The New TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 500 Date; Going Deeper, Staying Cool

With all the attention focused on the new and important TAG Heuer Monaco references (Steve McQueen and Evergraph), the introduction of the Aquaracer Professional 500 Date at Watches and Wonders 2026 was a quieter one. Still, with this new release, the brand fills a gap in its dive watch range. Positioned between the refined, everyday-capable Professional 300 and the extreme, now-discontinued Professional 1000 Superdiver (2022), this new duo of limited editions offers a compelling balance between wearability and serious underwater capability.

The origins of the Aquaracer collection run deep (intended). Since the Heuer Reference 844 of 1978, the brand has made robust, legible and reliable tool watches suitable for real-world adventure. Over time, the Aquaracer series has identified its six must-have features: unidirectional bezel, screw-down crown, good water resistance, luminous elements, sapphire crystal and secure clasp, all of which are present here in the new Aquaracer Professional 500 Date.

Unlike the bulky Superdiver, a watch with very serious diving credentials (as tested by our resident diver Derek), the Aquaracer Professional 500 Date retains a versatile 42mm case with a manageable profile. But it remains, nonetheless, a solid tool for aquatic activities. Crafted from grade 2 titanium, the case and bracelet emphasise lightness and durability. At just 120 grams, the watch feels noticeably lighter than its steel counterparts. The construction remains faithful to the modern Aquaracer design language, with a dodecagonal unidirectional bezel, strong angular lines and a mix of sandblasted finishes.

The discreet integration of a helium escape valve preserves the case’s clean lines and marks a clear step into professional diving territory. Positioned at 10 o’clock and executed in black DLC-coated titanium, it allows the watch to safely release trapped helium during decompression, an essential feature for saturation diving. The screw-down crown, also in titanium, is decorated with the shiels logo and sits protected by subtle guards, and the caseback, bearing the image of a diver’s helmet, is solid.

Two dial executions are offered. The blue-accented version offers a more classic marine aesthetic, with a black gradient wave-pattern dial, blue highlights on the minute flange and seconds hand, and a bezel with a blue 15-minute diving scale. The second reference adopts high-visibility orange accents on the flange and bezel. Both variants boast large applied geometric indices and bold hands, filled with Super-LumiNova. The minutes track, in white or in orange, is crisp and legible, especially on the blue-accented reference. A date window at 6 o’clock is magnified via a lens integrated under the sapphire crystal.

The new Aquaracer Professional 500 Date is powered by the calibre TH30-00, a COSC-certified automatic movement beating at 28,800vph and delivering a 70-hour power reserve. Already proven in the 1000m Superdiver, this Kenissi-manufactured movement (using the same overall architecture as Tudor, Norqain, Fortis, Chanel and Bell & Ross) brings reliability and chronometric performance to this new model, backed by a five-year warranty.

The watch is delivered on a matching titanium bracelet closed with a folding clasp with double safety push-buttons and featuring a micro-adjustment system, ensuring secure wear over a wetsuit and comfort on a daily basis.

Priced at EUR 5,400, USD 5,400 or CHF 5,100, the new Aquaracer Professional 500 Date models reinforce TAG Heuer’s position in the modern dive watch segment, offering a mix of performance, materials and design in a very competitive category. Each version is limited to 1,500 pieces and will soon be available. For more, visit tagheuer.com.