Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Limited Edition Watch - $80,000

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Sep 21st 2009 at 12:02PM

It is the timepiece that you never thought Tag Heuer would make - but they did. As a limited edition of just 150 watches the Monaco V4 is a great looking watch that is as fun to watch in operation as it is to show off. Plus, it is the only Tag Heuer watch I know of made from platinum (170 grams of it). Aside from the unique look of the watch and the modern styling, there are two major points of interest in the watch.

First, the watch movement uses a series of transmission belts instead of pinions. The belts are the smallest made anywhere and still have a thin steel wire in them for strength. Basically, instead of smaller gears connecting some of the larger gears, there are the belts that do it. Second is the use of a liner weight for the automatic movement. The idea is meant to resemble a piston in a engine. Instead of an oscillating weight moving around in a circle, the linear weight moves up and down to power the movement. Power is stored in four barrels that are seen in the rear of the watch (hence the V4 name). The power reserve is 52 hours, and the watch is actually very accurate at about plus or minus 4 seconds a day.

The watch also uses mini ball bearings instead of "rubies" that are commonly used in watches for low friction between gears and palettes. Tag Heuer says that the ball bearings provide even less friction than the commonly used synthetic rubies. The watch functions include the time and a power reserve indicator. It is a new style of skeletonized watch, and very Tag Heuer in character. Price is $80,000 for each piece in the limited edition (save for the first piece that is being auctioned off for charity).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Limited Edition Watch

Tags: limited edition, LimitedEdition, monaco, platinum, tag heuer, TagHeuer, v4, watch

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Eric of AZ Sep 21st 2009 12:30PM

Thanks for including the price, Ariel ... but IMHO, that's one ugly watch.

I normally like Tag Heuer, but not this one.

Ariel Adams Sep 21st 2009 2:50PM

Eric,
Come on, the watch has its charms right? You gotta like it just for the cool looking machinery on your wrist. Maybe not a runway model, but it has intrinsic mechanical watch appeal. Still, your opinion is always appreciated.

Clayton Sep 21st 2009 3:28PM

I agree with Ariel that this watch has mechanical appeal, and it does have some innovative qualities in its automatic movement. But I also would have appreciated the incorporation of what made the Monaco famous (even before McQueen) - undoubtedly the design of an automatic chronograph in skeleton form.

Many people don't know that the original Monaco was the first ever automatic chronograph watch. Though I would agree chronograph dials would appear a little crowded in this design, an homage to such an influential watch requires a little more attention to its historical roots in my opinion.

Cheers,
Clayton

hey dude7 Sep 21st 2009 4:46PM

An abomination....

Tech is tops, looks is bottoms...

Bebe Nov 2nd 2009 7:15AM

this tag is so pretty - the blue on metalic is a great combo - its probably one of my favourite tags theyve released since pre 2000.

Bebe
http://www.watch24.co.uk

John M Dec 14th 2009 2:10PM

I have a Monaco Heuer dated from about 1957 with the black face, no mention of TAG, automatic, but with winder on the LH side and the chrono buttons on the RH side. Looks a big lump on my wrist, hewn out of a solid piece of stainless steel, but I have always loved it. I also have another make of skeleton watch. The old Heuer is beautuiful by comparison with the old skeleton or the new TAG Heuer. What are they thinking of?