The more I learn about him, the less I am surprised that one of the watches in John Mayer’s collection that he is most proud of is his Tag Heuer. Specifically, it is a Tag Heuer Blue Dial Monaco.

As for the fabled history of the watch, of course it goes back to the European racetrack and to Steve McQueen who famously donned the timepiece in his starring role in the 1971 car racing film, “Le Mans.”

The Monaco is the first in the history of fine watch making to have a water resistant square shaped case. But that is not this Tag’s only “famous first” as it also the first automatic chronograph movement that has a micro-rotor.

The design of the Monaco is impeccable and so unmistakable as to render it an iconic timepiece. Fashion-wise, it goes well in any casual or sporting occasion, and as for its features, it is a straight forward, simple, strong timepiece.

It has chronograph functions with 60-second, 30-minute, and 12-hour registers. The dial’s hour points illuminate at night. And the watch operates on TAG Heuer Watches Calibre 17 automatic movement. Finally, the wristwatch is water-resistant to one hundred feet and its case is 41mm.

It has been said that McQueen was originally attracted to this watch for its audaciousness and rebelliousness. Both McQueen and Tag were trend buckers, and now, in a world where every new rock star on the scene wants the next “new thing” it is refreshing that Mayer would rather go old school in his collection than to simply hop on the bandwagon of whatever the watch of the moment may be.