TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds: Forged Titanium, Forged Identity

TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph: Extreme Titanium, Extreme Price

The biggest weekend in motorsports — featuring the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500 — brought with it a new contender for horological pole position: the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph in a radical new case material dubbed TH-Titanium. This high-tech timepiece merges motorsport heritage, cutting-edge metallurgy, and a six-figure price tag that’s as divisive as the Monaco design itself.

TAG Heuer’s legacy in racing is deep.

From its historic link to Formula 1 and current role as INDYCAR’s official timekeeper to its long-running Monaco collection, the brand thrives on speed and precision. With this watch, TAG doubles down on both — technically and symbolically.

Last year, the public got its first taste of a rattrapante (split-seconds) complication in the Monaco line. Now, that same impressive movement — the Calibre TH81-00, co-developed with Vaucher — is housed in a case made from crystallized titanium, a material TAG calls TH-Titanium. It’s more than just eye candy: using a proprietary thermal process, the titanium undergoes atomic transformation, revealing a shimmering, chaotic pattern that’s unique to each watch. This process doesn’t just enhance aesthetics — it hardens the case and makes it more scratch-resistant.

The science here is genuinely cool. Heating the titanium above its crystallization point (~800ºC) and then gradually cooling it under high pressure forms dendritic structures — branching, jagged patterns that give the case a unique ‘forged metal’ look. If you’ve ever handled high-end EDC gear or knives, it’s reminiscent of crystallized or “tree-bark” titanium finishes

. The result? A rugged, stealthy texture with visual depth that shifts with light.

But it’s not just about the case. This Monaco comes loaded: skeletonized dial with lime green accents, open-worked chronograph registers, a raised sapphire minute track, and a clear caseback showcasing the industrially finished movement with lime detailing on the rotor. The 41mm x 15.2mm x 47.9mm case wears about the same as the regular Monaco — chunky, yes, but not obnoxiously so. The downside? A mere 30m water resistance. Maybe enough for a champagne spray on the podium, but not your next dive.

Still, enthusiasts and collectors are split. While the movement and materials impress, the $145,000 price tag left many scratching their heads.

Compared to microbrands like Zelos that offer crystallized titanium for under $1,000, the markup here is staggering. And for all its innovation, even die-hard Monaco fans question the decision to slap heavy branding text like “Rattrapante” and “Chronograph” on an already busy dial — especially when the fonts look… off.

Is the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph an engineering marvel? Absolutely. A design triumph? That depends on your taste. A value proposition? Not quite. But if you’re a motorsport fanatic or a Monaco collector, this might just be the ultimate trophy watch — or the ultimate auction sleeper ten years from now.