TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm
Angus Davies reviews the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm – Ref. WAY2012.BA092, appreciating the aesthetics, legibility, robustness and price of this steel sports watch. In particular, he is impressed by its suitability for individuals who enjoy water sports, especially swimming.
This detailed review of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm includes live images, specification details and pricing.
While on holiday, I like to relax near an outdoor swimming pool. I always sit in the shade, avoiding the sun’s ageing gaze and I find amusement in watching the assembled tourists contemplate the prospect of entering the pool.
There is always at least one young adonis. He will preen his feathers for the delectation of the forty-something female onlookers but never fully enter the water, preferring to flex his muscles with merely his toes immersed in the water. Then there are the ‘blue-rinse set’ who gingerly enter the ‘shallow-end’ and bathe up to shoulder level, never getting their hair wet because a few damp hair follicles would have life-and-death consequences. And then there are the natural-born swimmers who enter the pool with purpose, determined to scythe through water with incredible efficiency. There are no splashes, no excess noise, just an impressive slipstream left in their wake. These individuals are at one with an aquatic environment, they are made to thrive in water and could be even be described as hydrophilic.
In the world of high-end wristwatches, there are some very attractive timepieces which impart time with efficiency and stylish aplomb, but have minimal water resistance e.g 30 metres. This is not a criticism, I can think of several dress watches I would dearly love to own which proffer an array of attributes on terra firma but prove unsuitable for a life underwater. These timepieces share much in common with the aforementioned holidaymakers who choose to keep their hair dry. Nevertheless, if you have a need for a sports watch, capable of tolerating a dip in the pool, or you wish to wash your hair beneath the ‘power-shower’, with your timepiece still affixed to your arm, then maybe you require the horological equivalent of a natural born swimmer.
TAG Heuer, the famous Swiss ‘Avantgarde’ company, has a broad selection of suitable timepieces capable of reliable operation whilst affixed to a swimmer’s wrist. Some eagle eyed critics may now be interjecting and shouting aloud, ‘Don’t you mean diver’s watches?’ No, because in reality few purchasers buy this genre of watch to wear when diving, but do appreciate the facility to soak their watch safe in the knowledge it is water resistant for several hundred meters.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm – Ref. WAY2010.BA0927 – black dial
The Aquaracer collection has been a staple of TAG Heuer’s product catalogue for many years and now includes a dazzling array of variants. Recently, I spent time appraising the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm. The model is available with a choice of black or blue dial options but, based on the aquatic name of the watch, I felt particularly drawn to the latter option. Its blue colour just feels more befitting of an aqueous environment.
The dial
Water has a habit of impairing visibility, hence for a timepiece to serve its aquatic wearer ably, it needs to exhibit matchless legibility. In this regard, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm excels, delivering peerless readability. But why? Well, there are a multitude of reasons for its impressive visual performance.
The generous size of the dial area accords sufficient room for the plump, applied hour markers and bold hour and minute hands to breathe and optimally converse with the wearer. There are no annoying details to distract the wearer’s eyes. Moreover, luminescent treatment has been applied to the hands and indexes, augmenting legibility. The date is presented at 3 o’clock via a magnified lens, superbly imparting information to the wearer in highly lucid form. The white minute track encircling the dial features crisp white markings, albeit I would probably forgo the ¼ second markings in order to simplify matters still further.
Functionality and style are optimally paired. The blue dial canvas is adorned with horizontal lines which span the dial and lead me to think of said elite swimmer and the notion of straight-line speed. The central sweep seconds hand features a white tip, outlined in an eye-catching yellow tint, aiding visibility and delivering a wonderful flurry of aesthetic zing.
Another area where the dial triumphs is with the harmonious blend of colours presented. Blue, white and a charming sprinkle of yellow above 6 o’clock, stating the movement reference and the maximum water resistance, grant a delightful dose of charm.
The case
TAG Heuer does not subscribe to a one-size-fits-all design philosophy. The Swiss brand offers the Aquaracer in both 41mm and 43mm case sizes. This particular variant is delivered in the latter size, with a steel bezel.
The Swiss watch company does offer alternative variants of the Aquaracer equipped with a costlier ceramic bezel. While the steel bezel is less expensive than its ceramic siblings, in my opinion, it is no less attractive and wearers shouldn’t feel shortchanged with the full metal jacket version.
The bezel is brushed, unidirectional and marked with blue Arabic numerals. The 43mm diameter of the case felt optimally sized for my own wrist. Indeed, the scale provides sufficient dial space to be easily read without feeling ungainly when worn. The Aquaracer evinces a masculine air and looks robust, while tastefully sidestepping gauche excess.
I have always found the bracelets on TAG Heuer watches to be of high quality, free of sharp edges and solidly constructed. The bracelet attached to the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm reinforces this opinion. The TAG Heuer branded folding clasp includes safety push-buttons and when fixed in position feels steadfastly secure.
The screw-in caseback is solid and features a ‘diving bell’ engraving. While this timepiece may be classified as a diver’s watch by many, I think an engraving of a lithe freestyle swimmer would better suit the Aquaracer nomen.
The movement
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm contains the self-winding Calibre 5 movement. The frequency of the balance is 28,800 vph (4Hz) and the power reserve is 38 hours.
Owing to the solid caseback, it is not possible to appraise the level of movement finishing, but TAG Heuer does specify that the oscillating mass is adorned with Côtes de Genève motif.
Closing remarks
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm is a very versatile timepiece, proving suitable for wear with casual attire as well as a suit and tie. Its size bestows a simple to read dial without feeling cumbersome or outré.
There is one notable attribute that I have not yet mentioned, namely, price. The recommended retail price of this watch is £1600.00 (RRP as at 15.10.2016). This represents superb value for money, especially considering the high quality dial, case construction and sublime metal bracelet. Indeed, there are some watches costing twice as much which do not feel as well constructed, making the price of this watch quite remarkable.
Perhaps one of the key reasons for selecting this watch is that it has a maximum water resistance of 300 metres. Some divers’ watches may exceed this, but invariably prove to be bulkier. Considering that most would-be wearers don’t require a hard-core diver’s watch with a helium valve, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm makes much more sense, courtesy of its agreeable proportions. It offers value for money, superb legibility and is of robust construction.
Most pertinently, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm is perfectly suited to an active wearer and is not afraid of getting its hair wet. Indeed, it could be described as a natural born swimmer.
Technical specification
- Model: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Steel Bezel 43mm
- Reference: WAY2012.BA0927
- Case: Stainless steel case; diameter 43mm; water resistant to 30 bar (300 metres); sapphire crystal to front and solid caseback.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; central sweep seconds; date.
- Movement: Calibre 5; self-winding movement; frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz); 25-26 jewels; power reserve 38 hours
- Strap: 3-row stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp with safety push buttons and diving extension
- Price: £1,600 (RRP as at 15.10.2016)
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