I'm in the U.S. and have been so accustomed to seeing a Heuer Monaco that it was only recently that I learned of it's popularity as a collector's item. But, I'll back up a bit.

My grandfather was the kind of guy that I fished and played tennis with every year, up until I was 22, when he passed -- he also ran an ad agency in Boston. One of his steadfast (a rarity in advertising) clients was Bonne Bell cosmetics. Maybe you've seen the chapstick-like Lip Smackers... it was a very kitchy thing in the 70's. Well, Bonne Bell was a U.S. Ski Team sponsor -- in 1976, my grandfather, along with the owner Jess Bell went to Innsbruck to support the US Ski Team.

When he came back, he had a couple(!) of Heuer Monacos, which he gifted to my father and my uncle (who, by the way, were both Son-in-laws to him, being my maternal grandfather) -- I'm not sure the exact way it happened, but the watches were given to my grandfather in some connection to the US team - either by the team or by the Olympic officials. (Having read that, at the time, Monaco as a model was on it's last gasps, perhaps these were gifted to all ski teams in an effort to invigorate interest in the Monaco; perhaps I'll never know.) At the time, I was eight, but I immediately saw this very cool watch of my dads. Dad loved that watch & took very good care of it (since I didn't realize at the time it's value, I thought he was going overboard - he saved the black wristband to avoid wear and bought a tan Heuer band).

Well, sadly in 2009 my dad passed away. He had always let our family know that I was to inherit his watch. I rarely wear it, but I love it when I have that opportunity. I've corresponded with a member of this forum, a great guy named Paul Gavin, who has shared much of the Monaco info -- and, unsurprisingly, I'm hooked anyway. I love learning more and more about the Monacos (I followed the Haslinger auction of the PVD 73044 in amazement, though I do understand it is a unique situation). I've taken some decent pics, but unfortunately, they are on my home computer -- the ones seen in this post are from my smartphone, so, as you may understand, not that great.

I'm sure I've been way too wordy, but it is what it is. Thanks for letting me share - cheers.

Hmmm... it's not letting me post pics in the optional Image URL, so you can see watch here: http://monaco74033.posterous.com/

[following image added by Moderator]