2017 marks the 50th anniversary of the famous blue-and-orange Gulf Racing stripes; the logo and livery on Steve McQueen’s Porsche 917 racing car in the 1971 film Le Mans.
In the movie McQueen is Michael Delaney, and on his wrist he wore a Heuer Monaco Ref. 1133B. The watch was originally launched in 1969 and outfitted with Heuer Caliber 11, one of the first automatic chronograph movements to be developed and the first to reach the market.
The first Swiss-made automatic chronograph was both square-shaped and waterproof, as well as the first with a left-side winding crown. The stainless-steel case of the new Monaco Gulf Special Edition measures 39 mm and features alternating brushed and polished finishes.
The sapphire crystal over the dial is domed and beveled. Water-resistant to 100 meters, it has chronograph pushers and 2 and 4 o’clock.
The blue sunray-finished dial is decorated with the Gulf racing stripes on the left side, and also features a Gulf logo above the date window at 6 o’clock and a vintage “Heuer” logo under the “Monaco” text at 12 o’clock.
Steve McQueen on the race track of Le Mans, 14 June 1970. Photograph: akg-images / Jacques Violet
The watch also features the hallmark squared sub-dials with seconds at 3 o’clock, and a 30-minute chronograph counter at 9 o’clock. The red central hand counts the chronograph seconds.
The watch runs on the self-winding Caliber 11, with a rapid date correction, and a 40-hour power reserve. The Gulf logo colors are echoed on the watch’s perforated blue calfskin strap. The TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition will be for the U.S market only, and is priced at $5,900.
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