At Dubai Watch Week, TAG Heuer crossed a decisive threshold, unveiling a timepiece that feels less like an evolution and more like a declaration. The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 arrives as a radical reimagining of what a luxury chronograph can be, merging avant-garde engineering with the unmistakable spirit of motorsport that has long defined the Maison. Introduced on 19 November 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, the watch signals the beginning of a new era—one where technology is no longer a constraint on design, but its most powerful enabler TAG HEUER_MONACO SPLIT-SECONDS ….
The first impression is strikingly architectural. The iconic square Monaco case appears almost hollowed out, sculpted with such intent that it feels as though it has been shaped by airflow itself. Crafted from ultra-lightweight Grade-5 titanium using Selective Laser Melting, an additive manufacturing process more commonly associated with aerospace and hypercar engineering, the case achieves forms that traditional machining could never allow. The result is a 41mm structure that feels aerodynamic and muscular at once, echoing the air intakes and exoskeletons of contemporary performance cars while weighing just 85 grams, despite the presence of solid gold elements.
This sense of engineered lightness extends beyond aesthetics. The honeycomb lattice structures that frame the movement, some in Grade-5 titanium and others laser-cut from solid 2N yellow gold beneath the bezel, create a visual tension between preciousness and performance. A black DLC-coated titanium bezel sharpens the contrast further, while sapphire crystals on both sides open the watch completely, inviting the eye into its mechanical heart. It is a watch that does not hide its complexity; instead, it celebrates it.
Inside beats the Calibre TH81-00, the most complex chronograph movement in TAG Heuer’s current catalogue. Developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this high-frequency automatic movement operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour and delivers a 65-hour power reserve. Manufactured largely from Grade-5 titanium, the movement itself weighs just 30 grams, an achievement that mirrors the obsessive weight-saving strategies of Formula 1 engineering. Hand-finished components and TAG Heuer’s signature checkered flag decoration, visible through the sapphire caseback, reinforce that this is as much haute horlogerie as it is high performance.
The defining complication is the rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, a function historically reserved for the most elite timepieces. Designed to measure multiple events starting simultaneously but ending independently, it speaks directly to TAG Heuer’s deep-rooted relationship with motorsport timing. A solid 2N yellow gold pusher at 9 o’clock controls this function, a subtle nod to the original left-sided crown of the Monaco while adding a tactile, almost ceremonial moment to its operation.
Despite its conceptual nature, the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 remains grounded in wearability. Its ergonomic proportions, high legibility, and sporty rubber and alcantara strap ensure it is not confined to a display case. This balance—between experimental design and daily functionality—captures the essence of TAG Heuer’s philosophy: watches designed to win, both on the wrist and in the realm of innovation.
Produced in a strictly limited edition of just 30 numbered pieces and available from December 2025, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 stands at the apex of the brand’s chronograph programme. More than a technical feat, it represents a philosophical shift, opening the door to a new generation of conceptual timepieces where imagination is no longer limited by manufacturing reality. In doing so, TAG Heuer has not only redefined the Monaco, but has also set a new benchmark for the future of avant-garde Swiss watchmaking.
