New forum member, new TAG Heuer owner...

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Hi,

My first post, having just joined.

I've always been interested in mechanical watches, but I've never bought anything "higher end" before. I'd always promised myself a Swiss timepiece at some point.
Anyway, recently I was walking past Goldsmiths (UK) and noticed an orange Aquaracer. As soon as I saw it, I knew I needed it.
Brand new, unworn with a free watch winder.


I was informed that this watch was not a popular choice in orange. It would be interesting to know how many were actually made. Do these figures exist?


Anyway, I do have a couple of other questions, if you don't mind....

It says on the TAG Heuer website, to avoid exposure to bright lights, which got me thinking...
The other day, whilst loading the watch into the watch winder, I was carefully inserting it into the barrel with the aid of a torch (There isn't much clearance) and when I turned the torch off, the lume was incredible. Like nothing I've ever seen. Beautiful blue, contrasting with green. Just stunning.

I just wondered if the torch is harmful for the watch? It was only 100 lumens LED. I assume there's no issue.

As I said, I've only ever had cheaper watches, so I haven't ever really been that bothered before about things like that.

Second question, how accurate are people finding their Calibre 5s? Mine is gaining around 15-17 seconds per day.
It doesn't bother me too much. I guess I just "thought" it might be a little bit more accurate.
PXL_20250523_160753628.RAW-02.ORIGINAL (1).webp PXL_20250525_144923011.RAW-02.ORIGINAL.webp


Thank you.
 
dsio
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You definitely don't have to worry about your torch hurting it, it'll be fine. The Calibre 5 in that Aquaracer is an extremely durable and reliable movement but not chronometer rated so 15-17 seconds is pretty good given that, if its consistent you can perhaps have it regulated a little tighter by a watchmaker but you always want it slightly faster rather than slower so you can just hack it periodically to re-sync to current time once a week or so.
 
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dsio dsio
You definitely don't have to worry about your torch hurting it, it'll be fine. The Calibre 5 in that Aquaracer is an extremely durable and reliable movement but not chronometer rated so 15-17 seconds is pretty good given that, if its consistent you can perhaps have it regulated a little tighter by a watchmaker but you always want it slightly faster rather than slower so you can just hack it periodically to re-sync to current time once a week or so.
Thank you.
Yeah, it's consistent. To be honest, it doesn't bother me enough to get it opened up and adjusted.
If +15/17 seconds per day is normal, then I will let it go.
 
Jim Dollares
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Hey Phil

Killer Aquaracer, well done!!!

My holy silver dial version of the same watch runs about 5-10 seconds fast per day which I am very pleased with, but one should always remember that TAG Heuer is not a brand you buy for quality, performance or precision. You buy it for the sexy designs, how excited it makes you feel and the flex of having that TAG badge on your wrist demonstrating that yes you are in fact superior to many people around you.
 
Aquagraph
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I was informed that this watch was not a popular choice in orange.

Say what?
 
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Jim Dollares Jim Dollares
Hey Phil

Killer Aquaracer, well done!!!

My holy silver dial version of the same watch runs about 5-10 seconds fast per day which I am very pleased with, but one should always remember that TAG Heuer is not a brand you buy for quality, performance or precision. You buy it for the sexy designs, how excited it makes you feel and the flex of having that TAG badge on your wrist demonstrating that yes you are in fact superior to many people around you.
Hi Jim,

Thank you. I am completely in love with it.
It's funny, I'd never even heard of an Aquaracer before I saw this. My "dream" watch was always an Omega Seamaster 300. But actually, when this was in front of me, I kind of wondered why. This is far more eyecatching. It also matches my beard.... 😆

I would be more happy with 10 seconds fast, but it really isn't an issue. I was just surprised, as I have some Chinese mechanical chronographs that are -1 second per day. They were a lot cheaper!

I also have a 1973 Seiko which is bang on.
But, none of them look as cool as this.

