A Closer Look at TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer Professional 200 Watch Series
TAG Heuer kicks off 2022 with the launch of a ‘lite’ version of the new and improved 43mm Aquaracer Professional 200. The Aquaracer Professional 200 is ideal for aquatic life in any of its many versions. In fact, whether you like to go swimming within the lake or cliff diving in the sea, this line of watches will serve you well. You can even wear it in urban settings to bring elegant fashion to your casual wear. TAG Heuer also offers sporty versions in their watch series that come with blue or black dials and two distinctive sizes; a perfectly conservative 40mm and an elegant 30mm. This article will take a closer look at TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer Professional 200 Watch Series.
History of the Aquaracer
Apparently, Jack Heuer spent a lot of time by the pool, and this life habit inspired his 1978 creation of the ref. 844. The watch was strategically designed to cater to sporty men and women who loved spending time in the mountains and adventurers who did not want to go through the trouble of removing their watches before enjoying a cool dip in the lake. The name “Aquaracer” was not used to refer to the watch until 2004, when it was first introduced. Although ‘Aquaracer’ may not be as popular as Monaco or the Carrera, the watch’s manufacturing brand – TAG Heuer – has enough time to make the watch a household name in the industry. The recent Professional 200 Watch Series is a significant step in that direction.
2021 Release
In September 2021, during TAG Heuer’s Watches & Wonders event, the watchmaker introduced the Aquaracer Professional 300 series as their ultimate aqua life watch. The series features six men’s, three women’s reference, and three limited editions (not forgetting the new Naomi Osaka Edition) that remains to be their top-of-the-shelf dive watch. In 2022, TAG Heuer launched the Aquaracer Professional 200 at the LVMH Watch Week. The 2021 Professional 300 came fitted with a robust 36mm and 46mm case with ceramic bezels. Similarly, the 2022 Professional 200 also came in two sizes; the 30mm and 40mm cases. In addition to being cheaper than the Aquaracer Professional 300, this new Professional 200 has a diving scale that is engraved onto a steel bezel rather than on the common ceramic one. The main objective behind this was to give the watch a more official feel. Why? Mainly because the Professional 200 series was intended for wear in day-to-day roles, including both indoor and outdoor activities.
Top Features
TAG Heuer’s Professional 200 Watch Series comes in two sizes, the 30mm and 40mm versions. The watch is recognizable due to its six unique design codes that make up its overall appearance. Just like in all Aquaracer Professional watches, the Professional 200 features a unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous markings, a double safety clasp, a screw-down crown, a sapphire crystal, and water resistance of up to 200 meters. The watch’s three-row steel bracelet has an adjustment link extension perfectly fitted with a folding clasp.
Dial
As the name suggests, Aquaracer Professional 200 watches are water-resistant to at least 200 meters. Another exciting feature is their unidirectional rotating bezel fitted with 12 facets that offer either quartz or automatic movements. Moreover, the Aquaracer Professional 200 comes with a slightly sleeker and smaller 40 x 11mm case that makes it more versatile than the ordinary diver’s watch. The case is also a replacement for the 2021 21 x 12mm model case that gave the watch a rugged look and vibe.
Case and Hands
The case of the Professional 200 can be generally described as an angular tonneau shape. The shape is quite complex as it appears like it is extracted from a solid block of stainless steel and fitted with a matte, satin finish on its surfaces. The overall design of the lugs that naturally flow from the main case gives the watch an air of assurance and readiness for adventure. The watch’s crown is quite huge, with twelve facets in the grooves for improved handling. In compliance with the 6-point watch design blueprint, the crown of the Aquaracer Professional 200 is perfectly screwed down, and the main case body is rated to 20 ATM for better water resistance.
Bezel and Bracelet
Similar to the aesthetic design first implemented by TAG Heuer back in 1995, the watch’s bezel is quite massive and flat with twelve sides. The bezel also provides a unidirectional rotating mechanism that makes it very pleasing to the eye and easy to operate. The clicks have a smooth fluid-like feel and are very distinct. On the other hand, the bracelet is fitted with three links and is made flexible to fit the natural curvature of the wrist. The bracelet also has a 40mm case diameter that improves the watch’s overall comfort and a 7mm extension, which can be easily and quickly adjusted via a push-down-and-pull release mechanism.
Movement
The 30mm Aquaracer Professional 200 has a COSC-certified Caliber 9 with a 40-hour power capacity, a quickset date-adjustment feature, and 18 rubies. In the mechanically powered 40mm version, you will find the COSC-certified Caliber 5, which, like the Caliber 9, has the same movement and accurately displays the date, hours, minutes, and seconds. At the back of the case, you will find the typical engravings of the watch’s model name, a Swiss Made engraving, and a water resistance rating. As a replacement for the scraphander diving helmet engraved on the 2002 Aquaracer watches, the 2022 Aquaracer Professional 200 has a six-cardinal compass reversely engraved on its center. This compass is located on the case back that has engraved hexagonal divots and appears slightly raised.
Price
The price of the 40mm Aquaracer Professional 200 with the Caliber 5 inside is €2,400, while the 30mm Aquaracer Professional 200 that has the Caliber 9 costs €3,000.
Final Thoughts
TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer Professional 200 Watch Series is a must-have for the passionate watch connoisseur looking for functionality and class. Tag Heuer’s press release about the line calls it “a companion for a fast-paced, unforgettable life full of adventure and achievement.” Overall, the 40mm version can be described as an all-type timepiece with fading black dials that give it a modern, sleek look. The 30mm models also have a classy blue dial touch.