Dive Right In: The New TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300
It is a highly competitive model series for a particularly fiercely contested genre. After all, steel diver’s watches have been extremely popular for decades, and the range of different brands is almost unmanageable. TAG Heuer has been a player in this segment since the late 1970s. Its Aquaracer collection is now a key component of its success – and it is precisely this model series that has now been fundamentally revised, improved and made significantly more attractive in several respects. The new Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and the Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT are aimed at customers who place high expectations on their timepieces in terms of resilience, performance and aesthetics.
Aquaracer Professional 300 Date
Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT
TAG Heuer Aquaracer: A collection with depth
As a watch brand, TAG Heuer has traditionally been associated with motorsport as well as aviation, as evidenced by models such as the Carrera, Monaco and Autavia. But the watches from La Chaux-de-Fonds also have a long history in and under water. In 1978, the first diving watches were presented in the form of the 1000 series, followed by the first generation of the 2000 series in 1982. Over the next two decades, this series was presented in a wide variety of versions and materials, as evidenced by the later subdivision into the ‘Classic’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Exclusive’ sub-collections.
The first TAG Heuer diving watch from 1978
In 2004, the watch was renamed ‘2000 Aquaracer’. At that time, however, only the word ‘Professional’ appeared on the dial; it was only referred to as the ‘Aquaracer’ in the catalogue. The models at the time, with their aluminium bezels and water resistance to 300 metres (even then!) proved to be a great sales success with their dynamic nickname, leading to the entire 2000 series being renamed Aquaracer in 2005.
2024 – New movement, new models: The year of renewal
Following the launch of the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and the Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT, the collection is now being expanded to include two models that will occupy a position at the very top of the collection. The names of the two timepieces are as straightforward as they are unambiguous: the customer can choose between a classic diver’s watch with a date display and a sports watch for long-distance travellers. The latter is equipped with a GMT function, which means it can display up to three time zones. Both models are equipped with the TH31 calibre, which was developed by TAG Heuer together with AMT, the premium brand of movement manufacturer Sellita.
The new calibre TH31
The movement has an impressive power reserve of 80 hours, is certified by the COSC, and comes with a five-year extended warranty. The case of the new Aquaracer models is water-resistant to 300 metres, although the diameter of the Professional 300 has been reduced from 43 to 42 mm compared to the previous model, which makes the overall proportions of the watch appear more harmonious and ultimately also reflects the trend towards smaller watches. The faceted ceramic bezel with twelve edges and the wave pattern on the dial are typical Aquaracer features. On the back of the case, the owner of the watch will find an engraved diver’s helmet.
The Aquaracer Professional 300 Date is available with a black bezel and black sunburst dial with a black rubber or metal strap, with a blue bezel and blue sunburst dial with a blue rubber or metal strap, or with a green ceramic bezel and green sunburst dial with a metal strap. The price of these watches starts at 3,550 euros.
The Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT is available either in blue with a black and blue ceramic bezel with a blue rubber strap or metal bracelet, or in green with a black and green ceramic bezel and metal bracelet. Price: from 3,950 euros. This puts the new Aquaracer in good company with similarly positioned models such as the Tudor Black Bay GMT (from 4,050 euros) or the Longines Hydroconquest GMT (from 3,000 euros).
Which variation of the Aquaracer looks the most attractive is, of course, completely subjective. For fans of the colour green, however, the two corresponding editions are likely to be of great interest. Incidentally, the rubber strap has a special charm; it gives both the Date and GMT a sportier look, and at the same time takes away the hardness of the steel bracelet. All in all, however, all eight models look extremely appealing and also feel notably high-quality and very well-produced.
On top: The Professional 300 and the Aquaracer family
Within the Aquaracer collection, the two new Professional 300 models are the best of the best in every respect. They are joined by the Aquaracer Professional 200 Date (40 and 30 millimetres) and the Aquaracer Professional 300 models, which are available in a wide range of sizes from 36 to 45 mm and in materials such as titanium or DLC-coated steel.
Aquaracer Professional 200
For those looking for the ultimate luxury diver’s watch, TAG Heuer offers the Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver. It is water-resistant to a depth of 1,000 metres and, with a height of 15.75 mm, is one of the thinnest deep-divers on the market.
Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver
The Aquaracer line currently comprises a total of 58 models and is correspondingly diverse, ranging from typically sporty to feminine and stone-set. It may be in the nature of watch enthusiasm to automatically pay the most attention to the youngest members of the watch line. However, when you look at the entire collection, the very latest Professional 300 models show the path that TAG Heuer is taking with the Aquaracer family. These are extremely robust models that are highly contemporary in terms of both colour and technology, which confidently move the entire collection back to where it has actually been heading for decades: bang in the middle of the high-end diver segment, where these steely sports watches can, in addition to their reliability, also bring a good dose of style and status.
The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and GMT models, as well as all other Aquaracer diver’s watches, are available via the online boutique at tagheuer.com.
Swisswatches is delighted to present the watch community with the industry’s very first ‘Boutique Travel Guide’. In this new segment, we will share not only the very best watch boutiques in town, but also the other most exciting things available in the area. What does the city have to offer? Where are the best drinks?…
Collecting is certainly more of a journey than a destination as tastes, among other things, change over time. One thing which changes significantly, yet is scarcely talked about, is the underlying motive for making a purchase. At the beginning, starting out with little knowledge, you tend to make a purchase based on one sole factor:…
Jaeger-LeCoultre is much more then just ‘Reverso’, an icon that most watch enthusiasts might instantly have in mind thinking about the brand. Jaeger-LeCoultre also characterizes a deeply rooted passion for extreme sports watches. After all, the Reverso was originally made for sports too – for Polo players, but it can more likely be regarded as…
In a feat almost as impressive as Apollo 13, we were able to gather all three legendary OMEGA Snoopy watches together in the same room. We decided to size them up in the metal, from aesthetics and functionality, to the story behind each watch. It's time to focus on three extraordinary things: Space, Snoopy, and…
When Mark Zuckerberg announced on 28 October 2021 that the parent company Facebook would be renamed Meta with immediate effect, not only Facebook but also Zuckerberg seemed to have undergone a transformation. From now on, ‘Zuck’ played it cool. He replaced his long-time signature look – a grey t-shirt paired with blue jeans – with…
Following the launch of the AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition in 2020, Breitling is now introducing the new Super AVI watch line, a larger version with a case diameter of 46 mm. The five new models pay homage to the most important fighter planes of the 1940s, as well as to the original references from…
The 'Nordschleife' (Northern loop) has the reputation of being the most difficult racetrack in the world. This winding ribbon of tarmac makes its way through 33 left-hand and 40 right-hand bends, while varying in altitudes of 300 m over the Eifel National Park – more than any other race track. The Nordschleife is so notorious…
What is the point of a brand ambassador? To encapsulate the essence of a brand. Represent its values. Inspire others. These are all things that Panerai brand ambassador, Mike Horn, is certainly capable of – alongside much more. Over the years, the Switzerland-based South African has had his fair share of awe-inspiring adventures as well…
It’s a blisteringly hot day in Geneva. Even within the cool stone walls of the luxurious Beau Rivage Hotel, and despite its breezy terrace looking out onto the lake, I am fairly sure that a good half of the guests in Frederique Constant’s suite at Geneva Watch Days have a headache. To let you into…
Let’s start with the obvious, basically there, where this story will eventually end: the name of this special edition? It’s problematic. The new “Pride of Germany” – that sounds like a cruise ship christening at best. At worst however, the combination of ‘proud’ and ‘Germany’ leaves room for discussion in this country, due to very…
Swisswatches recently had the honour of meeting once again with the CEO of Breitling, Georges Kern, following the launch of the brand’s first own boutique located in Munich, Germany. Spanning over 220 square metres and two floors, the boutique in many ways embodies Breitling’s plans for the future – as Kern explains to our very…
Since its inception in 1995, Roger Dubuis has been a pioneer in the luxury watchmaking industry, continuously pushing boundaries and redefining standards. Through (almost) it all, the company has been home to Gregory Bruttin, who first came to Roger Dubuis in 2002. We caught up with Bruttin to discuss the significant changes in the company’s…
Being uncomplicated is not necessarily a top priority for Vacheron Constantin. Not even 270 years after it was founded. And so the company likes to create extremely difficult superlatives in the art of watchmaking. While last year it was the world's most complicated pocket watch with no fewer than 63 complications, at this year's Watches…