ReviewLight For Life: Presenting TAG Heuer’s Solar-Powered Aquaracer Professional 200

The story of TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer collection began in 1978 when Jack Heuer introduced the Heuer Reference 844. The watch featured high-performance functions dedicated to outdoor fans and adventure lovers for all seasons. In 2004, the collection was named Aquaracer and featured six signature elements. These include a unidirectional-rotating bezel, a screw-down crown, water resistance up to 200m, luminous markings, a sapphire crystal glass, and a double-safety clasp. For 2022, TAG Heuer took a bold step and extended the popular Aquaracer collection with its first-ever solar-powered watch—the Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph.

Harnessing The Sun’s Energy

The concept of solar-powered quartz movements is not new. Time and again, we have witnessed this in products from multiple Japanese brands. A staple of rugged watches, solar-powered quartz movements watches are functional and stylish, as well as durable and dependable, and have a low environmental impact. Despite these advantages, the Swiss watch industry never got into this segment in any major way. However, there seems to be more interest in it from the Swiss more recently. Cartier’s 2021 Solar Beat is one example.

The new Calibre TH50-00 movement working within the watch is powered by solar energy and features the renowned and proven ‘Eco-Drive’ technology. Seen here is the solar panel, which is concealed behind the semi-transparent dial

For this Aquaracer, TAG Heuer teamed up with the Manufacture at La Joux-Perret based in La Chaux-de-Fonds to develop the efficient calibre TH50-00. Powered by solar energy, it features the renowned and proven ‘Eco-Drive’ technology—seen famously in the eponymous collection of Citizen (Japan). Now it’s been used for the first time by a Swiss brand. The movement needs only two minutes of exposure to full sunlight to keep the watch running for the entire day. And with less than 20 hours under the sun, the watch is fully charged to run for six months. When it does stop working in the middle, all you need to do is expose it to sunlight for ten seconds and it’ll keep going. The watch’s battery can extend from six months to 3.5 years if the ‘power save’ mode is activated. Making all this happen is a solar panel behind a partially-transparent black dial.

The overall form of the 40mm Aquaracer Solargraph paired with the stealth look of black DLC makes for a very fulfilling wearing experience

Powered By Light In More Ways Than One

As an almost poetic extension of what light can do for this watch are the Super-LumiNova elements of the watch—not just the hands and hour markers, but even the timer markers as well as swirls on the carbon bezel. This makes it perfect for the outdoors, even at night. Paired with the bezel in carbon epoxy resin is the 40mm steel case, with a stealth matt black DLC treatment. With a solid caseback—featuring an engraved compass motif that represents the outdoors theme—the case is paired with a black rubber strap. 

The watch features stunning Super-LumiNova™ details on both the dial and the bezel reminiscent of the ridges on rock formations

The DLC-coated bezel features green Super-LumiNova and carbon inserts that allows the watch to be perfectly legible even after sundown

Great for outdoor adventures, but tremendously suitable and practical for daily-wear, this Aquaracer widens the scope of appeal and functionality for this collection and even for TAG Heuer.

The New Grey Gem: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph

The sleek and smart 40mm titanium edition is the latest addition to the renowned Aquaracer series, designed for those who love both style and adventure. The heavy-duty grade-2 titanium watch comes in a tapered form offering robustness and versatility when exposed to extreme conditions. Built tough with high-quality materials, the watch is designed to be worn for outdoor activities. The sunray brushed black dial houses subtle polar blue touches which reminds the wearer of the iconic evocation of the northern lights that light up the night sky in the Arctic Circle. 

The timepiece comes with a reliable and accurate solar-powered movement featuring the Solargraph technology with time and date functions, ensuring you are always on time wherever you go. Strapped to a resilient three-row full sandblasted grade-2 titanium bracelet, the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is a watch that’s not only stylish but also durable and ready for any adventure that comes your way.