Description
The Five-Digit Submariner Icon
The Heuer Monaco ref. 73633 is one of the most revolutionary watch designs of the 20th century. Introduced in 1969 alongside the automatic Calibre 11 — the world’s first automatic chronograph — it was the first square waterproof watch and the first chronograph with a crown on the left. Steve McQueen immortalised it in the 1971 film Le Mans, cementing its status as the most cinematic watch ever made.
Specifications
Brand
Heuer
Reference
73633
Year
ca. 1970
Material
Stainless Steel
Caliber
Cal. 11 Auto Chronograph
1969
Monaco launch year
39 mm
Square case width
Cal. 11
First auto chronograph
The watch that Steve McQueen made immortal.
Condition:
This original Monaco 73633 carries the character of a genuine 1970s racing chronograph. The square steel case, blue dial and contrasting subdials present with the honest patina of age — every mark a reminder of the era when this watch was simply a tool for timing laps.
The Heart:
The Calibre 11 — co-developed by Heuer, Breitling and Hamilton-Buren — was unveiled on 3 March 1969. Its micro-rotor winding system and column wheel make it one of the most historically significant movements ever produced.
Guarantee:
As a vintage mechanical chronograph from the 1970s, this watch should be serviced by a specialist in vintage Heuer movements. No modern warranty applies; gaskets and pushers should be inspected before any moisture exposure.
Authenticity:
The original 73633 Monaco is identified by its square 39mm case, left-side crown position, blue dial with silver subdials, red chronograph hand and the distinctive Heuer logo of the early 1970s — details that separate originals from later reissues.
1969
1971
1973
1970
1975
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1985
2003
Today
McQueen's Racing Legend
What square chronograph became the most recognisable racing watch in cinema history?
The Monaco achieved what few watches ever do: it became a cultural icon before it became a collector’s grail. Steve McQueen wore a blue-dial 73633 throughout Le Mans, and that single moment defined the watch forever. Today the original first-series Monaco is among the most coveted vintage chronographs in existence — not just for its history, but for the genuinely radical design that started it all.
The square that refused to follow the rules.
The Heuer Monaco is proof that the most important watches are those that dare to be different. Its square case, left-side crown and Calibre 11 movement were all firsts — and its association with Steve McQueen made it permanent. This is a watch that transcends horology and enters legend.
