Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer has unveiled one of its most ambitious timepieces yet with the launch of the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1, a futuristic high-performance chronograph that combines cutting-edge manufacturing technology with the brand’s rich motorsport heritage. Introduced during Dubai Watch Week, the new limited-edition watch marks what TAG Heuer describes as the beginning of a new era in avant-garde watchmaking.
Limited to just 30 numbered pieces worldwide, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 takes inspiration from Formula 1 engineering, hypercar aerodynamics and aerospace manufacturing to create one of the lightest and most technically advanced Monaco models ever produced.
Inspired by Motorsport and Aerospace Engineering
At the heart of the watch’s design is a Grade-5 titanium case created using Selective Laser Melting (SLM), an advanced additive manufacturing process more commonly found in aerospace, medical and automotive industries.
Unlike traditional CNC machining that removes material from a solid block, SLM builds the case layer by layer using titanium powder fused by high-powered lasers guided by a 3D CAD model. This allows TAG Heuer’s designers to create complex aerodynamic forms that would have been nearly impossible using conventional watchmaking methods.
The result is a striking 41mm case that appears hollowed out like a high-performance race car chassis, complete with honeycomb lattice structures inspired by hypercar engine covers.
Despite incorporating solid 18K 2N yellow gold elements, the entire watch weighs only 85 grams, delivering an exceptional weight-to-performance ratio that echoes Formula 1 engineering philosophy.
A Monaco Designed Like a Hypercar
TAG Heuer says the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 was designed without boundaries, allowing technology to serve design rather than restrict it.
The sharply sculpted titanium exoskeleton frames a twin-layered honeycomb mesh structure surrounding the movement, while black DLC-coated titanium surfaces contrast against gleaming yellow gold lattice inserts beneath the bezel.
The split-seconds pusher at 9 o’clock is crafted from solid yellow gold as a nod to the original left-sided crown of the historic Monaco chronograph. The watch is paired with a black rubber strap featuring Alcantara inserts and secured with a black DLC-coated Grade-5 titanium folding clasp.
TAG Heuer notes that the highly complex case architecture required dramatically longer programming and manufacturing times compared to standard Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph cases.
Powered by the TH81-00 Rattrapante Movement
Inside the Monaco Air 1 beats the Calibre TH81-00, TAG Heuer’s most sophisticated chronograph movement currently in production. Developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, the high-frequency automatic calibre operates at 5Hz or 36,000 vibrations per hour and delivers up to 65 hours of power reserve with the chronograph disengaged.
The lightweight movement itself weighs only 30 grams thanks to the extensive use of Grade-5 titanium components. It also features hand-finished decorations, including TAG Heuer’s signature checkered-flag finishing visible through the sapphire caseback.
The watch’s standout complication is its rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, which allows users to simultaneously measure two elapsed times that begin together but finish independently — particularly useful in motorsport timing scenarios such as tracking two Formula 1 lap times.
Continuing TAG Heuer’s Chronograph Legacy
TAG Heuer describes the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 as a continuation of its long-standing chronograph heritage that dates back more than 160 years.
The brand highlights milestones such as the Mikrograph stopwatch from 1916, capable of measuring 1/100th of a second, and its deep ties with motorsport timing, including its current role as Formula 1’s Official Timekeeper.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1, retailing for CHF 150,000, is strictly limited to 30 numbered pieces worldwide.
