There’s one Swiss watch company that refuses to change its racing stripes. This month, TAG Heuer is releasing a limited-edition re-issue of the iconic 1969 Monaco chronograph.

Iconic, because the Monaco became forever linked with actor Steve McQueen after he sported the watch in 1971’s racing film Le Mans, an association that spawned the nickname the “McQueen Monaco.” The release of the new Monaco celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original timepiece, while paying discreet tribute to McQueen with an engraving on the caseback.

Shown above, the new Monaco represents the perfect marriage of modern innovation and vintage appeal: the colours on the face have been made more vivid, TAG Heuer’s logo has been restored in homage to the original model and, bearing in mind that the 40-year-old edition debuted as the first self-winding automatic chronograph with a micro rotor, the new model fittingly features the same Calibre-11 movement.

Particularly notable in the 1969-edition Monaco, shown to the right (and of course easily mistaken for the 2009 replica, so successful is the redesign), is that it was one of the first watches to feature a waterproof square case. Indeed, a great deal of its distinctive reputation is due to the fact that it so easily stood out from the sea of contemporary circular faces. Surely, square was never quite so cool.

The new Monaco will be distributed with two separate straps: one that is dark-blue alligator, and a second made of punched calfskin. (The latter resembles the strap featured on the original model.)

Availability is strictly limited to 1,000 pieces, which will retail for around $7,900.

Images courtesy of TAG Heuer.