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph, a racing car variation of the Monaco. Put your seat straps on, and get ready for testing this fast-racing watch!
Straight to the Point

TAG Heuer Monaco Twenty Four Concept

Ref.: CAL5110.FC6265
$8,500.00 US retail price December 22nd, 2010
Pros
  • its original, groundbreaking architecture
  • a pleasant design
  • the quality of its movement
Cons
  • the chronograph’s readability is not intuitive
  • night legibility is weak
  • the titanium buckle
Technical specifications
Brand TAG Heuer
Model name
Monaco Twenty Four Concept
Reference
CAL5110.FC6265
Case material
Steel with black PVD coating
Case diameter (without crown)
40,5 mm
Case diameter (crown included)
45,22 mm
Movement type
Automatic
Caliber
Calibre 36
Base Caliber
Zenith El Primero
Functions
Chronograph
Date
Hour
Minute
Second
Crystal
Dual-face crystal with anti-reflective coating
Power reserve
50h
Transparent back
Yes
Lug width
22,51 mm
Length from lug to lug
49,23 mm
Case thickness
17,17 mm
Strap material
Alligator
Clasp type
Deployment clasp
Clasp material
Titanium
Total weight
129 grammes
Retail price USA at December 22nd, 2010
8,500.00 $
Editor's opinion 72/100
Comfort (/15) 13
Movement (/20) 11
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 3.5
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 4
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 1
Power reserve (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 1.5
Finishing (/20) 17.5
Dial finishing (/6) 5
Case finishing (/6) 5
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 2
Crystal quality (/4) 4
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 1.5
Functionality (/20) 14
Diurnal legibility (/5) 4
Night legibility (/4) 1.5
Water resistance (/3) 1
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 3.5
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 4
Additional items (/10) 4.5
Limited edition (/3) 2
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 0
Quality of the watch box (/1) 1
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 0.5
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 12
  • When to wear it ?
  • For the 24 Heures du Mans racing!
  • Foreword

    In lineal descent from the Monaco Sixty Nine (double-sided dial), the V4 (belt-driven movement) and the 360 LS (tenth-seconds accurate readability), the Monaco Twenty Four Concept is the latest iteration in a series of “special” Monaco watches, and was first presented during BaselWorld 2009, as a celebration of its Monaco little sister’s 40th birthday.

    This rather futuristic Monaco Concept results of the assembling of more or less obvious references to GT racing, both in design and manufacturing.

     

    High-tech design

    The most impressive feature is the movement being “suspended” within the case.
    It almost floats on four arms having a ‘composite shock absorber’ (according to TAG Heuer).

    Although crash testing the genuine input such a shock-absorbing technology would really bring was obviously not possible with the watch we had, it still gives it a very successful, see-through “high-tech” look.

    This architecture obviously echoes technical solutions used in professional motor sports.

    Weightless movement

    Another feature is the Calibre 36 Movement… nothing less than the famous Zenith El Primero.

    This world-acclaimed movement, is the only chronograph movement beating at 36,000 beats per hour, which gives it an amazing accuracy, together with the possibility of tenth-seconds measuring.

    The adornment and design conducted by TAG Heuer have been very neatly manufactured.
    They’re visible through a very wide and pleasant sapphire crystal caseback, with its GT mag-shaped, rim-like oscillating weight and orange colors, although we’re still in an industrial finishing process here.

     

    A genuine racing car watch

    The Twenty Four Concept complements its technical features with a few aesthetic references to the automobile racing world: a hulking “24” at 12 o’clock on the dial (as an homage to the 24 Heures du Mans racing), “blue/orange” stripes (just like on Steve McQueen’s “Gulf” Porsche in the film “Le Mans”)…

    TAG Heuer could have used a little more subtlety in the look of this watch!
    But we can’t deny the overall successful design of it all.

     

    Beautiful finishing

    The polished black PVD-coated case is nicely finished, and reminds of the Monaco V4 case, with its beveled sapphire glass jutting out on the edge.

    With its nice depth, the dial’s finishing is very pleasant too.

    The only “incongruity” comes from the titanium buckle: its color does not go together well with the black PVD-coated case, or with the push-pieces and steel fastenings…

    It perfectly sits on the wrist, thanks to the “millimeter scale” fit of the wristlet’s length.

    The case’s thickness is surprising but it unquestionably contributes to the ‘concept’ look of this timepiece.
    On the other hand, watch out for shocks on this prominent PVD case!

    It gets a little more complicated with the chronograph’s readability: the half dial used for the chrono (at 3 o’clock) doesn’t help in intuitively reading time.
    Displaying 1 to 15, it forces us in watching the hand’s color and starting mental arithmetic.
    If it’s orange, time is read directly. But if it’s white, one must add 15 minutes to the time told.
    Not an easy exercise when driving at 150 mph in the middle of two bends…

    What to remember

    With this latest version of the Monaco, TAG Heuer brings us a chronograph with many qualities.

    You’ll enjoy the racing car style design, the beautiful manufacturing, as well as its bold and unique attitude – not mentioning this full sapphire glass and its view on the movement!

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