TAG Heuer’s Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1: The Future of Horology Unfolds at Dubai Watch Week 2025

At Dubai Watch Week 2025, innovation has once again taken center stage. Among the dazzling showcases of horological craftsmanship, one release in particular has managed to stir both awe and controversy: the TAG Heuer Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1

. This timepiece isn’t just another iteration of a classic – it represents a leap into the future of case construction, redefining what’s possible in modern watchmaking.

The Monaco name carries deep legacy for TAG Heuer. Since its debut in 1969, the square-cased chronograph has been a rebellious icon of motorsport heritage and avant-garde design.

Yet, the new Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is something else entirely. It is not merely an homage – it’s a radical reimagining, merging digital-age fabrication with mechanical mastery. By employing Selective Laser Melting (SLM), TAG Heuer is pushing the material science of watchmaking into territory once reserved for aerospace and medical engineering.

The Science Behind the Magic: Selective Laser Melting

To understand the marvel of this watch, one must first grasp what SLM really is. Unlike traditional case-making methods that start with a metal block and remove material through CNC machining, SLM builds the case from the ground up

. The process begins with a fine dusting of Grade 5 titanium powder, which is then melted layer by layer using a computer-guided laser. The result is a single, seamless piece of metal with microscopic precision and a structure impossible to achieve through conventional means.

Once formed, the titanium case is meticulously finished to eliminate surface imperfections and bring out its intended textures. This allows TAG Heuer’s designers to experiment with intricate geometries and forms – hollow structures, lattice elements, and layers that seem to float above each other. The result is not only stunningly complex but also remarkably lightweight, with the entire 41mm watch tipping the scales at just 85 grams.

A Design That Blurs the Line Between Machine and Sculpture

Visually, the Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 is a spectacle. It preserves the iconic square profile of the Monaco but reinvents it with layers of titanium, DLC coating, and accents of 18K yellow gold. Each layer tells a story: a matte titanium main body, a black DLC-coated bezel, and beneath it, honeycomb grids that reveal a flash of gold as if the watch’s engine is glowing from within. The watch feels like a fusion of cyberpunk aesthetics and Formula 1 engineering – a wearable machine sculpted for the wrist.

The multi-layered case design isn’t just about looks. It represents a philosophical shift – TAG Heuer acknowledging that the modern collector craves not only heritage but also innovation that sparks conversation. The visual complexity mirrors the technological sophistication beneath it. Yet, despite its futuristic architecture, the Monaco’s DNA is intact: bold, rebellious, unapologetically daring.

The Dial: Transparent Precision

Moving inward, the skeletonized dial continues the narrative of technical theater. Two sweeping black bridges hold the subdials in place, while a floating sapphire minute track encircles the dial like a halo. The double rattrapante chronograph hands, rendered in contrasting finishes, glide with hypnotic precision over the open architecture. Gold accents punctuate the otherwise monochrome aesthetic, lending a sense of warmth to the cold mechanical skeleton.

Yes, legibility suffers slightly – an inevitable compromise with skeleton watches – but this isn’t a tool watch meant for the racetrack. It’s a statement piece meant for admiration. The Monaco Air 1 invites you to look not at the time, but at time itself – the beating escapement, the synchronized ballet of wheels and levers, the art of micro-engineering made visible.

Inside the Machine: The TH81-00 Movement

At its heart beats TAG Heuer’s TH81-00 automatic rattrapante chronograph, developed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This isn’t just another movement – it’s a powerhouse that beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5Hz), ensuring exceptional accuracy.

The dual chronograph mechanism allows measurement of split seconds, a mechanical marvel that remains one of watchmaking’s most intricate complications.

Flip the watch over, and the sapphire exhibition caseback reveals a landscape of engineering artistry. The bridges feature TAG Heuer’s signature checkered-flag pattern brushing – a nod to its racing pedigree – while the column wheel and skeletonized rotor create visual drama. The movement’s architecture mirrors the case: a symphony of textures and finishes, from matte black to gleaming steel. Despite its complexity, it offers a generous 65-hour power reserve, or 55 hours with constant chronograph use.

A Strap Worthy of the Design

Complementing the elaborate case is a sculpted black rubber strap that seamlessly integrates into the lugs. TAG Heuer takes it a step further by embedding three Alcantara inserts – materials commonly used in luxury car interiors – for a tactile, racing-inspired feel. The black DLC-coated titanium deployant clasp completes the ensemble, ensuring both comfort and a cohesive aesthetic. It’s more than just a strap – it’s part of the watch’s visual identity, blending flexibility with futuristic sophistication.

Art or Excess?

While many admire the technical innovation and bold design, the watch community is split. Some see the Air 1 as a masterpiece of modern horology – a fusion of advanced metallurgy and mechanical prowess. Others view it as the epitome of overdesign: an expensive exercise in aesthetic chaos. Priced at CHF 150,000 and limited to only 30 pieces, it’s clear this watch isn’t aimed at the mainstream collector. It’s for the few who see timepieces as wearable art, not mere instruments of timekeeping.

Indeed, there’s an undeniable Dubai flair to the whole presentation – ornate, extravagant, unapologetically bold. And that’s perhaps the point

. The Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 isn’t just a watch; it’s a declaration that TAG Heuer is unafraid to challenge convention, to provoke emotion, to create debate. Whether you love it or loathe it, you’ll talk about it – and that’s the hallmark of a true icon.

For now, this limited-edition timepiece stands as a reminder that in horology, innovation often comes wrapped in controversy. The TAG Heuer Monaco Split Seconds Chronograph Air 1 might not please everyone, but it undeniably moves the conversation forward – bridging the gap between art, science, and mechanical imagination.

Available December 2025 through select authorized TAG Heuer dealers.