TAG Heuer has expanded its Aquaracer collection with the introduction of new Solargraph powered references in two case sizes. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional Solargraph watches are straightforward dive watches that should have a large mass market appeal with a (relatively) low entry price and an appealing movement technology that is geared toward grab-and-go versatility. These aren’t necessarily the most enthusiast forward watches in TAG’s collection, but they make a lot of sense as a simple quartz watch to have ready for vacations or other travel in the summer months when you don’t want your watch to weigh too heavily on the mind.
In terms of marquee dive watches from large brands, the Aquaracer has a relatively short history, with the name first being used in 2004. For that reason, I think it’s sometimes an afterthought when it comes to Swiss dive watches from major brands, but it certainly has developed a niche of fans through the launch of interesting limited editions that have played with color and material over the years, and a design that doesn’t obviously trade on the look and feel of competitors from brands like Rolex, Tudor, and Omega. The Aquaracer has also always been pitched at a wide audience, with a variety of case sizes and variants that are meant to appeal to the masses. These new releases follow in that tradition.
First up is the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph in 40mm, which the brand has positioned as the “ultimate tool watch.” There have been a variety of aesthetic refinements in this new edition compared to the earlier version. It now includes a reshaped, sculpted bezel with “riders” for easier grip, new hour and minute hands, and case lines that the brand describes as “sharper” than those of the prior generation.
The 40mm watches are available in steel and titanium. In steel, your dial options are blue and green, each horizontal lines engraved into the dial, a familiar motif in the Aquaracer in recent years. The titanium references have black dials with either “polar blue” or rose gold accents. The former leans most heavily into tool watch territory as it also features a case and bracelet that has been brushed and sandblasted. The gold accented variant has a more traditional brushed and polished case and bracelet, as do the steel references. All are water resistant to 200 meters.
TAG Heuer has also introduced new Aquaracers in a new 28mm case. These watches, based on the TAG Heuer press materials, are being geared toward the female market, and across four references incorporate quite a bit of variety. Dial options include a a fine brushed dark blue and black, as well as white mother of pearl, with or without diamond indices. The diamond set version also includes a bezel set with a total of 36 diamonds. The 28mm Aquaracers have a water resistance rating of 100 meters.
The common feature across all of these references, and the one that is probably of most interest to our readers, is the movement. TAG Heuer has been slowly expanding their use of solar powered movements, which are just incredibly convenient for so many use cases. The Solargraph movements in these watches convert both natural and artificial light into energy, and according to the brand only 10 minutes of exposure is enough to power these movements for 40 hours. When fully charged, the power reserve is said to be 10 months. If one of these watches is a daily driver, that makes the power reserve effectively unlimited. If it’s part of a rotation, it’s also effectively unlimited if left in a place where it can get some light periodically, but even wearing one for a day would likely be all you’d need to ensure it’s ticking for nearly a year.
The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional Solargraph divers are available now with retail pricing starting at $3,050 for the 28mm models, and $3,100 for the 40mm references. TAG Heuer
