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Both timeless and iconic. The Tag Heuer Monaco is not your typical racing chronograph, but its deviation from the norm is what makes it so special. The square dial is far larger than your typical chronograph watch and features 2 subdials rather than 3. Its color scheme is also renowned for having half of the dial as deep blue, whilst the other half is a pale blue and red.
Made famous by Steve McQueen in the classic movie “Le Mans”, the watch gained instant popularity. This eventually died down and at one point production of the Monaco had ceased completely. However, by the turn of the year 2000, the Tag Heuer Monaco was back on top again. From this point, it has gone from strength to strength and is by far the most recognizable watch made by the brand.
In a more modern-day setting. The Tag Heuer Monaco was featured on breaking bad and was given as a gift to Walter White by his partner Jesse Pinkman for his 51st birthday.
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The Tag Heuer Monaco Is Expensive
If you are interested in the Tag Heuer Monaco, a budget end pre-owned model will set you back around $5000. A new model will obviously cost more and is closer to $10000.
This is why many affordable alternatives to the Tag Heuer Monaco have been created. These are not direct copies of the classic watch, but still pay homage to its unique design. These watches that look like the Tag Heuer Monaco are mostly made in China and are therefore available at a fraction of the price.
In short, you do not need to break the bank in order to have something which looks very similar to the Monaco.
What Makes The Tag Heuer Monaco Different
The most glaringly obvious difference between the Tag Heuer Monaco and other racing style chronographs is the shape. Square dial watches are nowhere near as popular as traditional circular dials. For this reason, many watchmakers have overlooked unconventional shapes such as the square.
Secondly is the non-traditional color scheme of the Monaco. Whilst you can buy the Monaco in a plain blue, the most famous variation is the split dial. This has half of the dial in one color, whereas the other half is far more decorative.
Tag Heuer also uses two subdials for their chronograph function. Whilst this is not groundbreaking, most watches have been inspired by the Rolex Daytona and therefore have three subdials.
Lastly is the date window at 6 o’clock. For whatever reason, the date window on a high-end mechanical watch is almost always placed at 3 o’clock. Tag Heuer has changed this and placed it at the very bottom of the dial.
The Best Most Affordable Alternatives To The Tag Heuer Monaco
Fanmis Automatic
Fanmis offers a budget-friendly automatic variation of the Tag Heuer Monaco. It should be noted that this is a simple multi-dial watch that displays a day-date complication – not a chronograph. This is because mechanical chronograph movements cost a considerable amount of money which is far more than the cost of this entire watch.
In terms of the dial layout, Fanmis run very close to the line of directly copying the Monaco. Whilst the color scheme is not a direct copy, you can see they have mimicked the Gulf design.
Of course, in terms of accuracy and longevity, the Fanmis Chinese movement cannot be compared to the Swiss automatic used by Tag Heuer. However, for under $50, this watch is a real bargain as an alternative choice. You will certainly not find a cheaper watch with an automatic movement that looks so similar.
A Alps
The skeleton variation of the Tag Heuer Monaco costs over $50000, which is out of reach for ordinary people. Whilst the A Alps watch is certainly not a skeleton design – it is the closest match you will find.
First off the bat, this is not an automatic watch, so it does have a chronograph function. As the watch uses a Japanese quartz movement, you do not need to worry about the reliability or accuracy.
Strangely, this watch does say “Swiss design” below the bottom subdial. Whilst this is true in theory, as the watch is a Monaco homage, this does not have anything to do with Switzerland. The watch is made in China and is priced accordingly. For those wanting a square dial chronograph with a reliable movement, this is a very solid choice.
Megir Chronograph
Although they are not a well-known brand, Megir offers quite a wide variety of watches in terms of design. This square dialed chronograph is their closest match to the Tag Heuer Monaco.
Clearly, the watch is not a direct copy and has a design style of its own. The date window has been played at 4 o clock and the Chinese brand has opted to use 3 subdials rather than two. This is a nice alternative for those who want something in the same shape and style, whilst still keeping differentiated from the original Swiss watch.
Raymond Weil Tango
Not a budget watch by any stretch of the imagination, Raymond Weil is a Swiss watchmaker at the lower levels of luxury. Even still, the Tango is considerably cheaper than a Tag Heuer Monaco.
Much like Tag Heuer, Raymond Weil watches are made in Switzerland so are quality assured. With that being said, the movement used in the Tango is quartz – which makes it much less expensive. The tango also offers exactly the same functionality as the Monaco since it has both date and chronograph complications.
This is not a budget choice but is still a decent cheaper alternative.
Bulova Marine Star
A true racing style chronograph. Bulova was once a highly thought of Swiss brand that is now owned by the Citizen group. By using Japanese movements in their watches, Bulova has been able to decrease costs whilst still keeping a high standard of manufacturing.
This watch has Bulova’s own identity and keeps within the theme of both racing and a square dial. The case size of this watch is 39mm x 39mm – so it wears exactly the same as the Monaco minus the lugs. In summary, this is not a bad choice either considering it costs less than 10% of the retail price of a Tag Heuer alternative.
