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TAG Heuer Monaco review: worth it or skip?

Consider7.9/10 research score

Quick answer

Consider it, if you want an iconic square watch. Why: square racing chronograph from Le Mans. The catch: square shape divides.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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TAG Heuer Monaco

Our verdict on the TAG Heuer Monaco

Buy it if
you want an iconic square watch.
Skip it if
you want round.
Best for
Square icon
Key feature
Square racing chronograph from Le Mans
Typical price
$7,500–$8,500
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Case39 mm steel
MovementHeuer 02
Water resistance100 m
Power reserve80 hours

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want an iconic square watch
  • value iconic
  • can spend around $7,500–$8,500

Skip it if you

  • you want round
  • mind this: square shape divides

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Iconic
  • Distinctive

Cons

  • Square shape divides

The verdict in one breath

The TAG Heuer Monaco is a beautiful piece for the right buyer, not an automatic pick. Its strength: square racing chronograph from Le Mans. Read the skip-if line before you spend.

Reasons to buy

  • Iconic
  • Distinctive

Reasons to skip

  • Square shape divides

The details that matter

  • Case: 39 mm steel
  • Movement: Heuer 02
  • Water resistance: 100 m
  • Power reserve: 80 hours

Worth knowing

Steve McQueen.

Buy it or skip it?

Consider it if you want an iconic square watch. Skip it if you want round; the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best luxury chronographs.

Alternatives worth considering

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

Omega · Luxury chronographs

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

Buy it if you want the most storied chronograph.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
The Moonwatch
Typical price
$7,400–$8,100

Pros

  • Iconic
  • Accurate

Cons

  • Manual wind
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41

IWC · Luxury chronographs

IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41

Buy it if you want pilot.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Pilot chrono
Typical price
$8,000–$9,000

Pros

  • In-house

Cons

  • Thick
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the TAG Heuer Monaco?

Consider it, if you want an iconic square watch. Why: square racing chronograph from Le Mans. The catch: square shape divides.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want round. The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is the better buy then.

What does the TAG Heuer Monaco cost?

Usually $7,500–$8,500 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

TAG Heuer Monaco: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the TAG Heuer Monaco worth the money? Short answer: consider it, if you want an iconic square watch. This review explains what this TAG Heuer piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which luxury chronograph to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the TAG Heuer Monaco does well

The headline: square racing chronograph from Le Mans. The details: Case: 39 mm steel; Movement: Heuer 02; Water resistance: 100 m; Power reserve: 80 hours. In our list it is the pick for: square icon. It usually sells for $7,500–$8,500 in the US.

Steve McQueen.

The trade-offs

Good: iconic, distinctive. Not so good: square shape divides. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want round.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional ($7,400–$8,100): manual-wind chronograph worn on the Moon, now Master Chronometer. Better if you want the most storied chronograph.

Instead, consider the IWC Pilot’s Chronograph 41 ($8,000–$9,000): pilot chronograph. Better if you want pilot.

Instead, consider the Omega Speedmaster ’57 ($8,500–$9,500): broad Arrow ’57. Better if you want vintage.

Before you buy

Movement: integrated in-house chronograph movements are more refined than modular ones; check service intervals. Thickness: chronographs are thicker; under about 14 mm still slides under a cuff. Legibility: busy dials with many registers can be hard to read; a clean, contrasting layout is easier.

Buyer tip

Omega and TAG Heuer chronographs are often discounted by authorized dealers; Rolex Daytona sells above list on the pre-owned market.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.