I like your last paragraph. I could subscribe to that thinking. 😆
 
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
I was informed that this watch was not a popular choice in orange.

Say what?
Yes, honestly.
When I was trying it on, one of the other store colleagues walked past and said "I wondered when someone was going to buy that!"
I didn't think much of it, but the following day I went into the TAG Heuer boutique and I was asked if I needed any help. To which I proudly exclaimed that I was only looking, as I bought a new TAG the previous day.
She asked which one and then got really excited and said that they actually never sold a single one. They said that in the end they had to return all of their orange Aquaracers to TAG.
I was and still am baffled by that.
Anyway, whatever. I love it and think it's cool. So what else matters. 😁
 
Mspeedster
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P PhilD
Yes, honestly.
When I was trying it on, one of the other store colleagues walked past and said "I wondered when someone was going to buy that!"
I didn't think much of it, but the following day I went into the TAG Heuer boutique and I was asked if I needed any help. To which I proudly exclaimed that I was only looking, as I bought a new TAG the previous day.
She asked which one and then got really excited and said that they actually never sold a single one. They said that in the end they had to return all of their orange Aquaracers to TAG.
I was and still am baffled by that.
Anyway, whatever. I love it and think it's cool. So what else matters. 😁
Very interesting. It's certainly a forum favorite here, quite a number of THF regulars have owned this one. Surprised to hear it's the exact opposite in the real world.

The TH Outlet mall stores must have good stock of these. 😉
 
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
Very interesting. It's certainly a forum favorite here, quite a number of THF regulars have owned this one. Surprised to hear it's the exact opposite in the real world.

The TH Outlet mall stores must have good stock of these. 😉
Mine was also heavily reduced. Which is what really pushed me into buying it. But of course now I'm hooked and looking at even more expensive TAG Heuers now....

I thought it was odd. I mean, what's not to like?

The TH boutique staff said "not many men like colour..."
In my eyes, it's the best looking watch I've seen in a long time.
I would love it if they did a GMT in this colour and case with the new wave dial. I think that would be nuts.
 
McBeardy
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
I was informed that this watch was not a popular choice in orange.

Say what?
Could be why they’ve not released that colourway with the updated 300s.

Shame would be epic.
Edited:
 
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McBeardy McBeardy
Could why they’ve not released that colourway with the updated 300s.

Shame would be epic.
That's exactly my assumption. Pity.
 
Aquagraph
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I find this strange. They already released the orange F1 so they must have known whether orange was gonna fly or not...
 
D
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I like the orange. Wish it was a glossy finish, but if they're really going for a steep discount I just may.
 
ExpiredWatchdog
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I'd say the warning is about the coloring compound on the face, not the lume. The orange compound itself doesn't hold up to sunlight well. Modern lumes are pretty much immune to fading.

Here's the spec for the Sellita SW200-1
SW200 Spec.webp

There's some debate about what grade TAG uses these days. The standard and elabore are undistinguishable physically, the just fall into different buckets when testing.
Edited:
 
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ExpiredWatchdog ExpiredWatchdog
I'd say the warning is about the coloring compound on the face, not the lume. The orange compound itself doesn't hold up to sunlight well. Modern lumes are pretty much immune to fading.

Here's the spec for the Sellita SW200-1
SW200 Spec.webp

There's some debate about what grade TAG uses these days. The standard and elabore are undistinguishable physically, the just fall into different buckets when testing.
Wow. So with the standard movement, 30 seconds per day is the limit of acceptability. That's quite high, but it is what it is.

You mention that the orange dial compound doesn't hold up well to sunlight. Has there been instances of the orange Aquaracer suffering from dial fade that you're aware of?
I'd have imagined fading dials, especially at this price point would have been a thing of the past.
 
Aquagraph
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But... the whole point of lume is to point a torch at it. That is literally its purpose (for diving), not for telling the time at 4 in the morning.
 
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