Launched on 3rd March 1969, the Heuer Monaco was the first square, water-resistant automatic chronograph watch in the history of Swiss watchmaking. Named by Jack Heuer following the Monaco Grand Prix, the watch represented a complete break from the aesthetic codes of traditional watchmaking, with its large square case, metallic blue dial, bright red minute hand, domed plastic crystal and, most notably, its crown positioned on the left which, at the time, meant that the watch did not need winding.
Moreover, the timepiece offered perfect water resistance - a first for a square watch. It housed the famous Chronomatic Calibre 11, which was the first automatic chronograph movement offered for sale in the history of watchmaking.
With its track début in 1970, on the wrist of the Swiss driver Jo Siffert, the Heuer Monaco 1969 shared the following year the cinematic limelight with Steve McQueen, who insisted on wearing it during filming for Le Mans in 1971.
The Monaco Calibre 11 Chronograph offers all the attributes of the 1969 original: the 39 mm size, the crown on the left, the petroleum blue dial with two white counters, the date window at 6 o'clock, the diamond-polished horizontal hour indices, the inscribed vintage Heuer logo, the calibre 11 automatic chronograph with date and the water-resistance to 100 metres.
However, the three-part steel case (since 1998) is slightly more square on the 2015 version and closed with 4 screws. The two push-pieces are rectangular and the lugs a little larger. The watch is completed with a sapphire crystal (since 2009) and an open case-back, and fitted with a perforated calfskin strap with steel deployant buckle.
