TAG Heuer Aquaracer

There is no doubt that diving watches hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors, ourselves included. In fact, Analog:Shift was founded with its eyes set squarely on vintage divers. With their simple designs and robust movements, the tool watches of the 1960s and 1970s were built to accompany the adventurer across the globe and to keep time at its great heights as well as its dark depths. Today, the dive watch segment is stronger than ever, with the spirit of a past era living on in the full spectrum of the market — from entry-level micro-brands all the way up to the big players. In the late 1970s, Heuer was looking to capitalize on the demand for dive watches, and they succeeded — today, they feature a full line of divers with different shapes, sizes, and movements. In fact, their Aquaracer is the entry point for many young people into the world of dive watches, full stop! The particular TAG Heuer Aquaracer that we have here, dating from the 2010s, is housed in a 40mm, two-tone steel-and-yellow gold case with a sapphire crystal, a signed yellow gold crown, and a yellow gold unidirectional dive timing bezel. It features a luminous sunburst silver dial with applied indices, a matching handset, and a date window at 3:00. Water resistant to 300m, it’s powered by a quartz movement and comes paired to a matching two-tone, multi-link bracelet with a signed locking clasp. In good condition and accompanied by its boxes and warranty card, this Aquaracer is an excellent entry point into the greater dive watch world, as well as an affordable foray into two-tone.  Don’t sleep on it!