Monaco aka Steve McQueen

HEUER, MONACO, aka STEVE McQUEEN, REF. 1133B

ICONEEK price: SOLD

The Heuer Monaco ref. 1133 was the world first automatic rectangular chronograph wristwatch ever produced. The model was revealed simultanously on the 3nd March 1969 in Geneva and New York. It gets its name from the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the greatest and most famous auto races in the World. Steve McQueen, the actor, was inspired to wear one in the film « Le Mans » in 1971, after seeing it on the wrist of his friend, the racing legend Jo Siffert. The legend was born!

The present example of Heuer’s legendary chronograph is preserved in very good overall condition. This iconic watch comes with the original fitted red Heuer presentation box. Since the re-launch of the Monaco on the occasion of the 40th anniversary, the original Monaco has gained again huge popularity. 

The large rectangular tonneau-shaped steel case is fitted with lapidated straight lugs The case is engraved 160405 between the lugs at 12h, and 1133 between the lugs at 6.  The inside case is engraved « Heuer-Leonidas SA, swiss, stainless steel ». The snap on case back is engraved « tool no. 033 », the purpose built tool  (Monaco specific opening tool). The watch comes with a modern perforated blue Heuer leather on a stainless steel Heuer buckle.  Under the domed plexyglass crystal, a navy blue dial with applied steel rectangular indexes,  luminous hands, two off-white subsidiary dials for the 12-hour and 30-minute registers, an aperture for the framed date at 6h, a 1/5th second division with 5-minute red markers. The name Monaco is above the Heuer logo.

The watch is powered by a caliber 12, mechanical movement, self-winding thanks to a micro-rotor, with gilt finish , 17 jewels, monometallic balance, flat balance spring. The movement is signed « Heuer » and engraved « SX » next to the balance. Case, dial and movement are signed. The original Heuer Monaco Reference 1133B is a great watch, one of Heuer’s most iconic vintage watches available. Probably the most reputed and sough-after left-handed wristwatch ever. 

Similar Heuer “Monaco” models are fully described and illustrated in Heuer Chronographs – Fascination of Timekeepers and Motor Sports 1960s/1970s by Arno Michael Haslinger,  pp. 199 – 207.

Condition: 8.5/10, very good overall condition, some  signs of wear in places