President Volodymyr Zelenskyj – TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph

The current president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, is in this photo from his wedding in 2003 wearing the discontinued 38,5mm TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Automatic in stainless steel with a black 12-hour chronograph dial, reference CW2111-0, on a black leather strap.

About the Watch

TAG Heuer does not upgrade the Monaco day after day. Indeed, every year offers new varieties and special editions. Yet there have only been 3 generations of traditional Monaco within 23 years since it was reintroduced to the fold, the latest of which was released in 2019.

The new Heuer 02-powered Monaco was launched to correspond with the Monaco series’ 50th anniversary. It substituted the Calibre 12 family, which debuted a decade earlier as the Monaco series hit the big 4-0.

The watch is clearly recognizable as a Monaco. After all, a square black timepiece with white registers can be anything else. The new Monaco differs from original Monaco in various ways, including the casing, dial, and movement.

The Monaco casing hasn’t altered much ever since Miodrag Mijatovic crafted the 1997 re-edition cover. The current Monaco case is much “squarer,” unlike the original square Monaco design, and the buttons are rectangular instead of cylindrical. Aside from those adjustments, the overall form of the watch remains close to the original, with sharp casing margins and a higher crystal.

Viewing the timepiece from various angles serves as a reminder of how attractive Monaco is. The casing boasts a refined and polished finishing, as well as beautifully finished pushers and crown.

The crown and Chrono pushers are now in a horizontal line. This owes to the adoption of an incorporated chronograph mechanism instead of the modular Calibre 11/ 12 movement.

Almost nothing has changed at the back of Monaco since the Calibre 11/ 12 family was introduced a decade ago. What has evolved is the movement itself, which is the Calibre Heuer 02, TAG Heuer’s premier in-house movement with an 80-hour power reserve. The dial is finished with starburst metallic black.

There are two substantial white registers at 9 and 3 o’clock, and at 6 o’clock, there is a sweeping seconds hand without a register. The white lume tips have been added to the hour and minute hands, making them slightly more modern. On the other hand, a steel marking is applied at noon. As a result, the printed TAG Heuer emblem is relocated down to the dial’s center.

Regardless of the alterations, the dial remains a straight-up classic featuring starburst black and clean white. It also has precisely picked red highlights that constitute a stunning color blend identical to the Monaco collection.

Monaco is  indeed a unique timepiece. It’s one of only a handful of legendary models that appear as fantastic today as they did since they were first introduced. You can’t ignore the square watch with a vivid black or blue dial. However, it is not a watch for people who love their wrist game in private mode. Still, that doesn’t imply it’s flashy or excessive but classic.

Price market: $2,500.00 USD
Photo: TAG Heuer & Getty Images