Green dials have been trending in watches, but TAG Heuer is embracing orange in 2022. Pictured is the Aquaracer Pro 300 Orange Diver.
Geneva—TAG Heuer released five new timepieces at Watches & Wonders, taking place now through April 5 in Geneva.
Last year, the Swiss watchmaker introduced the revamped Aquaracer. The timepiece originated in 1978 with the Heuer Ref. 844. The sporty style was designed for optimum performance in the outdoors.
In 2004, the watch became known as the Aquaracer.
This year, the Aquaracer Pro 300 Orange Diver is a continuation of the styles introduced in 2021, like the Ref. 844 Orange Diver, which was a hit with collectors, TAG said.
Aquaracer Pro 300 Orange Diver
The shade is ideal for diving thanks to its contrast with water. The watchmaker also said orange represents speed, security, and records, noting its appearance on NASA spacesuits and racing tracks.
The Aquaracer Pro 300 Orange Diver features a brushed and polished 43 mm stainless steel case with a white tip on the seconds hand.
It has a 12-sided unidirectional rotating bezel with scratch-resistant black ceramic ring for the ultimate grip. The crown is protected to guard against damage and the watch is water resistant to 300 meters.
Super-LumiNova coating on the indexes and hands contrast with the orange dial for the “utmost legibility,” TAG said, and the bracelet can be lengthened or shortened by as much as 1.5 cm.
The Aquaracer Pro 300 Orange Diver is powered by the calibre 5 Swiss-made automatic movement with 38 hours power reserve.
It’s priced at $3,300 and will be available this May.
Another TAG introduction at Watches & Wonders was the Aquaracer Pro 200 Solargraph, the brand’s first solar-powered watch.
It is powered by the calibre TH50-00 movement, produced by La Joux-Perret.
The Solargraph movement requires only two minutes in full sun to run for a whole day. A full charge, achieved by less than 20 hours under the sun, allows the watch to run for six months.
Aquaracer Pro 200 Solargraph
In case of bad weather, artificial light can recharge the movement as well. Exposure to light for even 10 seconds is enough to get the watch working again when it has died.
The sun not only powers the movement, but also the Super-LumiNova elements on the bezel, dial, and hands.
This allows wearers to see the watch at night and is a look unlike any other, with the sun creating a blue-green color reminiscent of the Northern Lights, TAG said.
For ideal contrast, the watch is all black, with a steel case with black DLC coating and bezel inserts crafted from a combination of carbon and the green Super-LumiNova.
The black dial is somewhat transparent to allow the sun to charge the movement. The sporty style also has a black rubber strap.
The 40 mm watch is priced at $2,950 and will be available in October.
The Aquaracer Pro 1000 Superdiver represents a new technological chapter for TAG Heuer, with its calibre TH30-00 movement produced by Kenissi Manufacture SA.
Made exclusively for TAG Heuer, it delivers the utmost reliability and durability, the company said, and was created to withstand extreme depths.
“TAG Heuer has been developing bold and innovative luxury tool watches for over 40 years, and the Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver is the essence of our unique expertise in this area,” TAG Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault said.
“This super dive watch joins the entirely reimagined Aquaracer Professional 300 collection launched last year, which now comprises 11 models. We are delighted to launch our latest TAG Heuer Aquaracer at the new edition of Watches and Wonders. It is a watch capable of overcoming all challenges.”
The Aquaracer Pro 1000 Superdiver joins the ranks of other TAG Heuer deep-dive watches like the 1000m Diver released in 1982, the Super Professional 1000m in 1984, and the Aquagraph 500m in 2003.
Aquaracer Pro 1000 Superdiver
The Aquaracer Pro 1000 Superdiver has a 45 mm case and is 15.75 mm thick, one of the slimmest in deep-dive watches, TAG said.
Legibility was one of the biggest concerns with the new timepiece. Super-LumiNova coating throughout was taken to the next level for the ultimate contrast in deep water. TAG Heuer utilized the highest grade, SLN Grade X1.
A large arrow indicator marks the hour, and the minute and second hands are in orange for contrast.
Orange again features on the ceramic bezel on the first quarter, which is the portion most often used for timing decompression stops in deep-water exercises, TAG Heuer explained. The rest of the bezel is black.
The watch comes in a special protective case that is waterproof and crash proof.
It will be available in July for $6,650.
Moving on from the Aquaracer family, TAG also introduced a new Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition timepiece.
The watch brand and carmaker joined forces in February 2021.
TAG Heuer’s Carrera watch, originally introduced in 1963, was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, known as one of the most dangerous car races in the world. Porsche also has a famed Carrera model named for the race.
“For this second chapter of our partnership, it seemed natural to continue to weave the thread of our co-creation through the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph but with a completely new approach,” said Arnault.
“For this new limited edition, we wanted to emphasize the racing side of the sporty Porsche Carrera. Our teams, in partnership with Porsche, have combined their expertise and creativity to create a timepiece with a power design and a bold, sporty look.”
The Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition is based on the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph with its in-house calibre Heuer 02 movement, manufactured entirely at the watchmaker’s facility in Chevenez.
Consisting of 168 parts including column wheel and vertical clutch, it has an 80-hour power reserve.
Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition
The watch is predominantly rendered in black with yellow accents, a nod to Porsche’s signature racing color. There is a Porsche logo on the bezel and subtle yellow lacquer on the crown.
The black dial’s texture is inspired by cars’ metallic bodywork, TAG Heuer said.
The two black asphalt-effect sub-dials also were featured on the previous TAG Heuer Carerra x Porsche Chronograph debuted last year for the partnership launch
Priced at $7,050, the 44m timepiece with textured black calf skin strap with yellow stitching comes out in April.
Finally, the Monaco Gulf Special Edition marks the comeback of a 2007 timepiece.
Gulf Oil sponsored race teams in the “golden era” of the 1960s and 1970s, TAG said, with their cars and athletes donning the company’s signature blue and orange.
Jack Heuer was friends with legendary driver Jo Siffert, who drove for Gulf’s partner JW Automotive Engineering. (Siffert was also Steve McQueen’s driving coach for the 1971 movie “Le Mans.”)
McQueen wore the TAG Heuer Monaco on his wrist in the iconic film, thereby forging the initial connection between Gulf and TAG.
In 2007, TAG created its first Monaco edition with Gulf colors.
The 2022 edition features the in-house Heuer 02 movement.
Monaco Gulf Special Edition
The colors have been adjusted for what TAG calls a more modern interpretation of dark blue, turquoise, and orange, which are present on the minute sub-counters at 3 o’clock for the first time.
In contrast, the Gulf logo on the dial is in white.
The 12 o’clock index has been replaced with the number “60,” polished and rhodium-plated, as a tribute to the racing number on the Porsche Gulf racing cars.
The strap is crafted in perforated blue calfskin leather with an orange lining. It has the perforation present in the other Monaco Gulf watches, but this time the holes are in different sizes.
The 39 mm watch will be available in May for $7,050.
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