For some reason I find that red flash on the 12 very distracting on this one. It looks fine on the black one, but not here. In a photo I saw where the second hand was reset it wasn't clear whether it actually had this or not and to me it looked better just pure silver with the red hand...

 

So this Titan Monaco is supposed to be limited to 500 pieces, right? But I can find no mention of this 500 number on the TAG Heuer website, unless I'm just missing it.

The Green Monaco has it clearly stated:
--
The TAG Heuer Monaco Green Dial celebrates the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique of which TAG Heuer is the Official Sponsor and Timekeeper. This never-seen-before dial color, a deep and subtle green, introduces a fresh take. Markings engraved on the oscillating mass and the column wheel of its in-house movement are also green. This special edition limited to 500 pieces will enchant watch aficionados.
--
But the Titan description only says:
The history-filled silver dial is paired with a resolutely modern and lightweight titanium Grade 2 case, solidifying the rebellious nature of this legend. A charismatic addition to the collection.

Also, the Green Monaco celebrates the GP de Monaco Historique. But is this Titan model celebrating something? I can find no mention of this on TAG Heuer's website either.

 

Rear one

 

The email that I just received clearly states 500 pieces.

 

They do continue to confuse things with their mismatched use of Special Edition and Limited Edition.

This is clearly a Limited, not Special.

 

It doesn't say that on the US website.

 

OK, the email I got says limited to 500 too. But the US website clearly needs to be updated, I looked it over several times and there's no mention.

 

Would the engraved print look better picked out in black?

 

Showed my wife the pictures, “Nice” she says, but then wags a finger at me.

 

Hhmmm I think it’s still conservative. I’m glad they didn’t go for the red subdial hands but red hour markers might have looked nice though.

 

I agree I'm being very picky, and without it it does look quite monotone.

 

The strap is really nice. Works terribly well with the matte case finish. It's also slimmer than most of the other TAG straps, so it feels nice and light!

 

Not impressed…

While I love the Monaco, I really don’t feel that you get your money's worth here (Cal.11, after all).

IMHO, this one should at least be in Ti Grade 5 and with a more elaborate case finish to vaguely justify its price tag.

 

Tried it on yesterday. It's really nice, if ultimately still not quite for me. I'm just not much of a silver dial person, and it takes a truly exquisite silver dial to grab me - hence, the 160. This one is a lot more "ice queen" silver, than the 160's warmer tone.

The case is really fun, it's slightly textured so that it's not fully matte. There's a very subtle sparkle effect, but overall the Monaco feels great in titanium.

Officially, it's the "Le Mans" edition according to the little plaque in the box, though that race is still a month away...



What I will say though, is that I'm still thinking about it a day later. A success, in my opinion! Not for me today, but who knows - maybe I'll find myself hunting one down in the years to come.

 

I do think the watch could have benefited from a touch more red - the two things I don't quite like are the stark white lume plots, and the polished subdial hands. (In the renders, they look white, which they should have been - instead, the polished hands disappear much of the time).

I think the H/M hand inserts could have been red, might try fooling around with a render.

 

A quote from another web site, my bolding:

Really? I mean, really? What a load of codswallop!!

 

Written by someone who clearly doesn't know what they're talking about.

 

It's interesting that the case is Grade 2 Titanium (pure Titanium), but per the specs on the Tag Heuer website, the caseback is Grade 5 (a Titanium alloy, mixed with some other metals).