Heuer

The Monaco Ref 1133 was Heuer’s first ever automatic chronograph, and in fact, one of the first automatic chronographs from any brand at all. As worn by Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans, it’s a watch steeped in watch and film history and is one of the most distinctive watches designs ever made. The Monaco has had a number of iterations including a three-register manual-winding model (circa 1971), a simpler model with only one chronograph recorder (circa 1972), and finally the two-register, manual-winding model (circa 1974), but one version stands apart to any other – The Dark Lord.

The Dark Lord is as mysterious as it is rare. Never shown in a catalog, Heuer themselves do not hold much information on its development, production or distribution, but Jack Heuer as previously said that it is likely between 100 and 200 that were produced and were predominantly supplied via the German distributors, but never in the USA.

The cases for these watches are from the Ref 74033 that were given a black coating, but the dial was new to the model. The dial and registers are matt black with the long markers painted in luminous material, and the chronograph hours, minutes and seconds hands given a distinctive orange finish. The movement is a Valjoux 7740 which meant the crown is located between the chronograph pushers on the right side of the case, unlike the earlier automatic Monaco’s.

The early development of the coating technique meant that the original coating is often worn or chipped on these examples, so it is exciting to find an example in such condition. The current example still retains its coating with little wear and lack of chips. In addition, the case back sticker is retained with the original brushing visible. This must be one of the best condition Dark Lords to come to market in recent times.