If you’re a true Formula 1 fan, you know that championships are built, and sometimes lost, in the blink of an eye. This past week in Montréal, the Canadian Grand Prix 2025 delivered just that: raw speed, sharp strategy, and split-second drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats. But while the engines roared and tires screamed, precision timing was the silent force behind every decisive moment. That’s where TAG Heuer stepped in.
As the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1, TAG Heuer defines it. And with the launch of the ultra-exclusive Monaco Split‑Seconds Chronograph F1®, the brand celebrates both the heritage of racing and the cutting-edge of horological engineering in one unforgettable statement.
A Collector’s Dream Born on the Grid
The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1® isn’t just rare, it’s virtually unattainable. Limited to only 10 pieces worldwide, this ultra-exclusive release marks one of the boldest moves in TAG Heuer’s modern history. More than a tribute, it’s a celebration of the brand’s return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1, engineered for those who don’t just watch racing, they live it.
Crafted from lightweight grade 5 titanium, the case combines technical mastery with motorsport DNA, echoing the materials found in F1 chassis and performance components. The split-seconds rattrapante function, typically reserved for haute horlogerie, allows the wearer to track two intervals at once, ideal for timing simultaneous laps or comparing drivers with absolute precision. It’s not just a feature; it’s a racing tool on the wrist.
This Monaco isn’t mass-produced, nor is it designed to blend in. With its radical red and black color palette, open-worked dial, and visible rattrapante mechanism, it demands attention and rewards inspection. For seasoned collectors, it’s the kind of piece that defines a collection and a mechanical milestone tied directly to a historic moment in both Formula 1 and horology.
Dial Design: A Transparent View to Speed
The dial of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split‑Seconds Chronograph F1® is spectacular. Crafted from red-tinted sapphire crystal, the transparent face offers an unobstructed view into the heart of the movement, allowing enthusiasts to admire the skeletonized TH81-00 calibre in full motion. Every bridge, wheel, and lever is visible, underscoring the watch’s technical artistry and mechanical audacity.
Adding depth and texture are the asphalt-patterned subdials, a subtle but clever nod to the race circuits themselves. Look closer, and you’ll spot race-day references like “LIGHTS OUT” and “AWAY WE GO” printed on the inner flange, phrases that ignite the adrenaline of every Formula 1 start. These aren’t just decorative; they ground the piece in the visceral thrill of motorsport.
The hands, also skeletonized, are coated with Super‑LumiNova®, ensuring high legibility in both daytime glare and dim pit-lane lighting. In a world where milliseconds matter, that clarity isn’t just aesthetic, it’s essential. This is a dial built for drama, speed, and technical admiration from every angle.
Rarity & Collector Appeal
With a retail price of CHF 155,000 (approximately USD 188,500), the TAG Heuer Monaco Split‑Seconds Chronograph F1® is a declaration of horological intent. This is TAG Heuer’s most exclusive chronograph in recent memory, and only 10 pieces will ever be produced globally.
What truly elevates its collector value is the movement: the TH81-00 calibre, which not only features split-seconds functionality but does so using ultra-light titanium components and a fully skeletonized construction. Built in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this movement rivals some of the most prestigious split-seconds chronographs on the market from the likes of Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, but it brings its own F1-specific narrative to the table.
This is a watch made not for the masses, but for those who understand the intersection of extreme engineering, motorsport culture, and haute horlogerie.
See It Up Close at La Maison Monaco
Whether you were in Montréal for the race or lucky enough to call this city home, the Canadian Grand Prix weekend offered a rare chance to experience something truly exceptional.
At La Maison Monaco’s Royalmount boutique, visitors had the exclusive opportunity to see the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1® up close. From the moment you slipped on its featherlight titanium case to watching the rattrapante hand glide in action, it was a moment of connection between horology and motorsport, between precision and passion.
For many, it was the weekend they made the split-second decision to own a living piece of TAG Heuer and Formula 1 history.
