LVMH 2019 . LV M H s t o r i e s
128 129
T A G H E U E R Five l im ited ed ition s celebrating 50 years
of the Mon aco
It was in 1969 that Jack Heuer the Maison s presi-dent at the time launched the Monaco, a unique timepiece that became famous for its exceptional design and groundbreaking technology. This iconic watch achieved two world firsts: the first water-resistant timepiece with a square case, and the first automatic chronograph movement the Calibre 11. Half a century later, TAG Heuer paid tribute to this model and its disrup- tive design by holding a series of events throughout 2019 in Europe, the United States and Asia. At each of these events, a new limited-edition Monaco model was released, each one representing the unique aesthetics of one of the five decades since its original launch. The first of these exclusive pieces, inspired by the dec- ade from 1969 to 1979, was unveiled at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix in May. The second, an homage to the period from 1979 to 1989, was presented in June at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France the epic endurance race depicted in the 1971 film Le Mans, in which actor and King of Cool Steve McQueen sports the legendary timepiece on his wrist. The third special-edition Monaco timepiece, which harks back to the 1990s, made its grand entrance in July at the New York round of the Formula E championship. The fourth edition, honoring the refined style of the early 2000s, was equally well received world- wide following its debut at the Tokyo National Museum in September. The Swiss watchmaker capped off the celebrations in October with the fifth and final watch, embodying the 2010s, at an immersive event held at Shanghai s Space Plus venue. To mark this anniversary, TAG Heuer also published a book that traces the history and spirit of this improbable icon: Paradoxical Superstar documents the Monaco s story with archive excerpts, never-before-seen photos and sketches of designs and movements.
True to the collection s origins, the TAG Heuer Monaco
anniversary editions perpetuate its avant-garde spirit and
offer a glimpse into the history of a legendary watch.