Watches and Wonders Geneva 2026
The TAG Heuer Monaco Evergraph Reinvents the Chronograph Pusher
A wholly new approach to chronographs doesn’t come along very often. Setting a new pinnacle in chronograph movement achievement, the Monaco Evergraph’s movement promises new levels of functionality, tactile response, efficiency, magnetic resistance, durability, and precision.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
The innovation of the new compliant chronograph mechanism, which is inside the also-new Calibre TH80-00 movement that powers TAG Heuer’s show-stopping Monaco Evergraph, stands as the most audacious moment in the brand’s so-called “Year of the Chronograph” to date. And after five years of research and development, the watchmaker has every right to be particularly proud and excited.
To put it simply, traditional chronographs use pushers on the case to activate rods deep within the movement to start, stop, and reset the chronograph functions. The pushers of the Monaco Evergraph, however, activate flexible, blade-shaped metal components along the outer movement to deliver those same functions, reducing overall component count (by eliminating the levers and springs associated with typical chronographs) and resulting in a particularly satisfying pusher feel.
Full confession: Just-right chrono feedback like this (not too mushy, not too sharp) puts a big smile on my face.
While the movement’s TH-Carbonspring oscillator increases magnetic resistance and enhances overall event-timing precision in the 5Hz, 70-hour power reserve, COSC-certified power plant, it is the pair of flexible activating components, dubbed “bistable,” that defines the achievement of this innovation.
In short: One flexible component for start/stop and one for reset, triggered by pushers in the classic 2 and 4 o’clock positions, delivers a faster, crisper timing response that the brand claims will not degrade over the lifetime of the timepiece.
Team Effort
The five-year effort involved the expertise of movement maker Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier as well as the efforts of key players on the TAG Heuer LAB team. Naturally, the results more-than-successfully present the decidedly innovative movement in an equally edgy Monaco design package.
Reminiscent of 2024’s Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph and the subsequent Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph from this year, the new Monaco Evergraph is a more ergonomic riff on the 2024 Monaco that retains ample design cues from the 1969 original’s revolutionary square-case chronograph, continuing the story and delighting fans and collectors.
Its openworked approach further unites the movement to the overall 40mm titanium case design, with prominently arched structural bridges holding the barrel and escapement in place. A transparent acrylic glass with white and red markings brings some race-worthy livery color to the piece, along with white Super-LumiNova details.
Night & Day
Offered in a stealthy black-DLC coated titanium execution (Ref. CEW5180.FT8122) or a fine-brushed and polished untreated titanium version (Ref. CEW5181.FT81213), you wouldn’t be wrong if you’re tempted to label the options “night and day.”
The black “night” version features dark black sub-dials at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock and comes on a color-matched textile-effect black rubber strap. Meanwhile, the metallic “day” execution has increased legibility thanks to the sub-dials’ contrasting dark blue color, which matches the similar rubber strap.
Of course, both versions display the groundbreaking TH80-00 Evergraph movement via exhibition casebacks. Both also share an aptly successful, envelope-pushing blend of existing heritage and what will likely be a new chapter in TAG’s heritage.
The Monaco’s signature squared sub-dials and left-sided crown meet the capabilities of the brand’s most new-jack chronograph technology to date. Expect to pay $25,000 for either ticket to a new age of chronography.
Geneva’s More Classic Monaco Chrono Story
While news of the Monaco Evergraph is likely to dominate headlines for the next few days, you can’t exactly label the trio of Monaco Chronograph models equipped with new Calibre TH20-11 movements that also debuted in Geneva as “second fiddles.”
Certainly, their bicompax dials, 39mm square Grade 5 titanium cases, and perforated black calf-skin straps draw strong lines to the McQueen-worn original Monaco and the line’s subsequent additions and innovations.
However, for this year, angular design language has been reinforced, the sapphire crystal is now closer to a truly square form, and a refined exhibition case back presents a more edge-curved circular movement window for wrist comfort.
Movement Chops
The new 80-hour power reserve TH20-11 movement is a notable upgrade as well. Placing a retro crown on the left, square sub-dials at 3 and 9 o’clock, and a date aperture at 6 o’clock, the “11” at the end of the nomenclature is particularly spot-on as this movement is more a spiritual descendant of the revolutionary Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement of the 1969 Monaco watch.
Available in a clean blue opaline dial execution with signature red-and-white hand and dial detailing (Ref. CDW2181.FC8360), a shimmering deep green sunray dial with more subdued details (Ref. CDW2180.FC8360), and an intriguing black opaline dial version with gleaming 18K 5N rose gold pops on the dial real estate, hands, bezel, crown, and pushers (Ref. CDW2150.FC8360), taken together they present a line-up as impressive and powerful as any F1 race start.
The blue and green dial versions retail for $9,350 each, while the red gold-accented model lists for $13,050. For more information, check out the TAG Heuer website.