Our hands-on review of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and GMT, 2024 Editions with exclusive pictures and full details and prices.
At the beginning of last June, TAG Heuer launched the latest generation of its Aquaracer diving watch, introducing two main models: the Date and the GMT, for a total of eight references.
After our overview of all the new references, we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures of the Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and the Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT. To enlarge the pictures, simpy click on them.
For our hands-on review, we used the Date model with blue dial and rubber strap (ref. WBP5111.FT6259) and the GMT with green dial and metal bracelet (ref. WBP5115.BA0013).
The 2024 edition of the Aquaracer Professional 300 Date is a robust diving watch that combines daily wearability with a refined look. The GMT model adds the practical function of displaying two time zones at a glance.
With a water resistance of 300 meters (1,000 feet), the stainless steel cases of these timepieces are distinctly marked by their signature 12-sided unidirectional rotating bezel with a ceramic insert.
Compared to the previous generation, the diameter of the Aquaracer 2024 has been reduced to 42 mm (vs 43 mm of the 2021 edition). The total thickness has been slightly increased to 13.1 mm.
The lines of the case are highlighted by the alternation of satin-brushed and polished surfaces with the chamfers beautifully catching the light.
The screwed crown is protected by two guards, a detail that enhances the look of the watch while making it even sturdier.
First introduced in 1995, the 12-faceted bezel is a design element that makes the Aquaracer Professional 300 immediately recognizable while also being very easy to grip and turn. Its rotation is particularly smooth on the Date model, which features 120 precise clicks compared to the GMT's 60.
The bezels of the two models differ for their functions. The Date is equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel with a blue ceramic insert featuring a 60-minute graduation and a white Super-LumiNova dot at 12 o'clock to mark the start of the dive time.
The GMT version comes with a bidirectional rotating bezel that can be used to track multiple time zones in combination with the lacquered GMT hand.
All functions can be easily controlled via the crown: in position 0 it is locked, in position 1 it winds the movement, in position 2 it sets the date when turned clockwise or the GMT hand when turned anticlockwise, and in position 3 it adjusts the time.
The two-tone insert, made of green and black ceramic, features a 24-hour GMT scale that allows the wearer to distinguish between day and night at a glance.
With their wave pattern, the dials reinforce the link of these models with the maritime world. They are protected by sapphire crystals that integrate 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.
Readability is excellent in any situation thanks to large hands and hour markers, eight of which have an octagonal shape that is a reference to the bezel’s silhouette.
The hands are recognisable at first glance because the hour hand, now featuring the shield shape, is wider and more sword-shaped compared to the narrower minutes hand.
The generous use of luminescent material for hands and hour markers makes these models readable even in darker environments.
The Date model uses green Super-LumiNova for the hour markers and the hour hand while the minutes hand, the seconds hand and the luminescent triangle of the bezel glow in blue.
Differently, the GMT uses blue Super-LumiNova for the GMT hand and the bezel triangle.
The Aquaracer Professional 300 can be completed by a rubber strap or a three-row stainless steel bracelet.
Both are equipped with a folding clasp featuring two safety push buttons and a fine adjustment system, allowing the bracelet length to be extended or reduced by up to 1.5 cm. This is a useful feature not only for serious divers but also for maintaining ideal comfort as temperatures change. The lug width is 21 mm.
The movements of the models are concealed behind solid casebacks are 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 Date is driven by the COSC-certified manufacture TH31-00 calibre. Operating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), it offers a remarkable 80-hour power reserve.
Based on the COSC-certified manufacture TH31 calibre of the Date model, the TH31-03 of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT differs for the additional time-zone complication.
The suggested retail price of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date is € 3,550 / US$ 3,600 with a rubber strap or € 3,750 / US$ 3,800 with a steel bracelet.
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 GMT is priced at € 3,950 / US$ 4,000 with a rubber strap or € 4,150 / US$ 4,200 with a steel bracelet.
Whether you are in search of a professional diver's watch or a sporty model with a GMT function, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date and GMT models are standout choices in their price segments. Combining robust build quality, excellent water resistance, and refined aesthetics, these timepieces offer excellent value and versatility for any watch enthusiast. tagheuer.com
Suggested reading:
- The history of TAG Heuer
- The history of TAG Heuer
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