TAG Heuer Monaco Caliber 12 Final Edition Review

The TAG Heuer Monaco model is produced by the leading Super Clone manufacturer workshops with a solid stainless steel case, 39 mm diameter and high-precision automatic Super Clone movement architecture. It is among the most successful 1:1 super clone watch reviews on the market, with its sapphire crystal AR coating glass, original case tolerances and detailed workmanship.

TAG Heuer Monaco Caliber 12 Final Edition Review

INTRODUCTION

The Monaco chronograph has always been one of the most recognizable watches from this Swiss watchmaker. TAG Heuer created this collection many years ago and achieved great success with it. Among them is a model famously worn by actor Steve McQueen over the years. It has undergone a few “engine” upgrades and changes over time, but its overall appearance has remained the same.

Since its debut in 1969, many different models and movements have been seen, from mechanical to quartz. There have even been a few special and limited edition editions throughout the decades of its existence.

One of the notable movements in the Monaco collection is the automatic movement known as Caliber 12. Since this article is about the Final Edition of the Monaco powered by Caliber 12, this may be your last chance to own one. The reference for this model is caw211j fc6476 and it is a special edition limited to only 1,000 units. Before we open the “hood” and see what's inside, let's take a closer look at the design of the watch.

DIAL

The dial is gray in color, has a vertical brushed texture and has a date window at the 6 position. Applique hour markers are used on all watches except the 3, 6 and 9 positions. These applique hour markers are polished and feature lume material in their centre.

The hour markers are highlighted in white with thinly printed seconds and a lume dot aligned to the center of the split seconds chart. This is true for all hour signs except the hour sign at 12. This mark is also polished but has a bright red center and is positioned lower on the dial, just above the white printed branding, centered and center-aligned on the upper half of the dial.

The pencil-shaped hour and minute hands also have a bright red center that matches the hour marker at 12 o'clock. However, the hour and minute hands also have a red tip and a portion of the center of the hour and minute hands that contains a lume fill. The large central chronograph seconds hand is also bright red.

The two rounded square-shaped secondary dials have a black background and use white printed numerals and indicators. The one on the right serves as the small running seconds secondary indicator.

CASE

The 39mm x 39mm stainless steel case offers a 100m/330ft waterproof rating, which is enough for some swimming, a cold shower or snorkeling. It has a combination of brushed and polished workmanship, and while it's technically square, it's not quitesquare because its edges are slightly domed; It's a bit like a tonno (barrel) shape. The flat part of the front and back surface of the case has vertical brushed workmanship and polished chamfers.

There are smooth polished, rounded chronograph pushers above and below the polished winding crown. There is a brushed steel band where the buttons touch the case.

Transparent, scratch-resistant sapphire glass is used on both the front and back of the case. The case back is fixed with 4 screws and bears some special engravings such as the name of the series and the limited edition number. You can see the sapphire glass mechanism in action.

MECHANISM

Caliber 12 is beautifully crafted and uses a Cotes de Genève stripe pattern that runs vertically along the weighted self-winding rotor. There is a skeletonized, rounded triangle on each side of the rotor. Additionally, the TAG Heuer logo bears black paint-filled engravings of the phrases 'Caliber 12' and 'SWISS MADE'. Perlage, a circular brushed pattern, is used on the other plates in the mechanism.

The TAG Heuer Caliber 12 is actually an ébauche movement based on the SW300-1 base and with a power reserve of +/- 40 hours. It is a 4Hz watch with 59 jewels that oscillates at 28,800 VPH. It features a column wheel chronograph module from Dubois-Depraz, preferred by many high-end watch manufacturers.

For manufacturers looking for a chronograph module, either a Dubois-Depraz module or an ETA 2894-2 is usually preferred when an integrated module is not an option. This also helps keep the watch marketable and within a certain target price range. Another advantage is that this chronograph is easier to maintain compared to the ETA 2894-2.

BELT

The watch comes on a black alligator leather strap with black stitching. The inner surface of the strap features a bright red calfskin lining with matching red stitching. The crocodile leather strap is fastened with a stainless steel push folding buckle with the TAG Heuer brand on one side and the Heuer Icon on the other.

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