TAG Heuer has taken their popular dive watch and brought it into the modern world, with crisp lines and a robust Calibre 5 Automatic movement. The new Aquaracer Professional 300 traces its heritage back to the Heuer Ref. 844 diver’s watch released in 1978, a piece that has since become a collector favorite.
The design team for the new watch took the key identities from that first watch and the six signature features fans know and love from the Aquaracer line and created a modern interpretation. The uni-directional rotating bezel, the screw-down crown, water resistance of at least 200 meters, strong luminous markings, sapphire glass and a double safety clasp will all be familiar, recognizable and extremely useful.
The 12-sided bezel that defines the line for most enthusiasts remains of course, but has evolved. Each of the 12 facets is now fluted, which makes it easier to turn the bezel no matter where you grip, gloved or not. There is a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel across the whole collection.
It isn’t just on the outside. When you turn the bezel, you will feel and hear the amount of work put in to make it smooth but solid, and extremely satisfying to manipulate. And there is a very nice touch for the date window, which has a magnifying lens while the sapphire crystal remains smooth to touch. Because the lens is on the inside. This makes the watch far less likely to snag anywhere, and also allows better legibility from more angles. This one proves surprisingly intelligent.
Other details are also both aesthetic and functional. There is a wider, more sword-shaped hour hand (think back to the last of the TAG Heuer 2000 series) and a narrower minutes hand so it is more easy to tell the difference under water with a mask. Also the Super-LumiNova for the hour hand and hour markers is green, while that of the minute hand is blue. The crown protection is softer and more rounded, somewhat reminiscent of that first Ref. 844.
Even the caseback has a new/old look. The scaphander diving suit that first appeared on the Aquaracer in 2004 is there, but with refreshes as well. The helmet is more angular, fitting the new design language of the watch itself, and the faceplate of the dive helmet itself now has 12 facets. And since no detail is unimportant, the caseback will always be square to the case so the diver is always upright.
The new watch comes in seven references and two sizes (43mm and 36mm), and a new bracelet system that allows for quicker fine adjustment such as when you move from dive suit to after-dive rash guard or skin. Most of the references will be in steel, with a choice of black, blue or silver dial. One standard reference will be available in a very nice matte Grade 2 titanium and a green dial.
Our favorite? A very nice limited edition meant to honor that original Ref. 844. The Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute to Ref. 844 will be limited to only 844 pieces. It has a titanium case, and special details such as the red 24-hour scale from the original Ref. 844 on its flat black dial. This was originally meant to be a quick conversion chart for those reporting in military time. It also has vintage lime and a black perforated strap based on an original design.
Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute to Ref. 844 Calibre 5 Automatic Limited Edition | Reference WBP208C.FT6201 | Technical specifications: MOVEMENT Calibre 5 Automatic | CASE 43 mm diameter, Grade 5 titanium case, Black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale, Flat sapphire glass with double anti-reflective treatment, Stainless-steel screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, Stainless-steel screw-down caseback with special engraving “ONE OF 844”, Water-resistant to 300 metres (30 bar) | DIAL Black opaline dial with red numerals, Rhodium-plated applied indexes with old radium Super- LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands with old radium Super- LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated central hand with old radium Super- LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated TAG HEUER sticker logo, Angled date with magnifying lens at 6 o’clock AQUARACER AUTOMATIC 300 m / 1000 ft printed | STRAP Perforated black rubber strap, Stainless-steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons and fine adjustment system; TAG Heuer shield
Aquaracer 300 Calibre 5 Automatic (titanium) | Reference WBP208B.BF0631 | Technical specifications: MOVEMENT Calibre 5 Automatic | CASE 43 mm diameter, Sand-blasted Grade 2 titanium case, Green ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale Flat sapphire glass with double anti-reflective treatment Stainless-steel screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, Grade 2 titanium screw-down caseback, Water-resistant to 300 metres (30 bar) | DIAL Green sunray-brushed dial Rhodium-plated applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands with white Super- LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated central hand with white Super-LumiNova® Rhodium-plated TAG HEUER sticker logo, Angled date with magnifying lens at 6 o’clock AQUARACER AUTOMATIC 300 m / 1000 ft printed | BRACELET Grade 2 titanium three-row bracelet, Grade 2 titanium folding clasp with double safety push buttons and fine adjustment system; TAG Heuer shield
Aquaracer 300 Calibre 5 Automatic | Reference WBP201C.BA0632 | Technical specifications: MOVEMENT Calibre 5 Automatic | CASE 43 mm diameter, Polished and fine-brushed stainless-steel case, Black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale Flat sapphire glass with double anti-reflective treatment Stainless-steel screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, Stainless steel screw-down caseback, Water-resistant to 300 metres (30 bar) | DIAL Silver sunray-brushed dial Black-gold-plated applied indexes with white Super- LumiNova®, Black-gold-plated hour and minute hands with white Super- LumiNova®, Black-gold-plated central hand with white Super-LumiNova® Black-gold-plated TAG HEUER sticker logo, Angled date with magnifying lens at 6 o’clock, AQUARACER AUTOMATIC 300 m / 1000 ft printed | BRACELET Stainless-steel three-row bracelet, Stainless-steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons and fine adjustment system; TAG Heuer shield
Aquaracer 300 Calibre 5 Automatic (36mm) | Reference WBP231D.BA0626 | Technical specifications: MOVEMENT Calibre 5 Automatic | CASE 36 mm diameter, Polished and fine-brushed stainless-steel case, Black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale Flat sapphire glass with double anti-reflective treatment Stainless-steel screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, Stainless-steel screw-down caseback, Water-resistant to 300 metres (30 bar) | DIAL Black lacquered dial, Rhodium-plated applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands with white Super- LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated central hand with white Super-LumiNova®, Rhodium-plated TAG HEUER sticker logo, Angled date with magnifying lens at 6 o’clock, AQUARACER AUTOMATIC 300 m / 1000 ft printed | BRACELET Stainless-steel three-row bracelet, Stainless-steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons and fine adjustment system; TAG Heuer shield
