TAG Heuer awakens the master of darkness
The legendary Monaco "Dark Lord" in a new design for the Only Watch 2021 charity auction.
In November, Geneva will host the ninth Only Watch auction, which brings together the most prestigious watch brands to support a charity project focused on treating patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. TAG Heuer is participating for the fourth time. Each brand invited to participate will produce a unique watch for this project, reflecting its DNA and technical sophistication. Since 2005, under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, more than €70 million has been raised.
Collectors and fans of the TAG Heuer brand will be delighted: the model created for this year's Only Watch auction is based on the legendary Monaco 74033N, nicknamed the "Dark Lord" in the mid-1970s. This model with a black PVD case was produced in very limited quantities and never appeared in any catalog or advertising material.
Today, this rarity is extremely rare and highly prized among collectors around the world. nbsp;This year's remake of this model has a case made of carbon fiber with one major special feature: the largest piece of sapphire crystal in the history of the Monaco model was used for the case back, while maintaining the water resistance of the case.
Under the glass is a beautiful H02 movement with an 80-hour power reserve. Compared to the standard version, it is embellished with a carbon hairspring produced by the TAG Heuer development center. This makes the watch extremely resistant to magnetic influences.
Artists and master decorators did a great job on the movement. The weight, featuring the outline of the TAG Heuer shield, is hand-painted in a spectrum of red, orange, and yellow tones characteristic of the Only Watch project. It was created by renowned miniature painter André Martinez from Le Locle, Switzerland.
The dial from the ArteCad manufacture, owned by TAG Heuer, can also be considered a small work of art. It is made from a single piece of carbon, and each component has been hand-cut and faceted to highlight the multidimensional appearance of the movement. The Super-LumiNova® luminescent coating on the hands and hour markers looks inconspicuous, but glows orange in the dark, the color of "Only Watch."
All visible parts of the movement were hand-decorated by master craftsmen from Artime SA, considered the finest decoration studio in the watchmaking industry. They used more than ten methods of grinding, polishing, and other technologies, working on the movement with care and patience for more than 25 hours.
Another beautiful technical detail of this watch is the bracelet. At first glance, it looks like metal, but it is actually a leather strap made using unique technology. Silicone is injected into a leather mold and then a pattern of bracelet links is heat-stamped onto it, creating a 3D effect. The development of this bracelet took several months, and TAG Heuer used this technology for the first time in its history.
Only Watch Carbon Monaco
Reference: CBL2191.FC6507
Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 15.56 mm
Case: Carbon case with Monaco's largest sapphire crystal.
Dial: Skeletonized concave hand-finished forged carbon with machined Super-LumiNova® blocks.
Movement: Cal. Heuer 02 with carbon spring and hand-finished gratté finish.
Strap: Handcrafted leather strap with 3D metal pull pattern.
TAG Heuer Only Watch Carbon Monaco watches are the result of several months of patient work by designers, engineers, and partner companies, with an expected price of CHF 50,000 to CHF 100,000.& nbsp; Everyone involved has put their best efforts into this charitable project, and now all that remains is to hope for the highest possible proceeds at the planned auction, which will take place under the auspices of the auction house CHRISTIE'S at the Four Seasons Hôtel des Bergues in Geneva on November 6, 2021.
