Square dial chronographs might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you consider buying one, there is certainly a high chance that the Tag Heuer Monaco will bump into your wish list.

Tag Heuer somehow has a love/hate relationship with the global horology community. However, even with its ups and downs the Tag Heuer Monaco reissue and its inspired versions are fairly respected by watch enthusiasts. And when you look at it, there isn’t much reason why you wouldn’t want to own one.

Coming in at a fairly sized 39mm (despite looking a bit chunky), 100m water resistance, date function, transparent case back showcasing the movement and a power reserve of 40 hours, the blue dial chronograph comes equipped with a blue alligator strap and is much dressier than its sibling Heuer Monaco caliber 11. On a side note, this watch is instantly recognizable when on the wrist even from a distance, due to its unique design and very often likely to get praised from other random watch lovers (which has happened to me on a number of occasions).

Needless to say, this watch also holds a unique place in motor racing and cinema largely due to Steve McQueen donning the Heuer Monaco in the classic motor racing movie Le Mans in 1971. Overall, a watch that ticks a lot of boxes, including being the first square dial chronograph.

I have had this watch for roughly 6 months and cannot complain about anything except maybe the retail price which might put off a lot of suitors as you can get chronographs from brands with more history and heritage than Tag Heuer, at far less cost. However, you can get your hands on the Tag Heuer Monaco at almost half the retail price if you go for pre-owned, which is most certainly what I did.