In 1969, the TAG Heuer Monaco was released as the first ever square automatic chronograph in horological history. And it's a piece that has aged well: its equilateral peers have fallen in and out of favour with collectors over the years, but yet the Monaco remains a classic go-to piece.
Now, fans can rejoice further. To celebrate 50 years at the fore of popularity, TAG Heuer is to release a new limited edition model in tandem with a coffee table book.
While details remain light on the piece itself, the manufacturer hinted at the Monaco 50 with an Instagram video that traces roots from Geneva on the cusp of the seventies, to a well-earned endorsement from Steve McQueen.
The coffee table book element, named Paradoxical Superstar, touches upon the Monaco's status as a prestige piece, and how tradition was trounced with the introduction of a sports-led square dial. Notable Monaco wearers have also contributed their own anecdotes for the book, and a special foreword has been written by H. S. H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Prospective collectors don't have long to wait. The Monaco 50 is set for a May 2019 release both online and in TAG Heuer boutiques.
