Nice post Jeff, i'd like to add that serials for these Trans models (if untouched by service depts etc) SHOULD be in the 157xxx range. I guess its possible a 158xxx may have slipped out but i'd wager 158xxx variants are more likely to have been "put together" or had cases swapped at service perhaps.

ITs great to see so many pics, they are such a great Monaco variant and as we are finding out (only 9 out in the open to date) such a rare beast!

Cheers Rich
www.heuermonaco.co.uk

: I just spoke with our best expert here in the United States, to
: ask him the question of exactly when production of the
: "transitional" Monacos began and ended. Here are some
: of the points that he made: Production of the
: "transitional" Monacos probably began in late 1969 and
: he believes that this production may also have ended before the
: end of 1969. Perhaps a few could have been made in early 1970,
: but he is doubtful that many were made in 1970, if any at all.

: This tells us that this was a relatively short production run . .
: . longer than the Chronomatics, but far shorter than the run of
: "standard" Monacos [brushed hands, with red trim and
: triangular tips], which began in early 1970.

: There were probably only around a dozen of these transitional
: models sent to the United States, and most of these were
: probably "salesman's samples", used by the salesmen to
: show these amazing new watches to the retailers. Of course, when
: the standard version Monaco was introduced in 1970, these
: "salesman's samples" were replaced / retired. Still,
: over time, the transitional samples ended up going to customers
: or other connected with the company, after they were retired.

: A conclusion from all this is that very few of these transitional
: Monacos would have been sold through normal retail channels, at
: least in the United States. I have to imagine that this same
: approach / pattern would have applied in other markets . . . but
: we cannot be certain. I hope that other readers will be able to
: add more information to this thread!

: Jeff

:
: