The refresh of TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer range is complete with the unveiling of the new Aquaracer 300m Ceramic Bezel Calibre 5 replica watch, the companion watch to the Aquaracer 300m Chronograph replica we showed you back in April. The 300m Ceramic bezel models replace the popular Aquaracer 500m, which was part of the range since 2010. Given the similarities between the two series it was perhaps inevitable that the range would be rationalised, but we still hope that fake TAG Heuer continues development of hard-core dive watches in the tradition of the Aquagraph and the Super Professional.
The new range features not only a family of steel cased models with different colour combinations, but also a pair of titanium divers to give the range an even greater point of difference to other Aquaracers.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 CeramicWe had the chance to get up close with the new titanium twins for an extended review, which means plenty of photos as we look at the newest Aquaracer from every angle.
DESIGN
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5The new Aquaracer is the second model in the Aquaracer 300m Calibre 5 family, alongside the steel bezel model (above left) launched in the middle of 2014. The two watches share many elements, but the ceramic bezel model has a more sporty feel with its larger hands, polished hour-markers, cyclops above the date window, and of course a glossy ceramic bezel in place of the brushed steel bezel.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 CeramicAnd speaking of those hour-markers, they’re a feature that’s hard to ignore. Perhaps it’s the size (they feel about 20% too big to our eyes), but they do seem to have an “ultra shine” finish, meaning that they dominate the dial, especially at the 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock positions. The dial itself continues the horizontal streak look of the Aquaracer family and successfully gives the dial a depth missing from traditional flat-black dials.
The benefit of those large hour-markers is that the dial has plenty of lume- both green and blue tones.
Aquaracer lume
The other new element of hardware on the dial are the new hour and minute hands. These blocky hands feature the TAG Heuer shield in the point of the hand.
One of the more interesting models in the range is the Phantom model (shown below) that goes for that “ultra-stealth” Black-on-Black look. The watch uses dark grey lume to complete the act. There is not much point worrying about the legibility of this model- it’s not designed to be legible, it’s designed with a specific style in mind. Later in the review we’ll show you how the watch looks in real-world conditions so you can work out if the Phantom is for you.
Finally, as you can see below, the cyclops makes a return to the Aquaracer range to help magnify the date window.
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300m Ceramic Phantom replica watch