Monaco question

Posts
10
Likes
6
Hi, new here.

i am wondering does a guide or some reference exist for the various models and changes to the Monaco model since the original?

I see a lot of different Monaco's for sale but not sure which models are what with what movements, when they were made etc...
There also seems to be an endless variety of special models and limited editions, different Steve McQueen models etc...etc.

Looking for some reference info to understand what is what.

thank you.
 
Posts
8,076
Likes
16,361
Welcome to the forum!

There's nothing that I know of that has the complete history from 1969 up to the latest releases of 2024 all in one place. Vintage and Modern pieces seem to be covered separately.

- TAG Heuer's website has an overview of vintage Heuer Monaco models, pre-TAG Heuer:
Vintage Heuer Monaco Collection | TAG Heuer ®

- Our forum member @Aquagraph has a consolidated list based on TAG Heuer's catalogues from 1997 (when the Monaco was reintroduced) to almost present:
TAG HEUER ENTHUSIAST: HISTORY: TAG Heuer Monaco (1997-)

Combine the two and you've got a fairly complete history of the references.
 
Posts
11,595
Likes
37,182
Easy movement reference is:

If it's old (1969-1970s): (Not sure? The pushers are small and round.)

-Crown on the left,
-two register - it's a Cal 11 / 11i / 12. (Same movement just with some improvements for reliability)
-one asymmetric register and a weird little running seconds at 10 o'clock, cal 15 (decontented version of the Cal 11)

-Crown on the right,
-two register WITH date window - Valjoux 7734.
-two register, no date window, 7733.
-3-register, 7736

If it's new (1990s+): (Not sure? The pushers are oblong.)

Crown on the left, it's the new Cal 11 (ETA 2892 + Dubois Depraz chronograph module)

Crown on the right,
-two register and says 'Calibre 12' it's the new Cal 12, same as the new Cal 11 above but without the novel arrangement
-two register but they have different designs, no markings on the running seconds, ETA 2894 (ETA 2892 + ETA chronograph module)
-two register with silly vestigial running seconds and costs more, Heuer-02
-3-register, 'Calibre 17', ETA 2894

For a short time there was an overgrown, blobby Monaco called the '24' that had the Calibre 36, which was a Zenith El Primero.
 
Posts
11,595
Likes
37,182
At least I didn't call it 'fugly' or 'an affront to good design'