TECHNOLOGY WITH DESIGN: THE TAG HEUER MONACO SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH AIR 1

In the world of motorsport, incremental gains come from questioning established methods. TAG Heuer has applied this principle to case manufacturing itself. Unveiled at Dubai Watch Week, the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 harnesses aerospace technology to create forms that conventional machining cannot produce. The result is a watch that looks as though it was conceived in a wind tunnel because, in essence, the design brief allowed for precisely that freedom.

The key to this watch's distinctive form lies in Selective Laser Melting (SLM), an additive manufacturing process more commonly found in aerospace, medical, and automotive industries. TAG Heuer's innovation department, the TAG Heuer LAB, adapted this technology for horological purposes, enabling a level of three-dimensional complexity that conventional CNC milling simply cannot achieve. Traditional watch case manufacturing relies on subtractive processes by removing material from solid blocks. SLM works in reverse, instead building up layer by layer.

A bed of Grade 5 titanium powder is selectively melted and fused by a high-powered laser, guided by a CAD model. As successive layers cool and solidify, complex geometries emerge that would be impossible to machine conventionally. The result undergoes finishing to achieve a smooth, refined surface. This approach inverts the usual relationship between design and manufacturing. Rather than designers conforming to what technology permits, engineers have successfully delivered what designers envisioned.

The 41 mm case appears hollowed out, its taut lines and muscular edges echoing the aerodynamic forms of contemporary hypercars. The design evokes wind tunnel testing, with flowing shapes reminiscent of high-performance air intakes. At just 85 grams—despite incorporating solid gold components—the watch delivers an exceptional weight-to-performance ratio that channels Formula 1's reductive design philosophy. The case construction features a complex exoskeleton cradling twin-layered honeycomb-motif meshes inspired by hypercar engine covers.

These lattices frame the movement, with those on the caseband crafted in Grade 5 titanium and those beneath the bezel laser-cut from 2N yellow gold. The Grade 5 titanium bezel receives black DLC coating, creating deliberate contrast that enhances the watch's assertive profile. Achieving these intricate forms demands exceptional effort. Programming the manufacturing tools takes approximately ten times longer than for conventional Monaco cases, whilst actual production requires five times the usual duration.

The case houses TAG Heuer's most complex chronograph movement: its Calibre TH81-00. Developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, this high-frequency automatic movement beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) and offers a 65-hour power reserve when the chronograph isn't engaged.

Major components are manufactured in Grade 5 titanium, keeping the movement to just 30 grams whilst maintaining stability and reliability even in demanding conditions. Hand-finishing includes TAG Heuer's signature checkered flag decoration, visible through the sapphire caseback.

The movement powers a rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, one of horology's more intricate complications. This function allows timing of two events that begin simultaneously but conclude independently, such as lap times for different racing cars. A dedicated pusher at 9 o'clock, crafted in solid 2N yellow gold, operates the split-seconds hand; a design nod to the original Monaco's left-sided crown.

The translucent sapphire dial reveals the movement's architecture from above. Golden chronograph hands contrast with rhodium-plated, open-worked hour and minute hands featuring white Super-LumiNova and golden tips. Three counters at 3, 9, and 6 o'clock display chronograph minutes, hours, and running seconds respectively.

Front and back sapphire crystals are secured by four visible screws. Chronograph pushers and the crown are rendered in black-DLC-coated Grade 5 titanium. The watch sits on a black rubber strap with Alcantara inserts, fastened by a black-DLC-coated Grade 5 titanium buckle.

Despite its technological sophistication, the Air 1 remains eminently wearable. Its ergonomic design, clear legibility, and sporting character align with TAG Heuer's philosophy of functional design—watches that serve their purpose effectively whilst being suitable for daily wear. The Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph Air 1 marks the beginning of what TAG Heuer describes as a new chapter of conceptual watchmaking involving innovative technologies. The door to previously impossible designs has been thrown open.