The iconic blue dial and square face of the original Monaco turned heads and turned the watchmaking world on its head.

Instantly recognizable, repeatedly copied, never equaled. TAG Heuer has been the leader of Swiss Avant Garde watch making since 1860. But it took an American actor to bring the watchmaker into the realm of the über cool where it has stayed ever since. The actor was Steve McQueen. The movie was 1969’s Le Mans. The watch on his wrist was a Heuer Monaco (in 1969 the brand was still called Heuer – without TAG).

Newly introduced, the Monaco at that time was little known outside the realm of Heuer devotees. It was McQueen who insisted on wearing the watch in the movie. Not only did he admire the Monaco’s revolutionary look, the name Heuer held special meaning in the racing world – McQueen’s based his character on Jo Siffert, the Swiss racing legend who in 1969 became the first race car driver ever sponsored by a watch brand – Heuer.

Audiences were amazed at the watch with its square face, brilliant blue dial and fiery red hands — colors echoed in the McQueen’s Le Mans jumpsuit. Quickly dubbed the “McQueen Monaco”, today it is highly sought after by vintage collectors. Only a handful, including the one worn by McQueen in the movie, is known to exist. As an aficionado at a recent TAG Heuer show noted it was a treat to see “… complete with a few scuffs here and there from its time on the actor’s arm during the filming.”

In honor of this extraordinary watch and era in TAG Heuer history, the company has proudly republished the 1969 Monaco in a limited series of 1,000 timepieces with an exclusive case back signed by Jack Heuer and engraved in honor of its legendary ambassador Steve McQueen. Every detail from the iconic blue dial to pushbuttons at 2 and 4 o’clock, counters at 9 and 3 o’clock and a hand applied date window at 6 o’clock has been carefully recreated on the re-editioned Monaco 1969. Calibre 11 movement and diamond-tipped horizontal hours indexes round out the classic features. TAG Heuer opted for a sapphire crystal, rather than the original hesalite, which scratches easily, on the reissue – a small change to be sure, but one that means your Monaco 1969 Original Re-Edition may look even better than McQueen’s 50 years hence should you be one of the privileged few to own one.