THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: HEUER
MODEL: 1533G
YEAR: 1972
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
CASE MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
BRACELET MATERIAL: STAINLESS STEEL
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The Monaco, perhaps one of the most recognisable watch designs of all time, was first released in 1969. It was among the very first commercially available automatic chronographs, powered by the Calibre 11. Its daring square silhouette was cemented in horological history when Steve McQueen wore it in the 1971 film Le Mans. The earliest Monacos featured the blue-dial reference 1133B, followed by the metallic grey reference 1133G in 1972.

In the same year, Heuer introduced reference 1533, which housed the Calibre 15 movement. This replaced the 12-hour chronograph register at 9 o’clock with a running seconds subdial, while otherwise retaining the same bold design language as the 1133. This example features the rarer grey dial and is fitted with its original bracelet, which is as beautiful to wear as it is challenging to adjust.