Introducing: A New Generation Of The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300

Quick Take For Watches & Wonders 2021, TAG Heuer is going back to the roots of the Aquaracer with a brand new lineup that spans four 40mm references, three 36mm references, and one 40mm limited edition that has been directly inspired by a vintage Heuer diver from 1978. Reportedly thinner, lighter, and shorter lug-to-lug, with a bevy of colors and a smattering of titanium (and even diamonds), the new Aquaracer Professional 300 looks streamlined, thoughtful, and as versatile as ever. Initial Thoughts The new standard production 43mm TAG Heuer Aquaracers. Speaking specifically to the standard production models, the 2021 Aquaracer line has been divided into two categories, 43mm (above) and 36mm (below). All seven of the new Aquaracers have a handsome new handset, a simplified dial design, a newly designed ceramic bezel insert, 300 meters water resistance, a screw-down crown, and a solid caseback. Likewise, all iterations of the new WBP2XX (that's the reference family) use TAG Heuer's Caliber 5, an automatic movement based on the ETA 2824-2. With 42 hours of power reserve and a date display that has been placed at six o'clock, the Caliber 5 is an entirely known quantity and offers a lot in terms of reliable performance, timekeeping ability, and eventual service costs. The new standard production 36mm TAG Heuer Aquaracers. The general style is consistent across both size options, but you can quickly tell one from the other as the standard 43mm models have yellow text on the dial and a yellow accent at the point of the seconds hand. Additionally, the green-dial version at 43mm has a titanium case and bracelet (WBP208B.BF0631), and the blue 36mm Aquaracer (WBP231B.BA0618) has eight diamond hour markers While the full and specific dimensions have not yet been disclosed, TAG Heuer has stated that the new Aquaracers are thinner, lighter, and have shorter lugs. Heuer has also fitted a new bracelet with a tool-less micro-adjust system in the clasp. It offers 1.5 cm of extension and can be adjusted without removing the watch from your wrist. This sort of thoughtful bracelet design is not common to the dive-watch scene, and I can't wait to get a chance to take a look at the mechanism and try it out on my own wrist. While certainly similar to the previous WAY2XX reference, these new Aquaracers look a lot less fussy. The dial has been simplified with new markers and less text, the hands are less complicated, and the date has been moved to six o'clock and is capped by a cyclops mounted inside the crystal. Likewise, the bezel design has been refined, with a more elegant font for the insert and jimping along the profile for better grip. Put it all together, and this looks like a positive step forward for the Aquaracer, but I can't help but scratch my head a bit at the sizing. The previous generation (using the same movement) was offered at 43mm and 41mm, so it's a bit of a miss to offer this new one at 43mm and 36mm, but nothing in the middle. Brands like TAG Heuer must have appealing dive watches for everybody, and it's hard to argue with the success of 40mm dive watches over, well, just about the entire history of the dive watch. And while I don't necessarily think that the 43mm version is going to be way too big (or that the 36mm is too small), I do think that the Aquaracer needs to exist in the 39-40mm range and that the need will only be more pressing in the coming years. That said, who knows, maybe a middle option is already in the works. It may seem like a nitpick – arguing the delta between 40 and 43mm – but think about how much a 2mm change meant to Tudor over the past couple of years. Size quibbles aside, it's still refreshing to see TAG Heuer re-think the Aquaracer and, for one final new model, keep a fin firmly in the past. The Aquaracer Tribute to Ref. 844 Limited Edition Launched alongside the above seven new references, TAG Heuer is also announcing a new limited edition, the Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute to Ref. 844. Based on the new 43mm design and rocking a titanium case, the Tribute to Ref. 844 has been tweaked to reflect the look and feel of Heuer's Ref. 844 diver, which was originally launched back in 1978 and can be seen below. Heuer's Ref. 844 diver from 1978 (left) next to the modern Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute to Ref. 844 limited edition. With faux tanned lume, a red 24-hour scale, and a vintage-effect perforated rubber strap (along with a full bracelet), the Aquaracer Professional 300 Tribute to Ref. 844 is limited to 844 units and is otherwise identical to the aforementioned 43mm Aquaracer variants. Pricing for the new Aquaracers starts at $2,800 for the 36mm versions. The new 43mm steel versions will hit the market in June for $3,000 (which is up ~$250 from the pricing of the previous steel 43mm Aquaracers). Obviously, you'll pay a premium for the blue dial 36mm with the diamond markers ($3,350), and the green/titanium 43mm version ($4,200). The flagship Tribute to Ref. 844 will have a price tag of $4,350, but it doesn't hit stores until September, so you have time to save. Blending a luxe, almost dressy feel, with an eminently wearable sports watch, the Aquaracer has long been many enthusiasts' first introduction to the world of the big brand luxury sports watch. To that end, these new Aquaracers represent a specific and important corner of TAG Heuer's mass-market offerings. And the host of updates – from the hands to the dial and even the new adjustable clasp – amount to a welcome evolution for the modern Aquaracer. The Basics Brand: Tag Heuer Model: Aquaracer Professional 300 Reference Numbers: WBP201B.BA0632 (43mm, blue/steel) WBP201A.BA0632 (43mm, black/steel) WBP208B.BF0631 (43mm, titanium/green) WBP201C.BA0632 (43mm, silver/steel) WBP208C.FT6201 (43mm, titanium, limited edition) WBP231D.BA0626 (36mm, black/steel) WBP231C.BA0626 (36mm, silver/steel) WBP231B.BA0618 (36mm, blue/steel) Diameter: 43mm or 36mm (see references above) Case Material: Steel or titanium (see references above) Dial Color: Several color options available Indexes: Applied, luminous (diamond markers on the 36mm blue dial model) Water Resistance: 300 meters Strap/Bracelet: Steel bracelet with tool-less micro-adjust in the clasp, Tribute to Ref. 844 limited edition also comes with a black rubber strap The Movement Caliber: TAG Heuer Caliber 5 Automatic (base ETA 2824-2) Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Diameter: 25.6mm Power Reserve: ~42 hours Winding: Automatic Frequency: 28,800 vph Jewels: 25 Pricing & Availability Price: 36mm – $2,800, 36mm w/diamonds – $3,350, 43mm steel – $3,000, 43mm titanium/green – $4,200, Tribute to Ref. 844 – $4,350. Availability: Non-limited will be available in June 2021, Tribute to Ref. 844 will hit retail in September of 2021. Limited Edition: The Aquaracer Pro 300 Tribute to Ref. 844 ( WBP208C.FT6201) is limited to 844 pieces. Shop Talk As you may know, the HODINKEE Shop is an Authorized Dealer for TAG Heuer , so if you're looking to pick one up, don't forget to check The Shop.TAG's core dive watch gets back to basics.