Film director Harald Zwart spotted wearing a Tag Heuer

Norwegian film director Harald Zwart was recently photographed cradling his wrist to showcase a TAG Heuer Monaco with the brand's signature blue dial — one of the most recognisable dials in watchmaking. The shot is deliberate and knowing: Zwart, whose cinematic career spans Hollywood blockbusters and Norwegian crowd-pleasers alike, clearly understands the cultural weight of what he's wearing. The occasion ties to the upcoming premiere of 'Lange Flate Ballær III' on April 1st, and the Monaco feels like a deliberate nod to legacy and craft.

The TAG Heuer Monaco traces its roots to 1969, when Jack Heuer and movement architect Jack-Marie Calibre unveiled the Calibre 11 — co-developed with Breitling and Hamilton-Buren — inside a tonneau-shaped, water-resistant square case designed by René Bannwart. It was audacious and divisive at launch. Then Steve McQueen strapped one to his left wrist (crown side facing down, as visible in the film) for John Sturges' 'Le Mans', and the Monaco became permanently embedded in popular culture. The blue dial with white subdials at 3 and 9 o'clock, set inside the bold 39mm square steel case, is the most faithful to that McQueen-era reference.

From the image, the dial presents a rich navy blue — consistent with contemporary Monaco references such as the CAW211P or the McQueen tribute editions — with the distinctive square case profile, push-piece crowns flanking the case at 10 o'clock, and what appears to be a black leather or rubber strap. The square bezel's polished and brushed finishing is clearly visible. This points most plausibly to the Monaco Calibre 11 reference CAW211P or a close variant within the current core Monaco lineup.

For collectors, the Monaco occupies a rare dual position: it is both an entry point into serious vintage chronograph collecting and a legitimate modern sports-luxe piece. The current-generation Monaco houses the Calibre 11 automatic chronograph movement, delivering approximately 40 hours of power reserve at 28,800 vph. Its collector cachet remains strong, with vintage references from the early 1970s commanding significant premiums at auction.

At retail, the Monaco Calibre 11 in steel sits around the $6,000–$8,500 range depending on configuration, with grey market values closely tracking list price given steady demand. For Zwart, it is a filmmaker's watch — cinematic pedigree, bold geometry, and a story worth telling.