Tag Heuer
Monza Chronograph Fullset Racing - Automatic

TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Ref. 16700135 — 42 mm — black PVD-coated titanium case, black dial, automatic Calibre 17 chronograph, domed sapphire crystal, water-resistant 100 m Pre-owned 2017 — Full Set (box & papers) 3-year Mostra warranty

“At Monza, time isn’t only on the pit boards – it beats on a black chronograph at your wrist.”

The light is fading over the Monza circuit, but the heat is still hanging in the air. In the pits, the smell of fuel, hot oil and burnt rubber lingers. Mechanics are packing away jacks, air guns and numbered fuel cans; in the distance, a few engines are still being revved for final checks. On the wrist of an engineer, a driver or an aficionado leaning against the pit wall, a black chronograph stands out against a racing overall or leather jacket sleeve: the TAG Heuer Monza. Before the session, you started the central chronograph hand as the car blasted past the pit straight, then stopped it the instant it crossed the line again. The tachymeter scale on the flange converts that time into speed, just as it did back when dashboard timers and wristwatches were the only telemetry a pit crew had. Moments later, between runs, you use the pulsometer scale to count the heartbeats of a driver fresh out of the cockpit: fifteen beats, one crisp push on the pusher, and the Monza shows a heart rate that says as much about race tension as it does about the resilience of the one behind the wheel.  In the evening, as the grandstands empty and the transporters roll slowly out of the paddock, the watch changes scene. The race suit is swapped for a black shirt, jeans and a leather jacket. The black cushion case stays put on the wrist like a piece of the car you decided to keep. The 3 and 9 o’clock registers, the historic Heuer logo, and the contrast of white markers and hands on a black dial still evoke Italy, the Parabolica curve, and flat-out speed through Monza’s trees. But the soundtrack has changed: no more V12 roar, just bar chatter and the light hum of a terrace.

Wearing this Monza Calibre 17 every day is like threading a tangible slice of paddock atmosphere through your schedule. You hit the chronograph to time a meeting, a commute, a workout; you let the hand run while you draft a report, sip a coffee or watch a Grand Prix. The watch doesn’t demand theatrics – it simply brings the world of pit lanes and lap times to your wrist. You may not be racing the Italian Grand Prix, but your Monza reminds you, at a glance, that any day can be run like a perfectly timed relay.

The first Heuer Monza appeared in 1976, created to celebrate Ferrari’s 1975 World Championship title with Niki Lauda. Its name is a direct homage to the Monza circuit, temple of speed, and its mission was clear: a racing chronograph designed for drivers and their crews, with tachymeter and pulsometer scales on the dial. 

That original Monza stood out with its black case, red accents and cushion-shaped silhouette so typical of the 1970s. It belongs to the family of Heuer chronographs we see in period black-and-white photographs, laid on steering wheels, race suits and leather gloves. The Monza Calibre 17 re-edition launched for the 40th anniversary picks up this historic DNA and adapts it to modern standards: a grade 5 titanium case with black PVD coating, automatic Calibre 17 chronograph, pulsometer and tachymeter on the rehaut, and the vintage Heuer logo, all combined with contemporary construction, reliability and water-resistance.  Our 2017 example sits squarely within this Monza Calibre 17 generation, born of that anniversary reissue. For today’s enthusiast, it is a particularly successful blend of Monza racing heritage and modern chronograph: the dial still whispers of the 1970s, but on the wrist you enjoy a light, robust, comfortable and precise watch built for everyday life.

This TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 is built around a 42 mm cushion-shaped case in grade 5 titanium with a black PVD coating for added toughness. The cushion profile, with gently rounded flanks and softened corners, gives the watch a strong presence without feeling heavy. Titanium keeps it remarkably light on the wrist, while the black coating strengthens the visual link to vintage racing chronos and offers better scratch resistance than earlier surface treatments. 

The black dial carries two contrasting white registers: small seconds at 3 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 9, and a discreet date at 6 o’clock. The historic Heuer logo (without TAG) nods toward the 1970s, while the typography and red accents on hands and markings echo the pit-lane universe. On the flange, the tachymeter scale and “15 pulsations” pulsometer scale allow you, if you wish, to recreate period timing rituals: start the chrono as the car passes the pits, stop it a lap later, or launch it on the first heartbeat and stop on the fifteenth to read off pulse rate. 

