The comeback of the year - The Tag Heuer Aquaracer Oracle

10 October 2013 | TAG Heuer , 30 minutes on the wrist

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Oracle Team USA Calibre 72 Countdown Chrono

And the winner is... Oracle! With a comeback that will remain in history, Oracle USA, given defeated, has won with an exciting progression, from race 12 to race 19, the 34^th America’s Cup. At the skipper James Spithill’s wrist and his crew a watch in a limited edition provided by the sponsor TAG Heuer, that can bear the title of winner’s official watch of the 34^th America’s Cup: the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Oracle Calibre 72. It will remain in history. Needless to say, an important boutique such as Trucchi would have in their range and that such a watch would honour a city that hosted, with success, the AC72 Series last Spring. We chose in the wonders’ casket labelled TAG Heuer, from which it emerges in all its magnificence.

Thoroughly thought through compared to its predecessor, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Oracle Calibre 72 is the flagship model of the new Aquaracer range, introduced one year ago in a time and chrono only version, like the outgoing model. At first sight, the characteristic that distinguishes the old to the new version, is the introduction of the bezel in ceramic instead of rubber. A major step ahead and adjustment to the trend of the moment that sees a wide usage of ceramic for watch bezels, for the characteristic of ceramic (glossy in this case) to resist to scratches and preserve the appearance of the watch during time. Even though the name doesn’t directly say it, it is clear to the eyes of an aficionado, or a sailor, that it is a “Regatta” timer. As a matter of fact, it is easy to understand looking at the circular sector at 12 divided in 5 parts, each of them representing the duration of a minute, and the red sign “COUNTDOWN” coordinated with the red hand on the 30 minutes chrono counter and the central chrono hand.

Ultimately the Team USA logo at 6 o’clock completes the package and a very sporty and attractive dial. The chrono goes and the countdown begins, before the start of the Regatta: after 1 minute, the 5 blue sectors move and the second red sector emerges. More 4 minutes and there emerges the entire red sector. At this point, 5 minutes have gone by and 5 more minutes remain to the start of the regatta: it is clear that a regatta, with an immediate visualization of the 10 minutes that precede the start, is a fundamental tool in any skipper’s hands. Well, but what about the engine that powers the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Oracle Claibre 72? As the name indicates, it is the calibre 72, automatic, with the balance wheel oscillating at 28800 vibrations/hour, 40 hours power reserve, Sellita SW300 base module with the addition of a chrono module sourced by Dubois Depraz. Robust and reliable, housed in a 43mm steel case. Then we add that, for those who don’t know yet, TAG Heuer praises a long standing tradition in the making of Regatta watches, that began during the early ‘70s (at the time Heuer).

Beyond the great technical characteristics, in our opinion, there are three touch points that differentiate this watch from the other models of the competitors: it is an authentic regatta, not a chrono spin-off, it has a natural rubber bracelet with Isofrane holes and a beautiful buckle with a very original ardillon. One of those cases in which we prefer the natural rubber strap to the metal bracelet. In conclusion, something you appreciate only testing the watch: the bezel has no “game”: place your thumb and index at 4 and 10 o’clock respectively and try playing with the bezel…it is motionless, thus there is no residual game between the bezel and the case. If you then start turning it, it turns perfectly and from one twitch to the other, of millimeter precision, not a minimum game. Congratulations to the Research and Development team on one hand, and who worked on the Touch and Feel on the other hand, in TAG Heuer.

(Photo credit: Google, Horbiter's original photo shooting)

Gaetano C. @Horbiter - Watches & Luxury

TWITTER @Gaetano Cimmino

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