Earlier this summer, the 2022 Grand Prix – an immensely popular Formula One race held in Monaco — took place. TAG Heuer cemented the occasion by launching a special edition variation on an absolute classic vintage Heuer Monaco known as the “Dark Lord.” The vintage model was so (nick)named for its black PVD coating atop the iconic square steel case. The new AAA Canada replica watches is officially called the TAG Heuer Monaco Special Edition for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. But like I said in my introductory coverage of this piece, I’m going to stick with Dark Lord.
I had a chance to attend the Grand Prix this year, and watch as TAG brand ambassador, Max Verstappen, took home third place in the race. He, of course, stood on the podium with a fresh Dark Lord on his wrist. But he wasn’t the only ambassador I had the privilege of meeting in one of the craziest, most lavish cities in all the world. In addition to launching the high quality fake watches (because why do just one thing?) TAG Heuer simultaneously announced a new addition to the ambassadorship stable, joining the likes of Patrick Dempsey, and Ryan Gosling.
That new ambassador, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, made the most of his inaugural event with his new brand, by wearing a Steve McQueen-esque white leather racing jacket with all the patches. I met him on a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea – a mere boat ride from the race. Elordi was playing around with a deck of cards. Naturally, I asked what that was all about.
“I’ve always hated cards because I didn’t understand them,” Elordi says from a seat next to the window overlooking the sea. “I’m trying to learn how to gamble because now that I’ve been cast in a movie where I have to know how to handle cards.”
Once we got that out of the way, we turned our attention to perfect replica watches. To my delighted surprise, Elordi – who himself was wearing the recently announced Dark Lord – had immediate thoughts about the Monaco, writ large, and how it plays into his feelings of being a brand ambassador for the first time.
“The funny thing about the Monaco is that Steve McQueen got given six or seven of them when the top copy watches wasn’t selling,” Elordi says (the playing cards now resting on a side table). “People were like ‘Please wear this in the film you’re doing.’ He wore them, and the story goes that they sold out. I don’t think I have that kind of appeal but I assume that’s the mentality behind ambassadorship – the ability to speak to a generation or an audience.”
Of course, during our conversation, I couldn’t help but occasionally sneak a peek at the iconic DLC-coated Monaco on his wrist. It was my first time seeing the Swiss made replica watches in person, and I knew I needed to spend some extra time with it when I returned state-side … which I did.
What I found most interesting about this top super clone watches was its lightness. The case is crafted from grade-5 titanium which is then DLC coated to give it that black aesthetic. The case diameter, listed at 39mm, does appear much larger in person, and could potentially be challenging for some wrists – but also, you kind of know what you’re getting into when you want a rigid, square, watch like the Monaco.
I appreciated Elordi’s take on this point as well when he said, “It’s quite a big watch but I am finding ways to wear it with anything.” That’s the kind of spirit I’m here for.
In terms of sheer looks, luxury TAG Heuer fake watches made sure to load this up with as much color and texture without sacrificing the all-black-everything appeal that hardcore Heuerites are looking for. In many ways, the design flourishes on the dial take the watch squarely out of reproduction territory and more into the homage camp, as I noted in my first story. Seeing this watch in the metal solidified that thought for me. The grain texture on the outer edges of the dial paired with the rose-gold accents, elevate this watch into modern territory. This is a Dark Lord in concept, but the brand made sure it had its own differentiating factors.
“This particular watch is very cool – I like the matte black and I like the rose gold,” Elordi says. “The original one is quite sporty, but there’s something about this one that is a little fancy.”
I couldn’t have said it better. It’s the fanciful nature of this watch that signals to me why TAG opted to make this a special edition rather than a regular production replica watches wholesale. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see the brand release a 1:1 remake at some point in time.
“I think this one speaks to what the original watch was,” Elordi says. “There’s an edge to it, there’s something in the Dark Lord that’s rebellious, yet still classy.”
That’s what makes this one special in its own right. It celebrates one of the most important F1 races, in one of the more lavish locales on the planet, and yet maintains its dark edginess. Any fake watches online site that can do that should be free to feel itself a bit with some shimmering rose gold accents (which continue on the exhibition caseback showing the Heuer 02 Automatic).
In the end, I still think of it very much as a Dark Lord, even if this new piece has its own identity and style. The roots are there. So what does the Dark Lord mean to me? Well, I think this is something of a contentious debate. But when I hear the name Dark Lord and see this replica watches for sale – only one image comes to mind: Darth Vader, the dark lord of the Sith. But the debate rages on.
“When I think of the Dark Lord, I think of Voldemort from Harry Potter – He Who Shall Not Be Named.”
Agree to disagree, Jacob.