New Post: TAG Heuer Monaco 50th Anniversary Watch 3: 1989-99 Limited Edition

Mspeedster

OH HAPPY DAY, OH HAPPY DAY!!!!! 😁

My '90s Monaco 50 has arrived safe and sound! I was so giddy with anticipation that I could hardly sleep last night. At work, I kept checking the Fed EX status over and over, asking my wife to make sure she was home to collect this invaluable delivery. My fears of something going wrong were for naught, my new prized possession was waiting for me when I got home.

I'm happy to say I've officially joined the Monaco 50 club! Without further ado, here's a few quick pics!

sharknight

https://ebay.us/QpYcef

ASW

Wearing this today at a wedding whilst also receiving the good news a 90s is waiting for me 😀

Jim Dollares

@Mspeedster big congrats to an amazing piece, what a great addition to your collection! Awesome photos as well, thank you for sharing 😝

Tag_ZA

WOW!! Those photos are great, better than most of the professional ones I've seen! Congratulations on the purchase, glad it all worked out for you.

This one is definately my favourite so far. I'm yet to buy my first Monaco as I was always a Carrera fan but this has definitely swayed me. Let the savings begin!

Hubert

Lucky, lucky you! Congrats!!

heuer1860

That is a great piece, Mspeedster. Big congrats on that purchase Sir and the circumstances around getting it.
I can understand your feeling in terms of excitement as Ive just experienced it myself.
Whenever I see, what I like to term the "Blue jeans" version in a macro shot I get very excited by that dial.
As a lot of us passionate collectors will possibly only get to see 1 of the 5 watches due to their scarcity, I say one day we have a get together and have a little 50,s party of our own. Maybe Tag Heuer could set a side a little from their marketing budget to pay for a few beers and some cheese and crackers for us.

abrod520

Must be a great job - Heritage at TAG Heuer - just do nothing all day as you watch them pump out Alec Monopoly watches!

Mspeedster

Here are my initial impressions of the watch:

While the dial doesn't have the attention grabbing flare of the gorgeous blood red dial of #2 or the allure of the beautifully hypnotic Côtes de Genève dial treatment of #1, this dial pulls you in with all its little details. When I first saw the reveal photos, I wasn't sure if I liked the asphalt finish, but I now feel its a real highlight, very unique and one of the best things about the dial. In most photos the dial looks like concrete, but in person under brighter lighting, there's a silvery metallic appearance to it, kind of like silver ore.

Another thing that might not come across in photos is the sub-dial detail. The inner squares are actually further indented from the blue outline squares, giving it a stepped 3D like affect. I also like the look of the sub-dial outlines, which reminds me of the white faced Rolex Daytona's sub-dials, albeit squares instead of circles.

The strap completes and integrates the overall look. To me, the strap is very racy looking and another real highlight. I have no issues with the quality of the leather. It has a smooth fine grain finish and feels nice to the touch. @Hubert described the strap on #2 as asperous, which I'm not really seeing or feeling on my strap. It is stiffer compared to the standard Monaco's calf strap, but I think that has more to do with the inner strap material rather than the leather.

The only nit I have is the font used for "Monaco" on the dial. I wish they had used the vintage font as on 1 & 2. Instead, it uses the modern font. I guess that makes sense, since the modern re-edition Monaco was reintroduced in the '90s. But I also wish the font lettering was thicker. The thin letters are not as visible as I'd like because the of the uneven asphalt surface treatment of the dial. The vintage font is used on the caseback, so I'm happy with that. Another thing to point out is the only lume on the watch is on the hands. There's no lume on the dots, something I'm not used to, but not really a nit.

Overall I'm super happy with the watch! I can't stop looking at it. I also have a renewed appreciation for 1 & 2 and can't wait to see 4 & 5. Although my piggy bank is now empty, so this will be my one and only Monaco 50.

Mspeedster

Here are my initial impressions of the watch:

While the dial doesn't have the attention grabbing flare of the gorgeous blood red dial of #2 or the allure of the beautifully hypnotic Côtes de Genève dial treatment of #1, this dial pulls you in with all its little details. When I first saw the reveal photos, I wasn't sure if I liked the asphalt finish, but I now feel its a real highlight, very unique and one of the best things about the dial. In most photos the dial looks like concrete, but in person under brighter lighting, there's a silvery metallic appearance to it, kind of like silver ore.

Another thing that might not come across in photos is the sub-dial detail. The inner squares are actually further indented from the blue outline squares, giving it a stepped 3D like affect. I also like the look of the sub-dial outlines, which reminds me of the white faced Rolex Daytona's sub-dials, albeit squares instead of circles.

The strap completes and integrates the overall look. To me, the strap is very racy looking and another real highlight. I have no issues with the quality of the leather. It has a smooth fine grain finish and feels nice to the touch. @Hubert described the strap on #2 as asperous, which I'm not really seeing or feeling on my strap. It is stiffer compared to the standard Monaco's calf strap, but I think that has more to do with the inner strap material rather than the leather.

The only nit I have is the font used for "Monaco" on the dial. I wish they had used the vintage font as on 1 & 2. Instead, it uses the modern font. I guess that makes sense, since the modern re-edition Monaco was reintroduced in the '90s. But I also wish the font lettering was thicker. The thin letters are not as visible as I'd like because the of the uneven asphalt surface treatment of the dial. The vintage font is used on the caseback, so I'm happy with that. Another thing to point out is the only lume on the watch is on the hands. There's no lume on the dots, something I'm not used to, but not really a nit.

Overall I'm super happy with the watch! I can't stop looking at it. I also have a renewed appreciation for 1 & 2 and can't wait to see 4 & 5. Although my piggy bank is now empty, so this will be my one and only Monaco 50.

sharknight

I have just picked up my #3 and have to agree with Mspeedsters first impressions, it is a lovely timepiece and as others have commented so much nicer than the early pictures we all saw.
If the Monaco 50 club gets off the ground, count me in as well !
I took a picture a short while ago of the new addition with his slightly older brother #1...

.

Mspeedster

Big congratulations! Did that book come with it? If so, I need to bug TH about why I didn't get one.

sharknight

It did but I had to ask for it - they did not have any but managed to get one in for me

Albert-AMG

or SilverStone, specially this weekend! 😉

sharknight

I have just picked up my #3 and have to agree with Mspeedsters first impressions, it is a lovely timepiece and as others have commented so much nicer than the early pictures we all saw.
If the Monaco 50 club gets off the ground, count me in as well !
I took a picture a short while ago of the new addition with his slightly older brother #1...

.