The hour and minute hands, along with the markers, are coated with luminous material for clear low-light legibility, whether in a garage, a car at night or a dim cinema. Everything sits beneath a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, reinforcing the “instrument panel” feel while delivering excellent resistance to everyday scratches. Inside, the watch is powered by the Calibre 17, an automatic chronograph based on a proven architecture, with two horizontal registers and date. Robust, reliable and suited to daily use, it offers a modern beat rate and a comfortable power reserve to handle a long workday and more without any fuss. The steel crown and pushers, left uncoated, create a visual contrast true to early black-coated cases, where crowns and pushers were often kept raw for both technical and aesthetic reasons.  The 100 m water resistance, combined with a screw-down caseback, allows you to face rain, splashes, casual swimming and weekends on a boat with confidence, provided you respect the usual care guidelines for such a watch. The black perforated racing leather strap continues the paddock theme: large perforations recalling racing gloves and bucket seats, supple full-grain leather for comfort, and a deployant clasp for secure fastening and a naturally sporty drape around the wrist. 

In daily life, this Monza Calibre 17 behaves like a civilised racing chronograph. With city attire – a dark suit, white shirt or roll-neck – the black case and bi-compax dial add a controlled technical note, far from ostentation. The 42 mm size is perfectly wearable on an average male wrist and also suits a female wrist that embraces contemporary proportions, especially for those who appreciate driver’s-watch aesthetics. In a work setting, the watch slips under a cuff, yet its black dial with white scales reminds you with each glance that it hails from a world where tenths of a second mattered more than slide counts. Using the chronograph almost becomes playful: timing a presentation, a call, or the gap between trains. In more creative or casual environments – jeans, trainers, blazer – the Monza reinforces the impression of someone who knows TAG Heuer’s history, but chooses the Monza over the more expected Monaco. At weekends, the watch is back on its home turf: classic cars, track days, Grands Prix watched from the grandstands or on screen. At the wheel, the dial remains perfectly legible; on foot in the paddock, the racing strap looks exactly right among leather steering wheels, helmets and race suits. When travelling, the 100 m water resistance and titanium robustness make it a watch you keep on your wrist whether you’re flying to Milan, taking a train to Lombardy or just heading for a coastal weekend.

For a collector, this 2017 TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 is a wonderfully balanced way into the world of racing chronographs: a model born of a historically themed re-edition, with Calibre 17, black PVD case, driver’s scales and racing strap, yet modern enough to be worn every day without the fragility sometimes associated with original 1970s pieces.

The watch offered here is a TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 Ref. 16700135 from 2017, with black PVD-coated titanium case, black dial and black perforated racing leather strap. It is in very fine overall condition, consistent with a carefully worn modern watch. The cushion case retains sharp lines and attractive contrasts between brushed and polished surfaces; the black coating shows no major dings or visible losses at normal viewing distance. The dial and sub-dials are immaculate, the hands and markers keep an even glow, and the domed sapphire crystal is in excellent condition. The racing leather strap is in very good condition, with well-defined perforations and a pleasant suppleness on the wrist, and the deployant clasp secures the watch with confidence. The watch is sold as a Full Set, with its original TAG Heuer box, outer box, papers and warranty card, along with the usual booklets. Mostra additionally supplies a Mostra presentation box or travel case, ideal for storing the watch at home or carrying it safely when you travel.

As with every watch offered by Mostra, this TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 has been carefully inspected by our in-house watchmaking workshop prior to sale. All key points have been checked: Calibre 17 performance, chronograph operation and reset, time-setting, and the integrity of the case, crown, pushers, crystal and strap, to ensure a trouble-free wearing experience from day one. The watch comes with a three-year Mostra warranty, an exceptional term on the pre-owned market, especially valuable for a racing automatic chronograph you intend to wear regularly, during the week as well as at weekends. This extended warranty reflects Mostra’s commitment to the quality of its curation and the seriousness of its workshop, which regularly handles collectible chronographs and watches with significant horological interest. Mostra—renowned for its service and customer experience—has been recognised in the specialist press as one of France’s leading pre-owned watch experts. By choosing this 2017 TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 17 from Mostra, you are not simply buying an iconic Monza-inspired chronograph; you are entering an ownership experience designed to last, built on transparency, rigorous selection and personalised guidance.

Our team advises you on model choice, collection building, wrist fit and the right care habits, with the calm, precise attention that makes all the difference when you invest in a heritage piece. Every watch is thoroughly examined before being offered, so that your wearing pleasure is immediate and enduring, and our after-sales support allows you to enjoy your Monza over time with a trusted point of contact. Our reviews are verified and show a 5-star rating, reflecting an experience and service level that meet the expectations of seasoned enthusiasts as well as those choosing their very first TAG Heuer chronograph.