RISING UP

The TAG Heuer Aquaracer collection gets a major refresh for 2021, with ergonomic performance top of mind. With put the watches through their paces while creating a visual impression of what they represent

- ASHOK SOMAN

When we wrote in issue #59, just a few short months ago, that TAG Heuer should spare a little love for its dive watch collection, the Aquaracer, we really had no idea that a suitable reply would be coming from the manufacture quite so soon. Here is what I wrote in that story: “Taking note of the winds of change that are swirling around watchmaking once more, we hope that the powers-that-be at the brand and LVMH consider the powerful allure of the dive watch, and seize the opportunity with what is already a pretty good model. It could be great.” Ask and ye shall receive, apparently. Well played TAG Heuer.

Before I let my enthusiasm for the Aquaracer get the better of me, a few confessions are in order. I wrote an extensive story on the family of watches known as the Aquaracer in 2018 for the Indonesia edition of WOW, and I followed up with the aforementioned piece last year. Part of the reason for this is that one of my first proper watches was a TAG Heuer 2000 Series chronograph, featuring an early appearance of the full colour version of the TAG Heuer logo on the dial. It is only one of several dive watches that I own, or have owned. While my current tastes go in quite a different direction, the dive watch is a must-have for most people who love watches. In this case, I am still in the “most people,” camp. The overall popularity of the dive watch is a narrative thread woven into a number of parts of this story, which is likely the most personal of cover stories we have done in the last five years. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer is the contemporary successor to the aforementioned 2000 Series, after all.