TAG Heuer Just Turned the Monaco Into a Hypercar’s Cousin
TAG Heuer unveils the Monaco Split Seconds Air 1, a groundbreaking fusion of avant-garde design, motorsport heritage and technical mastery.
At Dubai Watch Week 2025, TAG Heuer revealed what may be its most audacious creation to date. The Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 marks the beginning of a new era for the historic Swiss maison.
It is a watch that fuses cutting-edge aerospace technology with the spirit of motorsport and the distinctive identity of the Monaco line. For serious collectors, it represents one of the most intriguing developments in contemporary watchmaking.
TAG Heuer Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1. Credit: TAG Heuer
The case alone signals a dramatic leap forward. Crafted in Grade 5 titanium and weighing just 85 grams, it is produced using Selective Laser Melting, an advanced additive manufacturing technique that TAG Heuer has adapted for fine watchmaking.
This method, more commonly seen in the aerospace and automotive sectors, allows the brand to create complex sculptural forms that traditional machining cannot achieve.
The result is a case that appears shaped by air. Its architectural profile, defined by taut lines and exposed lattices, evokes the aerodynamic language of hypercars. Titanium structures frame the movement while gold latticework beneath the bezel provides a refined contrast.
Together, they form an exoskeleton-like design that is both technical and luxurious.
Inside this lightweight structure beats the Calibre TH81 00, which is TAG Heuer’s most sophisticated chronograph movement.
Developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this high-frequency automatic movement operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of up to 65 hours.
Remarkably, it weighs only thirty grams without compromising stability or resilience.
The movement powers a split-second chronograph, a demanding complication that enables the wearer to time two events beginning simultaneously but ending separately.
The mechanism is visible through a sapphire caseback and is finished with TAG Heuer’s signature checkered flag decoration, which underlines the Monaco’s enduring link to motor racing.
The dial continues this sense of openness with a translucent sapphire construction that reveals the mechanical layers beneath. Golden touches on the hands and markers add warmth, while a yellow gold pusher at nine o’clock references the original left side crown of the Monaco.
A black rubber and alcantara strap completes the watch and ensures comfort for daily wear.
TAG Heuer’s story is intertwined with the evolution of precision timing. From the Mikrograph of 1916 to its present role as Official Timekeeper of Formula One, the brand has consistently shaped the chronograph landscape. The Air 1 advances this legacy with only thirty numbered pieces set for release.
Antoine Pin, chief executive of TAG Heuer, describes the Monaco Air 1 as a watchmaking revolution. It is difficult to disagree.
By placing cutting-edge manufacturing at the service of design, TAG Heuer has opened the door to a new generation of expressive and technically ambitious creations. For collectors, the Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is both a rarity and a statement of the future.
