TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Watch Review

TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Watch Review

TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Watch Review

In 1976, TAG Heuer introduced its Monza model, named for that world-famous Italian F1 race track. 40 years later, the Monza Calibre 17 recalls the glory times of racing and will be offering a lot more than retro design. Continue reading to have an in-depth review in the WatchTime archives, with original photos by OK-Photography.

Great news for fans from the retro look - the Monza has returned. Great news for racing fans, too, having a design that’s just like dynamic and filled with automotive references because the original version from 1976. It is also outstanding, since TAG Heuer has experimented during the last fifteen years having a more elegant version without any black coating and without color dial elements.

A review of the brand new Monza Calibre 

17 might call in your thoughts the familiar roar of F1 engines. In the end, the timepiece was initially brought to celebrate Ferrari’s World Championship title in 1975. On Sept. 7 of this year, Niki Lauda won third devote an italian man , Grand Prix in the Monza race track and guaranteed the title inside a Ferrari sporting the Heuer emblem. Scuderia Ferrari also won the Constructors’ Prize - a lengthy-searched for double victory after an 11-year dry stretch.

TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Watch Review

The brand new Monza combines the very best options that come with two historic models - its dial design could be tracked to the initial Monza in the year 1976 and it is situation to some Heuer chronograph from 1933. The cushion-formed situation is really a style holdover in the earliest times of the timepiece. The Monza in the 1970s had an oblong situation shape which was typical for your some time and was obtainable in chrome-plated or black-coated brass. That watch contained Calibre 15, which always placed the crown around the left-hands side. Calibre 15 was the successor type of the Calibre 11 coded in 1969 by Heuer-Leonidas together with Breitling, Hamilton-Bu?ren and Dubois De?praz - among the world’s first automatic chronographs.

Calibre 15 were built with a small seconds subdial 

Set at 10 o’clock that gave the initial Monza a strikingly asymmetrical look. TAG Heuer overlooked this daring design element because of its newest version, due partly to the utilisation of the ETA 2894, known at TAG Heuer as Calibre 17. This standard movement reverses the positioning of the small seconds and minutes counter and relocates the crown right side from the situation.

TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Watch Review

Overall, these changes help the new Monza, passing on a sporty and relaxed look that isn't quite as idiosyncratic because the original. Whatever it might lose in coolness, it gains using the polished and matte finishes from the cushion-formed situation. Titanium plays a role in its excellent putting on comfort and also the titanium carbide coating causes it to be highly resistant against scratches.

Once again, the Monza includes a sealed caseback - although the technology beneath is definitely so unattractive that it should be hidden. TAG Heuer uses the fundamental movement quality “Elabore?” and adds various decorative finishes as well as an individualized rotor. Black enhanced engraving rather of gold around the oscillator fits the general sporty style of the timepiece.

The ETA 2894 is really a modular chronograph in line with the three-hands caliber ETA 2892, therefore the crown sits lower around the situation compared to chronograph pushers. Even though the pushers are generously sized, their pressure point isn't perfect. The beginning-stop pusher on the test watch were built with a particularly delayed reaction when timing occasions. The stop and reset labored better however the pusher function was stiff. This really is due a minimum of partly towards the cam charge of the chronograph that replaces the historic, greater-quality column-wheel control in additional economical chronograph movements.

The speed outcomes of the exam watch are usually acceptable

However, the timing machine recorded an outlier within the “dial down” position, which negatively affected the typical outcome on the stringent rate test. Around the positive side was the reduced daily gain of two.5 seconds each day with no chronograph on and 4.5 seconds each day while running. The putting on test around the wrist demonstrated deviations varying between  and  6 seconds each day.

The perforated calfskin strap can also be perfectly using the automotive benefit of the Monza design, much like the sporty situation and dashboard-like displays. The strap leads to a practical, well-performed folding clasp with push-buttons that are also available in PVD-coated titanium. Its clamp-type clasp mechanism enables for precise adjustment. It compresses the strap at the purpose of closure, though to not the level seen on similar clasps.

Overall, the TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 is much more stylish compared to original model in the 1970s (combination cushion-formed situation), of greater quality (titanium with PVD coating) and for that reason, more appealing (perfectly consistent with current retro trends). That which was good in 1976 - it’s better still today.