The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 marks a definitive shift in avant-garde watchmaking, seamlessly blending technological innovation with the brand’s storied motorsport heritage. Revealed at Dubai Watch Week in 2025, this timepiece epitomises precision and complexity, standing as one of the most sophisticated chronographs TAG Heuer has crafted to date. Fusing a design inspired by hypercars with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, it signals a bold new chapter for the Monaco lineage.
The dial of the Air 1 is a study in clarity and intricate craftsmanship. Constructed from translucent sapphire, it presents an ethereal window into the calibre beneath while maintaining superb legibility. White markings punctuate the dial, adorned with applied white Super-LumiNova blocks and golden lacquered indices that elegantly catch the light. There are three subdials in black opaline finish: the 3 o’clock minute chronograph counter and the 9 o’clock hour chronograph counter both feature golden lacquered hands and crisp white markings, while the permanent seconds at 6 o’clock is rendered on a fine-brushed and sandblasted Grade-5 titanium ring, complete with black markings and a rhodium-plated hand. The main hour and minute hands are rhodium-plated, open-worked, with golden lacquered tips and filled with white Super-LumiNova, balancing sportiness and refinement. Central chronograph hands distinguish themselves in white lacquer and golden lacquer for the split-seconds function, crowning the dial with meticulous sophistication. The dial bears the iconic TAG Heuer logo, with “MONACO RATTRAPANTE CHRONOGRAPH” printed subtly, anchoring the design in the brand’s prestigious history.
At the heart of the Air 1 is TAG Heuer’s calibre TH81-00, an automatic high-frequency split-seconds chronograph movement designed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This calibre operates at an elevated frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), granting exceptional timing precision and a power reserve of 65 hours when the chronograph is not in use, 55 hours with it running. Weighing merely 30 grams without sacrificing robustness, many of its key components are fashioned from Grade-5 titanium, enhancing both lightness and durability. The movement’s hand-finishing is exemplary, highlighted by TAG Heuer’s signature checkered flag pattern etched delicately onto the oscillating weight, which is honeycomb decorated and lacquered in gold. The transparent sapphire case back showcases the mechanism’s meticulous decoration and complex architecture, serving as a visual highlight that echoes the watch’s racing pedigree. This calibre facilitates the rattrapante complication, enabling two simultaneous chronograph timings, precise enough to mimic recording lap times of competing Formula 1 cars.
The case construction demonstrates unprecedented innovation through the use of Selective Laser Melting (SLM), a process borrowed from aerospace, medical, and automotive industries. This additive manufacturing technique allows the Grade-5 titanium case to take on complex three-dimensional forms previously unattainable by conventional subtractive machining. The 41mm case exhibits taut, sculpted lines and dynamic, muscular edges that evoke high-performance car aerodynamics, embodying an exoskeleton-like structure that frames a dual-layer honeycomb mesh inspired by hypercar engine covers. The bezel carries a black DLC-coated Grade-5 titanium finish contrasted by lattices of solid 18-carat 2N yellow gold, a marriage of precious and technical materials. This mesh not only embellishes the case but also serves as a surround for the movement, offering structural intrigue and aerodynamics at play. Chronograph pushers and a tapered crown, also DLC-coated Grade-5 titanium, maintain the design ethos of lightweight performance. The split-seconds pusher at 9 o’clock revives the spirit of the original left-sided Monaco crown, forged in solid yellow gold, underlining the model’s attachment to its heritage. The entire case and case back assembly is secured by polished and beveled sapphire crystals fastened with four visible screws, while the watch is paired with a sporty black rubber strap overlaid with Alcantara inserts, secured by a black DLC Grade-5 titanium butterfly clasp.
TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is a transformative expression of the brand’s philosophy of placing technology at the service of design. It redefines the possibilities of case engineering, movement architecture, and dial aesthetics within a single timepiece, designed not only to impress on a technical level but also to perform reliably in everyday use. Limited to just thirty pieces, its price point at 150,000 CHF reflects the watch’s exclusivity and unparalleled craftsmanship. This is a chronograph that sits at the apex of TAG Heuer’s collection, honouring its enduring legacy of precision and innovation while boldly striding into the future. The Air 1 is a vivid reminder that horological progress need not sacrifice beauty, finishing, or usability, producing a watch that is as much a technological marvel as it is an objet d’art fit for the wrists of connoisseurs. This is indeed a new dawn for the Monaco and a compelling herald of what lies ahead for TAG Heuer.
