Tag Heuer Monaco Gulf: A Well-Oiled Collaboration

For car racing and special edition watch enthusiasts, every few years brings a celebratory moment when TAG Heuer releases its latest Gulf-inspired Monaco model. The 2022 version arrives at official retailers in May, featuring a less striking color combination compared to its predecessors, along with a very sporty treatment on the dial.

TAG HEUER MONACO GULF SPECIAL EDITION CBL2115.FC6494

The first encounter between TAG Heuer, Porsche, and the Gulf oil company took place in the top tier of motor racing during the 1960s and 1970s, when Jack Heuer, head of the Swiss watch manufacturer, forged groundbreaking collaborations within the sport. As part of one agreement, driver Jo Siffert promoted Heuer watches at events and in the pit lane, wearing the latest models on his wrist and the Heuer logo on his racing overalls.

Jo Siffert was also Steve McQueen's driving instructor in the film Le Mans, when the actor had to learn how to drive the Porsche 917 at a race-ready level, which played a central role in the movie. The car featured the distinctive orange-and-blue livery of the Gulf oil company. This collaboration was a precursor and exemplary realization of what are now called brand ambassador agreements.

The first TAG Heuer Monaco watch with the Gulf logo and livery had to wait until 2007. Since then, special or limited edition models have been added to the TAG Heuer watch collection every 2–3 years, becoming favorites among collectors and investors, as owners of these watches possess a distinctive, immediately recognizable model that is no longer available for purchase once production ends.

The TAG Heuer Gulf special edition, available from May 2022, is part of the Monaco series, as Steve McQueen also wore a Monaco in the film. Introduced in 1969, the Monaco is the world's first water-resistant square watch case, which additionally houses an automatic chronograph movement created as part of a secret project.

The Gulf editions naturally feature the Gulf logo, along with the iconic orange-blue stripes that thrill motorsport enthusiasts from afar. This year's version introduces a novelty in both elements, as the colorful Gulf logo now appears in white.

A számlapon függőlegesen végigfutó csíkozás kevésbé tolakodó. A színek nem harsányak, a párhuzamosan futó két színes sáv a négyszögletes számlap szélére került, és a percskála körbe futó íve részben kitakarja.

On the sunray-finished blue dial, the two prominent subdials belong to the chronograph, with the Gulf colors reflected on the right-hand minute counter, while the other side features a 12-hour counter.

At 6 o’clock, the continuously rotating seconds hand is almost imperceptible, with the date displayed on a white background disc beneath it. Above, the indispensable Gulf logo appears, this time in a simple and more elegant white version instead of orange.

The upper part of the dial is clearly dominated by the striking, applied, polished, and rhodium-coated 60 numeral, highlighting the chronograph function while evoking the numbers found on racing car hoods.

From a traditional watchmaking perspective, however, the biggest innovation lies inside the case, as for the first time the TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf received TAG Heuer’s in-house developed and manufactured Calibre 02 movement. The integrated chronograph movement can store enough energy in its fully wound mainspring for 80 hours of power reserve. Fortunately, through the sapphire caseback, we can admire the modified movement created for this special edition.

The 39-millimeter stainless steel case, water-resistant up to 100 meters, can be secured to the wrist with a perforated blue calfskin strap, featuring orange stitching and a polished double safety folding clasp.