The pandemic has not stopped the luxury watch world from rolling out remarkable timepieces. The newest releases from Watches and Wonders 2021, which was held exclusively digitally in mid-April of this year, certainly do not disappoint. Here, our team at Regarding Luxury have hand-selected a watch that is sure to complement your collection. And in anticipation of your next soiree, it will be a hot topic during some much needed face-to-face socialization. Enter the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300.
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The TAG is one of the boldest watch releases of this year. This iconic diver’s watch has a legacy that began more than 40 years ago. It has secured its place in the luxury watch market for its boldness, durability and craftsmanship. The first Aquaracer was the Heuer Ref. 844, released in 1978, and is now a collector’s favourite.
This Aquaracer has six distinct features that identify it apart from other divers. Leading the way is its bold and captivating unidirectional rotating bezel. Then there is a screw-down crown, water resistance to at least 200 metres, luminous markings, sapphire glass and double-safety clasp.
Canada’s best luxury website 2021: A new generation of TAG Heuer Aquaracer
With the release of the Aquaracer, TAG Heuer has upped the ante in producing a remarkable luxury tool watch that strives to connect its wearers to the seas. For the Professional 300 the designers kept the basic form of the watch. But they innovated it by adding a scratch-resistant ceramic insert across the collection and smoothing each of the 12-facets so the bezel would be easy to grip and turn, no matter which facet the wearer is holding.
The team at TAG Heuer also went under the hood of the watch. They re-engineered the bezel’s inner tooth profile so that the rotating mechanism becomes smoother, quieter and easier to adjust. The sapphire glass has been upgraded and the magnifier has been moved over the date at the 6 o’clock position.
Previous editions have the date window and magnifier at the 3 o’clock position. The reason for this adjustment is to provide greater legibility from a wider range of angles.
New TAG Heuer Aquaracer: Lighter and more ergonomic
On the elegant blue sunray-brushed dial, our personal favourite, are eight octagonal hour markers. This new model features an hour hand that is wider and more sword-shaped. That is reminiscent of the last of the TAG Heuer 2000 series introduced in 2004. Both the hour and minute hands are rhodium plated and treated with Super-LumiNova.
The designers chose green Super-LumiNova for the hour hand and hour markers, and blue for the minute hand for greater legibility during deep dives. The 12-sided screw-down crown has been placed between a redesigned crown guard that is now softer and more rounded. It appears TAG Heuer listened to critiques from its buyers regarding the sharp edging on previous models and has made the necessary changes accordingly.
The Professional 300 has shorter lugs and the case edge has been milled and polished. That allows for a more refined and symmetrical appearance. Overall, the watch has been engineered to be lighter and more ergonomic with shorter lugs and a thinner case, bezel and metal bracelet.
This is done without compromising the 300 meter water resistance, all the while allowing for a more pleasant wearability. This makes the watch a versatile choice. TAG has taken into consideration that its iconic tool watches are favoured for its durability and wearability, whether you’re the avid diver, or the weekend warrior.
Diver watch bound to make waves
On its closed case back, the scaphander diving suit has been embossed, staying true to the underwater explorer motif. This model has been adjusted so that the caseback will always be square to the case so the scaphander diving suit always faces upright.
The Professional 300 will be offered in seven references in two sizes. Four references will be offered in 43 mm case sizings, whereas three will be offered in 36 mm. Six of the references will be in stainless steel with a choice of black, blue or silver dials. A 43 mm will also be available in high-tech matte Grade 2 titanium with a green dial and green ceramic bezel insert featuring a yellow triangle at the 12 o’clock position. Stainless-steel models have either a black or blue ceramic bezel insert with a triangle at the 12 o’clock position filled with blue Super-LumiNova.
The watches are fixed with the Calibre 5 automatic movement. Each reference features a new metal bracelet design that can adjust the length up to 1.5 cm to wear over a wetsuit. The bracelets feature double safety push buttons on the stainless-steel folding clasp.
The Professional 300 is sure to become a new and coveted favourite among watch aficionados. TAG certainly continues to make waves in the watch industry with its bold innovations and distinctive features in the diver category. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 3000 goes on sale in June later this year, for $3,750 (43 mm).
Daron Halajian received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ryerson University. He has worked for American Express as a Travel and Lifestyle Consultant servicing elite clientele. He writes in both English and Armenian and his works have appeared in publications in Beirut, Los Angeles, Montreal and Toronto.
