It was a victory forty years in the making as Jack Heuer, Honorary Chairman of TAG Heuer, took to the stage to accept the Revival Watch Prize at the prestigious 2016 Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève in November. This year’s prestigious Revival award was for TAG Heuer’s 40^th Anniversary Monza, announced earlier this year at Baselworld.

Four decades ago, the original Heuer Monza was designed by Jack Heuer, the great grandson of the brand’s founder, Edouard Heuer.  The latest Monza is not merely a reincarnation of the classic, however, but rather the culmination of nearly a century of design and innovation.

The original Monza, released in 1976, was created to commemorate Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda's first championship title with Ferrari and was produced into the mid-‘80s, then resurrected in 2000 as the first of numerous re-editions, culminating with the 2016 Monza.

The 1976 versions are quite different from today’s Monza, however. Most notably, they shared a case previously used on the second generation Heuer Carreras produced from 1969 through 1978. This case was also used in third generation Autavias into the early 1980s.

An iconic evolution

Today’s Monza owes its shape to Heuer models reaching back more than 90 years. Its case is a direct descendant of Heuer’s prophetically named Ancetre, a French term meaning, “the forerunner of” or “ancestor.” The Ancetre was a monopusher chronometer that debuted in 1925 and remained in production through the 1930s.

Incidentally, the Autodromo Nazionale racetrack at Monza, Italy was built in 1922, just prior to Heuer’s Ancetre case design that would eventually carry the Monza name.

The Ancetre’s case design reappeared in 1968 when Heuer released the Camaro line, paying tribute the to Chevrolet Camaro in an effort to embrace the American racing market. The Camaro was available in Valjoux powered manual wind only. The Camaro line ran through into 1972.

Rise of the “millennial” Monza

A pivotal event happened in 2000, when TAG Heuer brought back the Monza as a re-edition. These “millennial” Monzas were housed in the Ancetre/Camaro case, incorporating TAG Heuer’s Calibre 6 (ETA 2895) automatic movement and eventually even a Calibre 36 (El Primero). With classic dials and the Ancetre/Camaro case, the millennial re-editions had no resemblance to the 1976 Monzas.

2016 Monza: The definitive Monza…redefined

With its 2016 release, the complicated lineage of the Monza has reached a crescendo. It combines the best features of ‘70s icons with the millennial case and the legendary moniker. Even the most loyal fans of vintage Heuers shoud be hard pressed not to appreciate this watch. 

At a glance, the first thing you notice about the Monza is…everything. The case, dial and strap all come together with a powerful gestalt that is uniquely Monza. No details were overlooked, no corners were cut. This is a no-compromise timepiece.

Monza’s dial stays true to its heritage with a brilliant mix of elements derived from the original models. 

As with other re-editions, TAG Heuer even opted to use pre-TAG versions of the brand’s iconic “Heuer” logo.  -  Respect.

While some prefer their lume to age naturally, in my opinion, the yellowed luminescence adds to the dial by providing a subtle contrast with otherwise white elements. Ample SuperLuminova™ is applied to the hands to ensure more than adequate legibility.

A unique detail derived from the ’76 Monza is the use of dissimilar hands on the registers. Differing in both color and shape, these hands easily distinguish the minute counter (white) from the running seconds (red).

Though a tachymeter, used to determine speed, is common on many watches, the Monza also has a pulsometer on the dial to measure heart rate.

The 2016 Monza’s date window is located directly over the 6 o’clock position.

One interesting deviation from the original dial is the finish. Difficult to capture but easy to see, a subtle sunburst pattern radiates from the center of the dial.

The new Monza is sculpted from a block of Grade 5 titanium that makes it exceptionally lightweight and increases shock resistance.  The case size has also been increased to 42mm from 39mm of the millennial Monzas.

2016 is the first of the millennial Monzas clad in a PVD variant that TAG Heuer refers to as  “Titanium Carbide".  The finish also contains a clever mix of both brushed and polished surfaces. The case is topped with a domed sapphire crystal, scratch resistant and AR coated on both sides.

