Everything has a name, and each name has a meaning and a reason for being named. So, what is the origin of the name of that famous watch? In this column, we will explore the secrets behind the names of watches and introduce them along with their anecdotes.
This time, we will explore the origin of the name of the Tag Heuer Monaco, one of the world's earliest automatic chronographs, released in 1969.
Photographs by Masanori Yoshie
TAG Heuer "Monaco"
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the TAG Heuer Monaco, one of the world's earliest automatic chronographs.
Fifty years ago, in 1969, the world's first three automatic chronograph movements were born almost simultaneously: Zenith's "El Primero," also known as "Caliber 3019PHC." Seiko's "Caliber 6139." And finally, the "Chronomatic," also known as "Caliber 11," jointly developed by Heuer, Breitling, Büren, and Dubois-Dépraz (or, more precisely, Heuer-Leonidas, Breitling, Hamilton-Büren, and Dubois-Dépraz).
The "Caliber 11" is a so-called modular movement, combining a Buren micro-rotor automatic movement with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module.
First released in 1969. This two-story automatic chronograph movement features a Hamilton-Buren automatic caliber 1280 series, wound by a micro-rotor, and a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module 8510. Its diameter is 31mm, its thickness is 7.7mm, it has 17 jewels, and its frequency is 19,800 vph. It has a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.
The four companies' joint development is said to have been a partnership between Heuer, Breitling, and Büren, with Dubois-Dépraz participating in the development at their request. However, other sources state that Heuer and Breitling partnered first, approached Dubois-Dépraz about the development, and that Büren was selected at Dubois-Dépraz's recommendation. Another theory states that Jack Heuer, the fourth generation of the founding family and current honorary chairman of TAG Heuer, contacted several companies, and that Dubois-Dépraz, which had previously collaborated on the "Monte Carlo" dashboard clock, as well as Büren and Breitling, responded. A more detailed version states that Jack Heuer asked his longtime friend Dubois-Dépraz to design the module, and then contacted Willy Breitling, another longtime friend and third-generation founder of Breitling, to collaborate on the development.
Whether this is true or not will be clear if we carefully examine documents such as contracts and blueprints, but what is interesting is that Heuer and Breitling, who were rivals as chronograph specialists, joined forces. This shows how urgent it was at the time to make chronographs automatic.
Thus began development of the Caliber 11. Approximately three years later, in 1968, the prototype was completed, and the three brands – Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton, which had acquired Buren – unveiled the world's first automatic chronograph at a launch event for the Caliber 11.
Heuer therefore decided to equip the Carrera, Autavia, and the all-new Monaco with the Caliber 11. The Monaco appears to have been Heuer's trump card at the joint launch event.
The Monaco's greatest feature is that it achieved practical waterproofness in a square case, something that had previously been thought to be impossible. The case was developed by case maker Erwin Piquele.
At the time, Erwin Piquelet was working with Heuer, and proposed a square waterproof case to Jack Heuer. Jack Heuer immediately signed an exclusive contract with Erwin Piquelet. Exclusive use of the square waterproof case would give Jack Heuer a huge advantage over Breitling and Hamilton. Furthermore, the world's first automatic chronograph, coupled with a square waterproof watch, would be a milestone in watchmaking history.
The Monaco was then launched alongside the Carrera and Autavia on March 3, 1969. The legend of the Monaco that followed is surely well known.
