For those looking to submerge themselves into the trenches of the deep blue, here’s a watch built for saturation diving and ultimate reliability, rated to an incredible 1,000m of water resistance.
Showcased at Geneva’s Watches and Wonders event earlier this year, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver is a high-tech watch in the Aquaracer line designed to resist the most extreme pressures, with remarkable specs to make any watch enthusiast geek out. Some would call it a reinterpretation or reinvention of predecessor dive watches like the Heuer 1000m Diver and Super Professional, launched in 1982 and 1984 respectively.
For its ability to withstand pressures under water at a depth unimaginable to most, the Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver has received ISO 6425:2018 certification for saturation diving, which is both difficult to obtain and extremely rare among dive watches. Different criteria are verified, such as resistance to magnetism, shocks, and corrosion and photoluminescence. A magnetic shielding of the movement has also been achieved, which has a true positive impact for the wearer. Thanks to this innovation, the watch’s accuracy has the power to better withstand magnetic fields that are present in electronic devices, such as cellular phones.
To counter the extreme rise and fall in air pressure, the watch is built with a steel black diamond-like carbon (DLC) helium escape valve (on the side of the case) at 9 o’clock, that enables the gas to escape as you descend or ascend, thus preventing the hardware from cracking under pressure. As a nice touch, the valve cover is engraved with the letters “He”, which stands for helium in the periodic table.
On the wrist, it’s sized at a large but light 45mm, thanks to its lightweight Grade 5 titanium case (and bracelet) finished with brushed and polished surfaces that highlight its bold design, accentuated by the new steel crown protector at 3 o’clock. The main role of the guard is to ensure the safe screwing and unscrewing of the crown and protect the movement from any risk of water ingress.
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To give the watch some reasonable weight and good balance, the caseback is made of steel and engraved with the iconic diving helmet motif seen on all Aquaracer watches for the past 20 years. And at a thickness of 15.75mm, it is one of the slimmest in the deep dive watch category.
At its core, the Aquaracer Professional 1000 Superdiver beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and offers a 70-hour power reserve, thanks to a new movement using calibre TH30-00 produced by Kenissi Manufacture SA, a highly regarded Swiss movement manufacturer founded in 2016 and based at Le Locle. The new calibre, certified as a chronometer by COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), is manufactured exclusively for TAG Heuer and begins an important chapter for the history of the brand that will see significant improvements in terms of reliability and durability.
On the black sunray brushed dial, you’ll find the typical engraved horizontal lines, a distinctive element of the Aquaracer Professional 300 collection. In this model, the lines are set further apart, thus improving visibility.
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For optimal legibility in the dark, especially important in the deepest and darkest of trenches, the hour hand is shaped like an arrow and larger than usual, while the minute and second hands stand out for their bright orange colour — the shade representative of maritime safety. In addition, all the indexes are also coated with the highest grade of Super-LumiNova SLN Grade X1.
Even the bezel — which has deeper recesses for better grip and turning — has undergone extensive work on the sound and sensory aspects, which was initiated last year with the creation of the Aquaracer Professional 300. With unidirectional turning, the bezel features a black ceramic and orange hybrid ceramic insert with a 60-minute scale. The first quarter is coloured orange, highlighting the portion most often used for timing decompression stops — a key technical detail used by divers during deep-water exercises.
One thing to note is that this model has removed the date counter for technical reasons, as the technology for mounting under the sapphire crystal is difficult to maintain at such depths.
This timepiece, priced at $9,400, offers great value in terms of movement, material and technical innovations, with an added bonus of extended international warranty up to five years. Every timepiece comes with a custom black-orange protective case, which is waterproof and crash-proof, and includes a rescue dive torch.
Need for speed
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Porsche lovers will want to add this chronograph to their watch collection. Unveiled at Watches and Wonders was the TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition — the second product co-created by the two brands that marry their strong aesthetics and sports performance.
Based on the emblematic TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph, this chronograph features in-house Calibre Heuer 02, a movement manufactured by TAG Heuer, consisting of 168 parts including a column wheel and a vertical clutch. These features allow for an exceptional chronometric performance, as well as a power reserve of 80 hours.
The key design element that’s unmistakably Porsche is the racing yellow pantone incorporated into various aspects of the watch. It can be seen in the Porsche logo on the bezel, as well as on the lacquer in the crown and in the graphic details present in small touches on the dial and on the second hand. The yellow colour is also present in the luminescence of the Super-LumiNova which lights yellow in the dark.
In contrast, the rest of the chronograph is awash in jet black such as the ultra-black steel dial made with diamond-like carbon (DLC) and finished with a slightly glittery effect akin to the metallic bodywork of cars. The sub-dials are treated with a rougher texture resembling asphalt, also previously seen in the 2021 model.
On the back is a see-through sapphire glass caseback redesigned with a fun detail that resembles the famous Porsche steering wheel, along with yellow markings that indicate “Porsche” and “TAG Heuer”, bringing a perfect harmony to the design of the watch.
The double stitched textile-leather strap, inspired by the seat upholstery of Porsche cars, returns in an even more spectacular incarnation — with yellow stitching and lining juxtaposed against the black leather. This technical fabric effect definitely gives the piece a sportier, more rugged edge.
For more than 50 years, TAG Heuer and Porsche have constantly been meeting both on and off the racetrack. The strong and lasting bond between the brands is built on the foundations of motor racing, and one of the strongest common features is undoubtedly the Carrera itself. This eye-catching co-creation is the ultimate symbol of what these two brands can achieve together.
Priced at $9,950, the TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition is engraved with the mention “one of 1,500” and comes in a custom-made box in the colours of the edition.
