Actor Samuel Le Bihan spotted wearing a Tag Heuer

French actor Samuel Le Bihan, known for genre-defining roles in films such as Brotherhood of the Wolf and The Crimson Rivers, was recently spotted at a formal occasion wearing a TAG Heuer Monaco on his wrist — a choice that signals both refined taste and an appreciation for horological history.

The watch visible on Le Bihan's wrist closely matches the current TAG Heuer Monaco Automatic Chronograph reference CBL2111.FC6453, identifiable by its deep blue sunray-brushed dial, paired white subsidiary dials at 3 and 9 o'clock with red-tipped chronograph hands, and the square 39 mm stainless steel case with lateral crown placement — a defining Monaco characteristic inherited from the original 1969 Calibre 11 model. The black perforated leather strap reinforces the motorsport aesthetic. The watch is powered by the in-house Heuer 02 automatic chronograph movement, a column-wheel, vertical-clutch calibre with 80-hour power reserve — a significant technical upgrade over earlier Monaco generations.

The Monaco's backstory is inseparable from its cultural weight. Debuted simultaneously with the Zenith El Primero, the original Heuer Monaco — designed by Jack Heuer and styled by René Bannwart — was genuinely polarising: a square case for a waterproof watch broke every convention of the era. Steve McQueen wearing it on his left wrist in the 1971 film Le Mans transformed it into an icon. Fifty-plus years later, the square case is still the most recognisable silhouette in TAG Heuer's catalogue.

For collectors, the current Heuer 02-powered Monaco represents the most technically credible version of the reference since the original. The in-house movement — developed over several years and shared with the Carrera — addresses decades of criticism that the Monaco relied on outsourced ébauches. It sits comfortably in the mid-luxury segment and competes with Breitling Premier and Longines Heritage Chronograph on merit.

At a retail price of approximately $6,150 USD, the Monaco CBL2111.FC6453 holds relatively firm on the grey market, trading close to or slightly below retail — a sign of steady demand rather than speculative fever. For Le Bihan, it is a fitting choice: European, cinematic, and technically serious.