There is always an almost indescribable air of electricity that permeates any TAG Heuer product reveal, a palpable sense of anticipation for the direction of Swiss engineering and where it may take the market next. And here at Watches & Wonders 2026, standing in the LVMH Corner as the brand declared this the “Year of the Chronograph”, that electricity was unmistakable.
TAG Heuer is welcoming back actor and professional racing driver Patrick Dempsey, to mark the debut of two significant new Monaco collections. But the real story — the one that has the industry buzzing — is what lies beneath the sapphire crystal of the new Monaco Evergraph.
The Monaco Evergraph: A Technical Revolution Is Upon Us
Let me be clear: the Monaco Evergraph is possibly the most important chronograph to hit the market in decades. And to say that is truly monumental. Now it is even more evident why the brand is Hollywood’s go-to model of the moment.
Here’s why…
The Evergraph introduces the Calibre TH80-00, an automatic chronograph movement developed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. And while traditional chronographs rely on an array of levers, springs, and cams to control start, stop, and reset functions, the Evergraph replaces almost all of them with two “bistable precision-engineered compliant mechanisms” manufactured utilizing LIGA technology. This means that instead of metal parts sliding and pivoting against each other, these components flex. They bend microscopically, snapping between two stable positions with each press of the pusher.
The result is a chronograph that should feel just the same on the ten-thousandth press as it does on the first. The movement also incorporates TAG Heuer’s TH-Carbonspring oscillator, beats at a high-frequency 5Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour), carries COSC chronometer certification, and delivers a 70-hour power reserve. All of this can easily be seen through a transparent dial that puts the inverted movement architecture—barrel, gear train, and balance—on full display from the front.
The Evergraph is offered in two 40mm Grade 5 Titanium variations: a blue-accented model with natural titanium finishing, and a bolder black DLC-coated version with red accents. Both are priced at $25,000 and, notably, are not limited editions. This is serial-production innovation, not a concept piece.
The Core Monaco Chronograph: Refining an Icon
If the Evergraph symbolizes the future, the new Monaco Chronograph represents a bygone era. TAG Heuer has drawn inspiration from the original 1133B from 1969, returning to sharper case edges and a truer square profile. The 39mm cases are now executed in Grade 5 Titanium across three variants: a classic blue with white sub-dials, a sunray green, and a two-tone black with 18K rose gold accents.
Inside beats the in-house TH20-11, reengineered for the Monaco’s signature left-side crown position. The bi-compax layout places small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3, and—finally—a date window at 6 o’clock, addressing a longstanding collector complaint about the previous layout intersecting with the sub-dial. Power reserve is a formidable 80 hours. Pricing comes in at $9,350 for the all-titanium versions and $13,050 for the two-tone.
Patrick Dempsey: The McDreamy Face of the Moment
Of course, all of this mechanical excellence was unveiled with the familiar face of Patrick Dempsey, who was on hand throughout the fair, participating in a keynote session as part of the proceedings. It’s a fitting partnership given Dempsey’s dual career across entertainment and motorsport, which mirrors TAG Heuer’s own balancing act: accessible yet technical, glamorous yet serious about performance.
Final Thoughts from the Floor
I’ve covered TAG Heuer extensively over the years, and I can say with confidence: this is arguably the most compelling Monaco lineup in decades. The core collection finally delivers the proportions and ergonomics that vintage collectors have been anticipating.
The Evergraph isn’t for everyone, and that is exactly the intent with this design. But it signals a future where the chronograph — a complication that has remained fundamentally unchanged for a century – might finally be due for a recalibration. And in a year where TAG Heuer has declared the chronograph the story, that’s a very compelling narrative.
For my continuing coverage of Watches & Wonders 2026, stay locked in to this site!
