Review: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300, 2021 Edition

Hands-on review of the 2021 TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300 WBP201 with price, specs and live pictures. TAG Heuer 2021 novelties.

Last April, TAG Heuer launched the new-generation of its Aquaracer diving watch collection. After providing an overview of all the eight new references here, we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures of the Aquaracer Professional 300 in stainless steel, a model that we had the possibility to wear and test for a few days. In particular, for our hands-on review we used the steel version with blue dial and bezel (ref. WBP201B.BA063).

The new Aquaracer Professional 300 is a robust diving watch that can be worn every day thanks to its refined look. It is not by chance that the brand defines it "a go-anywhere luxury tool watch".

Offering water resistance to 300 metres / 1,000 feet, the 43 mm stainless steel case of this timepiece is strongly characterised by the signature 12-sided unidirectional rotating bezel that integrates a scratch-resistant blue ceramic insert with a a 60-minute scale to measure elapsed dive time.

Compared to the previous generation, the new Aquaracer is slimmer (12.20 mm vs 12.55 mm) and with shorter and more ergonomic lugs, thus improving wearability. 

The lines of the case are highlighted by the alternation of satin-brushed and polished surfaces. The chamfers beautifully catch the light adding appeal to the ensemble.

A design element that was first introduced in 1995, the 12 faceted bezel makes the Aquaracer Professional 300 immediately recognizable while also making the bezel very easy to grip and turn. The counter-clockwise rotation of the bezel is very smooth thanks to the re-engineering of the internal tooth profile that guarantees 60 precise clicks and a pleasant sound.

The 12-sided screwed crown is protected by two guards, a detail that enhances the look of the watch while making it even sturdier.

The blue sunray brushed dial with horizontal engraved bars is protected by a sapphire crystal that integrates a date magnifying lens at 6 o'clock. Differently from other date magnifiers, this is integrated into the underside of the crystal leaving the external surface smooth to the touch. A clever approach that offers the additional benefit of making the date readable from wider angles.

And readability is truly excellent in any situation thanks to large hands and hour markers, eight of which have an octagonal shape that is a clear reference to the bezel’s silhouette. 

The hands are recognisable at first glance because the hour hand is wider and more sword-shaped compared to the narrower minutes hand. Moreover, the hour hand uses green Super-LumiNova (like the hour markers) while the minutes hand, the seconds hand and the luminescent triangle of the bezel glow in blue.

The caseback is decorated with the scaphandre diving suit that first appeared on the Aquaracer case back in 2004, here reinterpreted with a faceted contour.

The Aquaracer Professional 300 is completed by an integrated and tapered metal bracelet equipped with a folding clasp with two safety push buttons and a fine adjustment system that can extend or reduce the bracelet length by up to 1.5 cm, a useful feature not just for serious divers as it helps to always wear the watch in ideal comfort.

The movement of choice, TAG Heuer’s Calibre 5, ensures precision and reliability. Beating at the frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), this self-winding mechanical movement guarantees an autonomy of 38 hours.

One of the best diving watches you can buy in its price segment, the Aquaracer Professional 300 in stainless steel ref. WBP201 has a price Euro 2,850 / US$ 3,000. tagheuer.com

Suggested reading:

- The history of TAG Heuer