Introducing Tag Heuer Unveils the Monaco Split-Seconds Air 1

The unveiling of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 at Dubai Watch Week marks a defining shift in the trajectory of the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. While the Monaco line has stood since 1969 as an icon of the square-cased chronograph, this new release moves well beyond revisiting archival aesthetics. Instead, it embraces a hyper-technical future driven by material science and next-generation manufacturing. This is not a new colorway nor a simple dial update, it is a complete re-engineering of what the Monaco architecture can become. Built on an additively manufactured chassis, it achieves a level of skeletonized complexity that traditional CNC machining could never replicate. Limited to just 30 pieces, the Air 1 transforms TAG Heuer’s “avant-garde” tagline from a marketing phrase into a tangible feat of engineering.

The most striking innovation lies in the case construction, which abandons the solid-block machining methods that have defined Monaco for more than half a century. TAG Heuer’s engineers, working within the TAG Heuer LAB, employed Selective Laser Melting (SLM), an advanced 3D-printing process usually reserved for aerospace and medical components requiring intricate internal structures. By sintering Grade 5 titanium powder layer by layer, they created a case built around hollowed-out lattices that dramatically reduced weight without compromising rigidity. The architecture draws on high-performance automotive principles, with aerodynamic channels and openings reminiscent of air intakes and vents. The result is a visually stripped-back case weighing just 85 grams, inclusive of the movement and strap.

Despite its bold presence 41 mm in diameter, 47.9 mm lug-to-lug, the featherweight construction redefines how the watch wears. Its 15.2 mm thickness is substantial, yet the hollowed case sides visually break up the height, giving it a sleeker impression on the wrist. Both front and back sapphire crystals are treated with anti-reflective coatings for optimal clarity.

The Grade 5 titanium case is coated in black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), giving it a stealthy, matte aesthetic that absorbs light. This dark foundation becomes a dramatic backdrop for the elements that define the Air 1 identity. While the bezel and pushers share this muted tone, the watch introduces solid 18K 2N yellow-gold components,

specifically the honeycomb lattice beneath the bezel and the signature split-seconds pusher at 9 o’clock. 

The caseback is secured with four exposed screws, and its domed, beveled sapphire crystal ensures comfort while maximizing visibility of the movement. Water resistance is rated at 30 meters.

The sapphire-crystal dial serves as a transparent canvas for the applied indices, revealing the mainplate and bridges below. The classic Monaco bi-compax layout is preserved, with the chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock and the hour counter at 9 o’clock. Both sub-dials are rendered in black opaline, seemingly floating above the mechanics and anchored by X-shaped bridges, now a signature of TAG Heuer’s modern skeletonized complications.

Legibility remains excellent despite the architectural complexity. The hour and minute hands are rhodium-plated and filled with white Super-LumiNova, while the central chronograph seconds hand is lacquered in white. The split-seconds hand is lacquered in gold, ensuring instant visual distinction when the rattrapante mechanism is in operation.

When the chronograph is running, the white and gold central hands move in unison. Pressing the gold 9 o’clock pusher halts the gold split-seconds hand to record an intermediate time, while the white hand continues. Pressing it again triggers the “rattrapante” action, allowing the gold hand to snap forward and catch up instantly.

Powering the Air 1 is the Calibre TH81-00, one of TAG Heuer’s most advanced mechanical movements to date. Developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this automatic split-seconds chronograph beats at a high frequency of 36,000 vph (5 Hz), enabling precision to one-tenth of a second. Constructed extensively from titanium, mirroring the case, it contributes to the watch’s exceptional lightness. The movement delivers a 65-hour power reserve, reduced to around 55 hours when the chronograph is engaged.

The oscillating weight, shaped like the TAG Heuer shield, features a honeycomb motif echoing the case architecture. It bears the engraving “Fifty-Two Jewels”.

The strap is a technical hybrid combining black rubber with Alcantara for comfort and durability. It is secured by a Grade 5 titanium folding clasp finished in black DLC to match the case, complete with safety push-buttons and a mix of fine brushing and polishing.

The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is limited to 30 pieces, available from December 2025, priced at CHF 150,000, approximately AED 680,000.

For more information, visit Tag Heuer official website.