TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5 Diver

Although TAG Heuer is best known for its Carrera, F1 and Monaco series of racing cars-inspired watches, the Aquaracer range of professional diving watches is also gaining in popularity among the watch buying crowd.

Available with both automatic and quartz movements, these timepieces are starting at ridiculously low prices well South from the €1000 mark.

While the previous TAG Heuer Aquaracer diving watches were clearly more than just inspired by the evergreen Rolex Sea-Dweller and Submariner families of diving watches, with the new model the Swiss watchmaker takes a step away from the beaten road.

This new TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5 gets some of its styling queues directly from the recently unveiled TAG Heuer SLR limited edition watch.

At least, both watches feature quite brutal-looking dials with “vertical streak effect”. The Aquaracer 500 goes even further than the SLR, featuring “radial streaks” on its unidirectional rotating bezel, which is available either in 18k gold, or in black or blue rubber with its color matching that of the dial. In both cases the bezel is also decorated with prominent-looking numerals made of some brushed metal.

As always, the Aquaracer 500 is available with either pretty standard ETA 2836-2 automatic caliber or a Swiss quartz movement neatly packed in a not so large 43 mm case made of brushed steel. The automatic-powered model starts at a modest price of €1850 with the version with a gold bezel adding around half that much to the grand total.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5 diving watch’s specification:

Price range: €1850 for the Automatic model
Movement: ETA 2836-2 automatic caliber or a Swiss quartz
Complications: Date
Power reserve: N/A
Case material: Steel
Case dimensions: 43 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black, blue or silver
Water resistance: 500 m
Strap: 3-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with solid steel clasp, diving extension system and safety push buttons, Black rubber strap with solid steel clasp, diving extension system and safety push buttons
Crystal: Sapphire with magnifying lens over the date window at 9 o’clock