La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland


TAG Heuer has presented a Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition to mark its global partnership with Gulf Oil International, which will see the development of new activities and new editions of timepieces.

With the immediately recognisable famous blue and orange stripes, Gulf has been a well-known player in the automotive industry for over 115 years. Quality, endurance and passion are the company's watchwords; proven by their history of innovation, invention and continuing development. It was the first company to drill for oil below the sea, and in 1913, became the first in the world to open a petrol station.

It shares values with the Swiss watchmaking brand that has automotive sport in its DNA. TAG Heuer and Gulf have crossed paths several times, but the most notable was in 1971, in the film "Le Mans", when Steve McQueen wore a Heuer Monaco on his wrist while driving a Porsche 917 that featured the Gulf logo.

Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and Chairman of the Watch Division of LVMH Group, stated: "It's a real privilege to forge links with Gulf and its history in automotive sport that includes the Porsche 917K, Steve McQueen, the Le Mans 24 Hour Race and the Monaco watch. It's a prestigious and emotional partnership. I know of few other brands that could share as many memories of pit stops and which have a relationship as strong and authentic. We share the same passion and this promises good things for the future."

Frank Rutten, Vice President International of Gulf, added: "TAG Heuer is an iconic name for automotive sport and our two brands have many shared highlights, stretching back over almost half a century. We're delighted with this partnership and look forward to developing it, representing, as it does, a new direction for the relationship between Gulf Oil International and TAG Heuer. Timing is of critical importance to many aspects of our business – Gulf has, for instance, a peerless “on time in full delivery record” in its marine operation - we share values of innovation and quality but, in particular, our shared history ensures that this is one of the most genuine unions in the automotive world."


The Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition

Launched simultaneously in Geneva and New York on March 3, 1969, the Heuer Monaco was the first square and water-resistant automatic chronograph in the history of Swiss watchmaking. The watch was a break with the aesthetic codes of traditional watchmaking. The large square case with straight angles, the metallic blue dial, the domed plexiglas crystal and especially the crown positioned on the left, signifying that the watch was wound automatically. Just as innovative at the time, its technology offered perfect water resistance - a first for a square watch.

However, the origins of the revolution lay inside the watch: The famous Calibre 11 that was the first automatic chronograph movement to be commercialised in the history of watchmaking. Immediately recognisable and often copied, the "McQueen Monaco" has become a much-coveted watch at auctions and in collections.

The watch shared the spotlight with Steve McQueen, who insisted on wearing it throughout filming of the film "Le Mans" in 1971 when he drove the famous Gulf-Porsche 917K.

The colours of this iconic brand are referenced in the design of the Monaco Calibre 11 Gulf special edition just launched. The 39 mm size, the crown on the left, the legendary petroleum blue dial with two white counters, the date window at 6 o'clock, the diamond-polished horizontal hour indices, the inscribed vintage Heuer logo, the calibre 11 automatic chronograph with date and water-resistance to 100 metres - all are the attributes of the Monaco. As a reminder of its origins and sporting pedigree, a light blue and an orange stripe of Gulf’s renowned racing colours have been added to the dial. The Gulf logo also appears at 6 o'clock.