Inside the Monza beats TAG Heuer’s 37-jewels Caliber 17 automatic, essentially an ETA 2894 beating at 28,800 vph. It has a rapid date correction and power reserve of around 42 hours. The solid case back obscures the movement’s finish including the TAG Heuer branded oscillating weight. Only inside the case will you see reference to 'TAG Heuer'.

The robust, screw-down case back also contains both polished and brushed surfaces as well as the inscription establishing it as a “Limited Edition.” The exact number produced has not yet been determined. As of this writing, they have produced about 2,000 pieces for distribution worldwide. I’m told there are still a few available at TAG Heuer Authorized Dealers.

The vintage style strap is made from soft, supple calfskin leather that wears comfortably on  the wrist. It’s secured with a locking deployant coated in Titanium Carbide.

ON THE WRIST:

The proof is in the pudding. In this case, TAG Heuer’s 2016 Monza re-edition is simply a joy to wear. Its soft, pliable strap and lightweight titanium construction make it incredibly comfortable. And even at 42mm, this watch slips discretely under the cuff.

With the release of the newest Monza, TAG Heuer has added another chapter to a story that began well before most of us were born. It’s not merely a story about a watch, but the evolution of design and technology that is inextricably interconnected to our fascination with cars, racing and the spirit of competition.

Few companies have such rich history and deep roots connecting these diverse human passions. Since its earliest lap timers, TAG Heuer has continued to demonstrate its commitment to time and racing. TAG Heuer doesn’t just capture time for racing, it is an integral part of racing itself.

A collector’s watch?

It was great to see the Monza win the Revival Watch Prize at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève. With such a rich history attached to the Monza, I was curious to know how vintage Heuer collectors would receive the new Monza.

I contacted a friend and vintage Heuer collector, Eric Singer. Not only was Singer a judge for the 2015 Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève, but many in the community know Eric as an aficionado of watches with a personal collection ranging from classic to modern and even what he refers to as “funky". Still, with his comprehensive knowledge and vast collection, Eric readily admits his passion for vintage Heuers in particular.

When asked about the new Monza, Eric shared several thoughts. “I really like it. The slightly larger size and use of materials to bring it into the modern era I think make the piece unique.”  Singer went on to explain, “I like the use of materials and the overall ‘look’ of the watch. The dial with the vintage luminescence I think is a nice touch, and I am not usually a fan of the manipulated aged dial look.”

Upon trying on the Monza, Eric noted, “I found the watch to be very comfortable and the dimensions are perfectly in line with watches of today's wearers. The strap having the vintage diver look is nice, but being made of soft supple leather gives it a slightly dressier look and feel.”

Finally, I asked if he felt this piece was destined to be sought after by future collectors. “That is always a tough question. If you, the wearer/buyer likes it, then that alone is the reason to buy this watch in my opinion.

I think TAG Heuer has been very good at staying attached to their past and moving forward with modern materials and even sometimes increasing the size of said models to create ‘new' collectibles.”

Final thoughts

Ever since I began indulging my passion for watches, I have shirked labeling myself as a “collector", identifying myself instead simply as an “enthusiast". I have always been in awe of those I see acquiring multiple releases from a line of watches, obsessing over the most subtle of their differences.  These to me are the “collectors"; not just people who acquire, but those who resurrect the lineage and the passion for a particular line. They tell a story; they preserve history itself. They are the horological archeologists...

As I shifted the new Monza into the “must have” column of my wish list, I found myself lusting not just for the new Monza, but also for the 2000 reissues, the icons of the '70s and the holiest of vintage grails for me, an original Ancetre circa 1920s - 1930s. And the list grows with my knowledge of the brand and the history of these pieces.

The 2016 Monza is a long overdue synthesis of models. Part Ancetre, part Monza, part Camaro, one thing is for certain, this watch is undeniably Monza. It is the perfect incarnation of nearly a century of evolution into a single timepiece that represents the history of the brand and an entire sport’s past, present and future. It’s a single watch derived from vintage, iconic designs yet as stylish and modern as ever.

TAG Heuer has done an exceptional job of moving the Monza tradition forward. It’s a worthy tribute to its predecessors and heritage. Beyond legend and legacy, the 2016 Monza is formidable in its own right and a contemporary classic.

2016 Monza Specifications: