CBL2117
Monaco BA0644 - Monaco
Lug width: 22 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 39 mmSilver dial
- Attachment
- classic lugs
- Status
- Listed in our database, not yet verified
The story · Since 1969
The story of the TAG Heuer Monaco
Heuer's square Monaco was a slow seller until a property master laid it on a table in front of Steve McQueen in 1970. He strapped on the blue ref. 1133B for Le Mans, and the square that buyers had ignored became the image TAG Heuer has built on since its 1997 re-edition.
- 1969 First square automatic chronograph Heuer unveiled the Monaco on 3 March 1969 with the Calibre 11 Chronomatic, one of the first automatic chronograph movements.
- 1970 to 1971 McQueen picks the Monaco For Le Mans, McQueen wanted to look like his friend Jo Siffert, a Heuer driver, and took his Heuer-patched suit.
- 1972 to late 1970s Variants, then the Dark Lord Heuer added Calibre 15 and manual-wind Valjoux versions, and the last Monaco, the black-coated ref. 74033N, is called the Dark Lord by collectors.
- 1997 to 2008 Re-editions bring it back TAG Heuer revived the Monaco in 1997 with the CS2110, limited to 5,000 pieces; the 1998 CS2111 followed and was added to the permanent range.
- 2009 to 2018 Calibre 11 and 12, 39 mm For the 40th anniversary in 2009 the Monaco grew from 38 to 39 mm and gained sapphire crystal, with Calibre 12 models and a left-crown Calibre 11 anniversary edition.
- 2019 to today Heuer 02 and split seconds In 2019 the first Monaco with the in-house Heuer 02 movement kept McQueen's blue and white dial.
2,200,000 USD
Price of McQueen's Le Mans Monaco at Phillips, December 2020
Worn by
Read the full storyHide the story
The iconic wearer Steve McQueen1970
Film role: as driver Michael Delaney in Le Mans, filmed in 1970 and released in 1971, McQueen wore the blue Heuer Monaco ref. 1133B. He chose it on set to match the Heuer patch he copied from Jo Siffert's suit, after passing on an Omega. Heuer sent six 1133B for the production, and the images of McQueen wearing it turned a model that was not initially well received into an icon. After filming he gave one to his mechanic Haig Altounian, thanking him for keeping him alive.
2,200,000 USDPrice of McQueen's Le Mans Monaco at Phillips, December 2020
22 mmSpace between the lugs on every vintage Monaco, still listed on today's 39 mm Monaco
6Monaco ref. 1133B watches on Heuer's invoice to the Le Mans set
5,000Pieces of the first 1997 re-edition CS2110
Chapters
- 1969
First square automatic chronograph
Heuer unveiled the Monaco on 3 March 1969 with the Calibre 11 Chronomatic, one of the first automatic chronograph movements. Case supplier Piquerez had solved water resistance for a square case, and Jack Heuer secured its exclusive use. The movement put the crown on the left, which Heuer turned into a selling point.
- 1970 to 1971
McQueen picks the Monaco
For Le Mans, McQueen wanted to look like his friend Jo Siffert, a Heuer driver, and took his Heuer-patched suit. Offered an Omega by property master Don Nunley, he chose the blue Monaco ref. 1133B instead. The film was released in 1971.
- 1972 to late 1970s
Variants, then the Dark Lord
Heuer added Calibre 15 and manual-wind Valjoux versions, and the last Monaco, the black-coated ref. 74033N, is called the Dark Lord by collectors. The original line ended in the second half of the 1970s.
- 1997 to 2008
Re-editions bring it back
TAG Heuer revived the Monaco in 1997 with the CS2110, limited to 5,000 pieces; the 1998 CS2111 followed and was added to the permanent range. In 2003 the blue CW2113 copied McQueen's colours, and in 2004 the Monaco V4 concept introduced belt-driven transmission.
- 2009 to 2018
Calibre 11 and 12, 39 mm
For the 40th anniversary in 2009 the Monaco grew from 38 to 39 mm and gained sapphire crystal, with Calibre 12 models and a left-crown Calibre 11 anniversary edition. Avant-garde cousins such as the Monaco Twenty-Four and LS used a different sculpted case.
- 2019 to today
Heuer 02 and split seconds
In 2019 the first Monaco with the in-house Heuer 02 movement kept McQueen's blue and white dial. In 2024 TAG Heuer added the titanium Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, and in 2026 the TH20-11 brought back the left-hand crown.
Worn by
Patrick DempseySport2019
The actor and racing team owner, a TAG Heuer ambassador since 2014, said he used his Monaco for timing and pit stops during Le Mans 2019, and wore a Monaco at Le Mans before becoming an ambassador.
Moments
Steve McQueen wears the Heuer Monaco ref. 1133B as Michael Delaney in Le Mans, often visible under the right sleeve of his white racing suit. This is a film role.
The 1133B McQueen handed to his mechanic Haig Altounian on the last day of filming sold at Phillips' Racing Pulse sale in December 2020 for 2,200,000 USD, ten times its estimate and more than double the previous Heuer record.
A 1133B screen-worn by McQueen, case number 160'304, sold at Sotheby's Important Watches in New York in December 2024 for $1.4 million against a $500,000 to 1,000,000 estimate.
At the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer presented reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen with a personalised Monaco chronograph bearing a red 1 on dial and case for his racing number.
The Monaco Gulf special edition CBL2115.FC6494 won the Iconic Watch Prize at the 2022 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
Designed by
Christoph Behlingdesigner2004
Christoph Behling is named as the designer of the Monaco Sixty Nine in 2004. Christoph Behling Design lists the Monaco Sixty Nine, winner of the 2004 GPHG Design Watch Prize, among its award-winning designs.
Awards
- 2022Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève · Iconic Watch PrizeReference CBL2115.FC6494
The Monaco Gulf special edition, the first Gulf Monaco with the in-house Heuer 02, won the Iconic Watch Prize.
- 2004Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève · Design Watch Prize
The Monaco Sixty Nine won the GPHG Design Watch Prize in 2004.
Generations and strap changes
- 2019Ref. CBL2111 Heuer 02
First Monaco with the in-house Heuer 02, now listed as TH20-00 with 80 hours of reserve; 39 mm by 15.21 mm.
TAG Heuer lists Lugs Distance 22.00 mm; a later BA0644 H-link steel bracelet is offered on CBL2111.
- 2009Calibre 12 (CAW211x) and 40th Anniversary Calibre 11
New 39 mm case with sapphire crystal; the anniversary Calibre 11 kept the 38 mm case and left crown.
Case size moved from 38 to 39 mm.
- 2003Ref. CW2113
First McQueen-colour re-edition with blue dial, white registers and Calibre 17.
- 1997Ref. CS2110
First TAG Heuer re-edition, a black two-register chronograph limited to 5,000 pieces.
- 1972Refs. 1533, 73663, 74033
Calibre 15 automatic and Valjoux 7736 and 7740 manual-wind versions in blue or grey, with a black-coated 74033N at the end.
Same vintage case, 22 mm between the lugs.
- 1970Ref. 1133B production
Matte midnight blue dial with bright white registers and red-tipped hands: the highest-production vintage Monaco and the McQueen model.
22 mm lugs per TAG Heuer. On the Le Mans set McQueen moved from a bracelet example to one on a strap, as drivers preferred straps.
- 1969Ref. 1133B Chronomatic
First batch with metallic blue dial, square-ended hands and the word Chronomatic, soon replaced by Automatic Chronograph on transitional dials.
TAG Heuer says all vintage Monacos share a 39 mm case with 22 mm between the lugs.