Hands-on with the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Black Titanium

Built for the extreme, dive watches were born from an utilitarian purpose: diving is all about time and depth. Yet, their most important promise might very well be that strapping a rugged dive watch around your wrist, gets you ready for the next adventure or adrenaline fix. The perfect option if you want to test your ability “not to crack under pressure”. Celebrating the brand’s tagline, Aquaracer collection is complemented by new attractive colored models. Monochrome goes hands-on with the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Black Titanium Sand’ and Blue.

TAG Heuer has always been a benchmark for sports watches. Modeled upon the Heuer’s dive watch tradition (the 1000 and 2000 series in particular), the Aquaracer appeared in the early 2000s. Launched in 2015, the Aquaracer 300m with ceramic bezel is among the latest evolutions of this aquatic collection and is now enhanced with a refreshing splash of colors: beyond diving performance, the perfect pairing for casual occasions.

The 43mm case wears extremely well and is made of light-weight titanium that is coated black with titanium carbide. Its unidirectional rotating bezel to monitor diving time features a scratch-proof ceramic inlay with engraved lacquered numerals offering striking visual appeal. The steel screw-down crown is also titanium carbide coated. The screw down case back is furnished with the traditional ‘Diving Helmet’ engraving of the Aquaracer collection. The water-resistance is rated at 300M / 1,000 feet.

The dial is among the main attractions of these new models. The matte black base with a horizontal line motif is enhanced with coloured hour indexes. Like the faceted hour and minute hands and central second hands, these feature luminescent markers allowing adequate, distinct displaying of time even in the dark, a crucial requirement for dive watches. The angled date window reads through a cyclops, a magnifier added to the antireflective sapphire crystal.

The Aquaracer 300M is powered by the trustworthy calibre 5 on a Sellita SW200 movement. This automatic movement indicates hours, minutes, seconds and date indication. As always in such dive watches, the Calibre 5 / Sellita SW200 will be a reliable and precise ally.

The final touch to these colorful dive watches is brought by nylon straps that deserve a bit of a mention. With matching stitching and black lining, they are softly padded, which adds character. Their length adjustment through the titanium folding clasp with safety push-buttons is convenient and practical. The watch is very comfortable to wear, hugging the wrist nicely while being light.

Conclusion

The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Black Titanium with ceramic bezel is casual, sporty and sturdy enough for facing adventures above and under the sea. A worthy contender in the affordable dive watch category. Very often brands propose black-or-nothing for dive watches; if colors are a matter of personal taste, they bring a fresh, young and modern touch. For us, the warm sand color seems a stunning combination. Maybe because, under certain light, the readability of the blue dial is not as good as its sand-colored sibling.

In any case, if you are ready for color, these attractive new titanium Aquaracers definitely represent excellent value at € 2,500 euros and they are a great pick at this competitive price point.

More details on: www.tagheuer.com.

Specification TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Black Titanium

• Case: 43mm diameter – Black titanium carbide coated grade 2 titanium – sapphire crystal on the front – 300m water resistant
• Movement: calibre 5 (Sellita SW200 base) – automatic winding – 38h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – Hours, minutes and seconds, Date with cyclops at 3
• Strap: sand or blue synthetic fabric strap, with black coated titanium folding buckle