Wrist Game Or Crying Shame: TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame where you choose stop, start, or reset. This week we travel back to 1997 to look at a TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110. But first…
Just when I think I know my constituency, you guys throw me for a serious loop. Such was the case with last week’s Omega De Ville Power Reserve with the epic Brick bracelet. In a nod to the Commodores, let’s just say you saw this watch as a “Brick House,” because you let it all hang out in a 70% Nice Price win. Seriously, just when I began losing faith in humanity, you restored it by voting for tasteful exuberance. Moving on — today’s TAG Heuer Monaco CS2110 sports a flashy bracelet, but that’s not the real significance.
Back to 1997 with the Monaco CS2110
If I randomly called any of you and asked when TAG Heuer first reissued the Monaco, would any of you know? You’d probably think sometime in the early 2000s because that’s when the familiar blue-dialed model made its way back to the market. But because I do love a good trick question, you’d, of course, be wrong. TAG Heuer hopped aboard the re-edition train a bit earlier and gave us the Monaco CS2110 all the way back in 1997! As a side note, it’s truly frightening that 1997 is almost 24 years ago.
You see, TAG was atop the world in the late ’90s with ubiquitous hits like the Link and the Kirium. I’m not joking; these watches were everywhere. And while they did have some automatic offerings, gold package-equipped Lexus drivers of the day with their obligatory belt-mounted beepers fancied quartz. I mean, when a good night consisted of putting some Kenny G on that sweet Nakamichi en route to the Cheesecake Factory, why worry yourself with something mechanical? But thankfully, someone in TAG saw it fit to cash in on some history. This first happened in 1996 with the Carrera CS3111 reissue and in 1997, the Monaco CS2110 debuted.
TAG mastered the reissue game early
In today’s reissue heavy market, we should look back at TAG Heuer and applaud the brand for the great job it did prior to the millennium. And if I can be open here, I actually think that between the Carrera and Monaco CS2110, these watches are better than quite a few of the more recent heritage pieces the brand has created. I remember first seeing the Carreras at a Tourneau at the Bal Harbour Shops in Miami. They were hot! And I think it was a year later on a cruise that I first laid eyes on the Monaco CS2110. Naturally, I had boned up on my history, but I’d never handled such an oddly shaped watch.
Now, if you’ve never been on a cruise, overeating isn’t the only activity worth pursuing. In addition to sunburn, people-watching, and participating in poolside limbo, there’s also shopping. Cruises stop in all sorts of duty-free ports and watches are the top target for most tourists. But guess what? Your city on the seas also happens to act as a traveling duty-free shopping mall and they also offer watches. It was actually aboard the cruise where I fell head over heels for the Monaco CS2110. And then I tried it on…
A uniquely shaped watch
When it was first released in 1969, the Heuer Monaco was an eye-catching vehicle for the Calibre 11 automatic movement. It was also the first waterproof square chronograph. And, at under 40mm along each side, it’s not that big. But, the Monaco CS2110 felt akin to putting a slab of steel on my wrist. It was very flat, ungainly, and pivoted towards the top or bottom of my wrist. I tried on a strap model and maybe the stiff leather wasn’t a help. I’d saved my Summer money for 4-5 years and was ready to take advantage of that sweet oceangoing discount, but I just couldn’t convince myself that the watch fit. And, to this day, I don’t own a Monaco. It doesn’t keep me up at night, but it is a bit of a hole in my collection of iconic watches from the 1960s. Perhaps I should try one on now because I’ve gone through the Panerai era and have donned far larger watches with no problems whatsoever.
Some details on the Monaco CS2110
Just because I was unable to pull off a Monaco CS2110, doesn’t mean you can’t give it a whirl. The re-edition Monaco was released in a batch of 5,000 pieces and introduced the milking of the McQueen cow that still exists today. Back then, I promise you that it was kind of fresh and cool. The watch came with a black dial and used an ETA2894. It’s odd that TAG didn’t choose the blue dial, but I guess they were working on the reintroduction of the Calibre 11. The CS2110 had a crown at 3 o’clock, flat pushers, an acrylic crystal, and was 38mm on each side.
Notably, the Monaco CS2110 eschewed the “TAG” portion of the logo on its dial, crown, and deployant clasp. And the case back even said, “By TAG Heuer”. I can admit that this first try at a new Monaco looks a bit austere and even a little boring, but there are positives. I like the Plexi, the 13mm thickness, and the fact that this watch used Tritium. Going back to my geezer feelings about 1997 being a long time ago, that Tritium has allowed these to age into pretty sweet neo-vintage watches.
The marketplace
Those 1996 Carrera models have found favor with collectors over the last few years and are on the rise in terms of value. In contrast, I hear almost nothing about the Monaco CS2110. I’d guess that’s because TAG has really kept with the classic Monaco style since ’97. But still, the fact that this is Tritium and was limited still makes this a neat piece and a cool part of history. I see watches in the €2,500 — 3,500 range and that’s where our candidate will come in today.
Today’s candidate
Today’s Monaco CS2110 comes via a listing on Chrono24. The seller took the pictures and is located in Freiburg, Germany. The dealer name is Luxus Uhren Freiburg and that’s an epic name. Regarding Freiburg, it’s supposedly a nice place, but getting there via the autobahn is a lesson in dealing with pure driving hell and potentially your first stau. This piece is on the upper end of things price-wise at €3,200, but I like it. I like it because it comes with all of its boxes and paperwork, seems to be in good shape, and has a bracelet. The bracelet does say “TAG Heuer”, but it looks super comfy from here in my sweltering apartment. In the end, though, you’ll be the ones voting on it.
And with that, I am going to leave it to you. Do you think this comeback edition Monaco CS2110 deserves more attention or are there too many other regular production or limited edition Monaco pieces to consider? Or, maybe you just don’t like the Monaco period. Either way, let’s see what you think.
