While TAG Heuer is undoubtedly best known for its involvement in motorsport and an impressive collection of racing chronographs, the brand offers much more than just these watches. During the digital edition of the Watches & Wonders 2021 exhibition, the brand introduced the updated Aquaracer Professional 300 series, representing a concept of diving watches. More refined yet still highly recognizable, TAG Heuer has now unveiled a new iteration that once again pays homage to a past model - the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 NIGHT DIVER.
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 collection traces its roots back to the ref. 844 model from 1978 (which inspired the limited edition Tribute to 844) and the Heuer 2000 model introduced in 1982. This classic dive watch collection with a twist was released in several versions, from quartz to automatic, with chronometric or chronographic movement, as well as in various sizes and colors. Four generations of the (TAG) Heuer 2000 were released before the model was discontinued in 2005 to make way for the Aquaracer collection.
Among the watches that made an impression in the early Heuer dive watch collection was a blacked-out model with a white, fully luminous dial - a watch known as the Night Diver ref. 980.031L (some reliable sources claim these were the watches worn by Bond in the 1987 film "The Living Daylights," though the exact reference is still debated...). These watches inspired the new model based on the classic specifications of the new Aquaracer Professional 300 series.
The bold design and contrasting look of this vintage model are now resurrected in a modern guise in the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 NIGHT DIVER - a watch that essentially shares the same proportions and technical specifications as the steel watches from the main collection but with a different finish and color scheme, as well as a new strap. The 43mm case with a rather atypical design is now made of matte stainless steel with sandblasted surfaces and then coated with a durable black DLC.
The shape and dimensions, as expected, are identical to the classic editions of the Aquaracer Professional 300, but the execution differs with a fully matte appearance rather than a mix of matte surfaces with polished touches. The signature non-directional 12-sided bezel, the most recognizable element of the Aquaracer collection, remains unchanged but is now blacked out and equipped with a matte black ceramic insert with an engraved 60-minute scale. Otherwise, the case is identical, with a flat sapphire crystal with A/R coating, large crown guards, a screw-down crown, and a comfortable water resistance of 300m.
The main attraction of the Aquaracer Professional 300 NIGHT DIVER is its dial, which has two different appearances, whether you look at it during the day or at night. The horizontal ribbed design is retained, as are the applied octagonal hour markers. All elements (markers and hands) are coated with black gold. The four main markers and hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, while the octagonal markers are covered with black lacquer, once again emphasizing the appearance of the old Night Diver model. During the day, the dial presents a milky white matte opaline surface, but since it is fully covered with a luminous material, at night it takes on a different character… Striking, to say the least. The date is located at the "6 o'clock" position under a magnifying glass (inside the crystal, so the top surface is flat).
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 NIGHT DIVER model also comes with a black rubber strap with a texture that echoes the dial pattern. It closes with a well-designed folding clasp with black DLC coating, equipped with double safety push-buttons and a thoughtfully designed, very practical fine adjustment system, based on a sliding mechanism that allows for adjusting small tolerances by pressing and sliding a button on the side of the clasp.
Under the screw-down case back lies the classic Calibre 5 movement, based on the Sellita SW200-1. This reliable automatic movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and has a 38-hour power reserve. Not the most attractive movement, but reliable and easy to service.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICE
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 NIGHT DIVER Calibre 5 Automatic (reference WBP201D.FT6197) will be part of the permanent collection from September 2021, priced at 3,250 Swiss Francs, 3,150 Euros or 3,350 US Dollars.
For more detailed information and to order, visit TagHeuer.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - TAG HEUER AQUARACER PROFESSIONAL 300 NIGHT DIVER
Case: diameter 43mm - stainless steel case with sandblasted finish and black DLC coating - unidirectional bezel in steel with black DLC coating and matte black ceramic insert with 60-minute scale - flat sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment, magnifying lens over date - screw-down case back - screw-down case back in steel with black DLC coating - water resistance 300m.
Dial: white opaline dial fully coated with Super-LumiNova, applied black gold indexes with white Super-LumiNova or black lacquer, hour/minute/second hands in black gold with white Super-LumiNova
Movement: Calibre 5 (based on Sellita SW200-1) - automatic winding - central hours, minutes, and seconds - date display - 26 jewels - frequency 4 Hz (28,800 vph) - power reserve 38 hours
Strap: Black rubber strap with black folding clasp in DLC steel with double safety push-buttons and fine adjustment system
Reference: WBP201D.FT6197
Availability: from September 2021, not limited
Price: CHF 3,250
EUR 3,150
USD 3,350