Heuer Monaco 1133B Transitional - Patina

As a rare transitional version of the legendary Heuer Monaco equipped with the revolutionary Calibre 11, this example impressively combines historical significance, extreme rarity and a truly unique patina that has developed over decades, making it a one-of-a-kind piece.

The Transitional Monaco was produced within a very short window of only a few months, when Heuer was forced to remove the “Chronomatic” designation from the dials while the new matte design had not yet been introduced. This brief period gave rise to one of the rarest and most fascinating variants of the Monaco – a watch that is rightly considered among the most desirable pieces by collectors today.

At first glance, the dial immediately captivates. The metallic blue surface is alive – constantly shifting with the light, ranging from deep midnight blue to a rich and vibrant royal blue. In the corners, the first subtle traces of that legendary ageing can be observed. Collectors use the term “Paintless Wonder” primarily for examples where most of the dial has undergone this transformation, revealing the bronze base beneath. On the present watch, however, these are only delicate lightened areas that hint at this phenomenon and reveal warm, almost golden nuances.

It is precisely this subtle, not yet fully developed transformation that makes this example so appealing: it sits perfectly between original color intensity and the early stages of patina – a moment in time, captured on a dial.

On the wrist, the Monaco reveals its iconic presence. The bold, square case that once revolutionised watch design is paired here with the rare, original MK1 stainless steel bracelet by NSA – a combination typically found only on the earliest Chronomatic and transitional Monaco models.

This collector’s piece is further complemented by its original Heuer automatic racing box.

Condition Report
Dial: Metallic blue dial with partial wear to the lacquer in the corners and on some hour markers, revealing the bronze base – original finish – original tritium luminous material – signed: "Monaco Heuer Automatic Chronograph Swiss".

Case: Monobloc stainless steel case in great condition – normal signs of wear – sharp edges – clear and intact numbers between the lugs – crisp engravings on the caseback – original Heuer crown – original fluted pushers.

Movement: Automatic chronograph Calibre 11 – timegrapher results: rate deviation: +9 s/day, amplitude: 295, beat error: 0.0.

Bracelet: Original NSA MK1 stainless steel bracelet – length: approx. 23 cm, adjustable by removing links.

Serial number: 157xxx

Int.Exe.: 12673