Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing a Tag Heuer

Gaël Monfils, one of tennis's most flamboyant personalities and a TAG Heuer brand ambassador, was recently photographed wearing a TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02T Tourbillon Chronograph — almost certainly reference CAR5A8Z.FT6072 — paired with a striking silver skull-motif bracelet set with black diamonds. The combination is entirely on-brand for a player known as much for his acrobatic court theatrics as his fashion sensibility.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02T is a landmark release in modern Swiss watchmaking. Introduced in 2016 alongside the in-house Heuer 02T calibre, it brought a genuine Swiss-lever tourbillon chronograph to market at a price point — approximately $17,000 at launch — that undercut traditional luxury competitors by a wide margin. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, offers 65 hours of power reserve, and features a column-wheel with vertical clutch for the chronograph function. The tourbillon sits prominently at 6 o'clock behind a sapphire window, framed by two sub-registers for elapsed seconds and minutes at 9 and 3 o'clock respectively.

Monfils's specific version features a full carbon composite case measuring 45mm — the combination of a forged carbon case, carbon-composite bezel engraved with Tachymetre 400 markings, and a perforated black rubber strap gives this reference a decidedly motorsport-inspired, all-black aesthetic. The skeletonised dial architecture reveals movement architecture through an open-worked mainplate, adding visual drama without sacrificing legibility.

From a collector standpoint, the Heuer 02T occupies a fascinating niche. It is frequently cited as the entry point into serious tourbillon ownership — technically credible, visually bold, and manufactured in-house by TAG Heuer's La Chaux-de-Fonds facility. The carbon variant in particular appeals to sport-oriented collectors who find the brand's traditional steel references too conservative.

On the grey market, the carbon Heuer 02T typically trades at or slightly below retail, reflecting healthy supply rather than diminished desirability. For Monfils, a player who has appeared in TAG Heuer campaigns globally, wearing this watch is as much a professional commitment as a personal one — though the skull bracelet pairing makes clear this is also very much his own aesthetic fingerprint.