TAG Heuer's new diver's watch, the Aquaracer Professional 300

The Aquaracer Professional 300, added to TAG Heuer's Aquaracer collection in 2021, retains the iconic 12-sided bezel, but features new features such as sword-shaped hands, octagonal indexes, a new folding clasp with fine adjustment, and a date display at 6 o'clock (with a round magnifying lens). As a result, the overall look has been reborn with a more mature and clean look. We introduce it with new photos taken by the WatchTime editorial team.

　At the launch of the Aquaracer Professional 300, TAG Heuer said: "In creating the Aquaracer Professional 300, TAG Heuer's designers worked with a clear concept in mind: to create a bold, high-performance, ergonomic diver's watch that is typical of TAG Heuer. At the same time, we wanted to respect the heritage of TAG Heuer diver's watches."

The history of TAG Heuer's diver's watches begins with the Heuer Ref. 844. The Ref. 844 was a diver's watch introduced in 1978. Heuer was a relatively latecomer to the diver's watch market, and adopted a simple case and dial design. The Ref. 844 featured a Mercedes-style hour hand and a red 24-hour scale as a convenient conversion chart for professionals to report time in 24-hour units. The Aquaracer collection was established in 2004.

　"The Aquaracer Professional 300 takes the Aquaracer collection to the next level while incorporating a beloved story," said TAG Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault. The first step was the iconic 12-sided unidirectional rotating bezel. While keeping the basic shape, the designers added scratch-resistant ceramic inserts throughout the collection. They also redesigned the bezel's internal tooth profile to make the rotating mechanism smoother and quieter.

　The sapphire crystal has also been redesigned. The cyclops lens for the date display at 6 o'clock is now mounted on the inside of the crystal, preserving the surface's smoothness. The bezel's silhouette forms the basis for the overall design, with the hour markers octagonal and the crown 12-sided. The contrast between the broad, sword-shaped hour hand and the slender minute hand is exquisite, and they appear in different colors in the dark. The hour hand and hour markers are coated with green Super-LumiNova®, while the minute hand, second hand, and bezel markers are coated with blue Super-LumiNova®.

　The case, bezel, and metal bracelet have all been slimmed down, but the watch remains water-resistant to 300m. The new version has shorter lugs and the case edges are chamfered and polished. As a result, the watch feels lighter when worn.

　The case back returns to the famous shell-structured diving suit motif that first appeared on the Aquaracer case in 2004, but with a more angular design reminiscent of a diving helmet, and a dodecagonal faceplate, with a repeating hexagonal pattern in the background.

　This model is available in seven models across two sizes: four with a 43mm case diameter and three with a 36mm case diameter. All feature a unidirectional rotating bezel with a ceramic insert and engraved minute scale. Six of the models are available in stainless steel with black, blue, or silver dials.

　The remaining model is a special edition: the Aquaracer Professional 300, with a green dial and a matte titanium case measuring 43mm in diameter.

　Don't miss the different dial finishes depending on the size. The 43mm model features parallel engraving, a characteristic design of the current Aquaracer. In contrast, the 36mm model's dial features a wave pattern, which was introduced in 2019. The blue 36mm model has diamond-set hour markers and polished center links on the bracelet, with subtle differences between the models. All models feature an integrated metal bracelet, which can be adjusted to a maximum of 1.5cm.

　These models are scheduled for release in June 2021. Furthermore, a new limited edition Aquaracer Professional 300 model is scheduled for release in September. This is the "Aquaracer Professional 300 Ref. 844 Tribute." This model is an even more faithful reproduction of the classic diver's watch, the Ref. 844, with visual elements such as a red 24-hour scale, vintage-style luminous paint, and a rubber strap with the octagonal punch seen on the original. Only 844 pieces will be produced worldwide.