Hands-on the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5 Black Titanium

This weekend I had the opportunity to go hands on with the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5 Black Titanium. The first I can say is that with its 43mm wide case, it does not go unnoticed. The watch is definitely present on the wrist. Its distinctive TAG Heuer design, large engraved sand lacquered numerals on the unidirectional ceramic turning bezel with black faceted inlays and its sandblasted black titanium carbide coated titanium case make for a conspicuous timekeeper. This is a manly diver’s watch, sporty and bold.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Automatic Black Titanium 

The watch exudes strength. The large grey Luminova coated hands and indexes enhanced by the TAG «badge» logo inspired design of the 6, 9 and 12 hour markers flex their muscles and get you prepared for any diving mission… even on earth!

The dodecagonal ceramic bezel with its 6 studs complement this strong feeling and I am sure they are also very useful to get a grip on the watch when diving… unfortunately I did not bring my scuba diving equipment to Geneva this time to test it. Altogether the whole watch offers an excellent readability.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Automatic Black Titanium 

A touch of class

But the Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5 Black Titanium is not all testosterone and muscles. When you take a closer look, you notice an array of details that add a touch of class to the model. First the orange sweeping seconds hand is a nice touch that goes very well with the sand and grey numerals contrasting perfectly with the matt black finish of the ceramic bezel. The horizontal streak panel adds a very classic and classy feeling. Additionally, the sand nylon bracelet with its white stitches goes perfectly with the sandblasted carbide coated black titanium case and lugs. What comes as a fine achievement is the ‘bubble’ magnifier on the sapphire glass for the date window. It not only adds legibility but also provides a nice animation of the face as the hands sweep below it, in particular the orange seconds one. It does have a ‘Submarin-ish’ accent… but the patent fell into the public domain recently so it is up fro grabs… and TAG Heuer has made a very nice use of it.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Automatic Black Titanium 

Moreover, the case back with the engraved signature diver helmet adds a retro touch while emphasizing the diving heritage. Distinctive stylish Aquaracer's spirit. One last excellent surprise is the folding clasp. It is definitely high-end. Also black titanium carbide coated, it adjusts very easily and folds nicely with a gentle qualitative ‘click’ thanks to the safety push buttons. Rare enough on a diver’s watch to be highlighted.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Automatic Black Titanium 

My only minus would be that the watch is rather on the ‘heavy’ side especially for titanium… but muscles are heavy, right?

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M Calibre 5 Automatic Black Titanium 

Overall, I have to say that the Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5 Black Titanium is very appealing. This new interpretation is playful but stays true to the distinctive TAG Heuer diver watch spirit, sporty and bold. For me the level of finishes are really premium for this range of product resulting in a very high-end feel for a sporty diver’s watch.  At € 2,600, it is priced very aggressively and offers plenty for your money.