TAG Heuer Men's CAF2111.BA0809 2000 Aquaracer Automatic Chronograph Watch

 

TAG Heuer Men's CAF2111.BA0809 2000 Aquaracer Automatic Chronograph Watch

 

Product Description

TAG Heuer traces its roots to the small Swiss village of St-Imier where, in 1860, a watchmaker named Edouard Heuer opened his first shop. His vision was to create remarkable timepieces that pushed the envelope of innovation and precision. The company's reputation grew, and Heuer's first patent for a chronograph mechanism in 1882 was followed by a long list of achievements: the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100 of a second, the first dashboard stopwatch for race cars, the first miniature electronic timekeeping device accurate to 1/1000th of a second, and the first automatic movement with a microrotor, to name just a few.

Owned mine for about a year (amazon purchased)
I've been procrastinating the writing of this review for awhile on account that I wanted to get used to and familiar with my Aquaracer. I think I'm at that point, so here goes.
Why a TAG? After reading several dozen reviews about watches, my first time "luxury watch" (I hate that phrase, it's so pompous and erudite classist) purchase decidedly boiled down between the Omega Speedmaster and the Tag Heuer Aquaracer. You know what I discovered? Omega is the better choice. Do I regret my Tag purchase? Not in the slightest. I knew buying my Tag that Omega has a better watch (in terms of movement solely) but what it came down to for me was aesthetics, case construction, and brand history. The Omega Speedmaster is an ugly damn watch. The bulbous crystal is just begging to be bashed in by a railing or concrete post. Plus, it has that vacant, soulless black dial. I've tried it on several times thinking one day it would click with my taste and I just can't get over how boring that watch is. Oh yeah, plus that ugly Speedmaster bracelet with those weird two slender link lines. Wtf are those? No thanks. Give me the robust links on my Aquaracer any day.
Yes, the Omega guts will likely outlive my Tag's (apparently, the origin country plays a big role on quality movement--although I'm willing to argue otherwise) but I intend on keeping up with the annual maintenance and cleaning, so it'll be fine. Plus, the Speedmaster is small. It's, like, 39mm or something. Trying one on feels like you're wearing a Swatch. Again, no thanks. The Aquaracer has the heavy dutiness and it feels that way, too. The raised ticks on the bezel have saved my crystal several times already.
Tag has a company history I'm a big fan of. Sure, I could have bought into the whole JFK wore one and it was worn on the moon, but B.F.D. (Tag was the first watch in space, a feat they seem to downplay). Tag has that classic American (yes, I acknowledge the company was born in Switzerland) subtlety I prefer. Having an ensconced history in both automobile racing and aviation. It's like a Rayban aviator, a Triumph motorcycle or Levi's denim, something about the Aquaracer that gives it an indelible appearance: one that will neither go out of style or give up the ghost to faulty design. That latter statement will probably be argued by Omega enthusiasts as a flimsy argument, as Tag has foreign parts and blah, blah, blah. Tag makes a much more beautiful watch, so eat my ass.
The bracelet is durable and features a beautiful taper from the case to its clasp. Yes, the polished elements will scratch. People need to understand that's just part of the watch wearer's record. Scratches indicate a life well lived, one that doesn't live in fear of his possessions. I like scratches. I have scratches on my bracelet from Paris, New Zealand, Portland, Amsterdam, you get the idea. It's my world traveler. Gives my watch cache and adds to the patina of adventurous. Look, it's jewelry and that's all it is.
As mentioned on other reviews, the Aquaracer has a lot of weight to it. I highly encourage a person to go to a jeweler and try one on to ensure both size and weight on the wrist. I have a build kind of like Ryan Reynolds--IE: not a very large guy--and so the 41mm case was a preferred fit. Some dudes like a 43mm case and so I recommend the Aquaracer 2000. I think having a heavy watch like the Aquaracer adds to its appeal. It's a reminder of its presence and makes it feel like a luxury watch. They say that, like, 75% of a car purchase hinges on how the door of the car sounds when it closes; well I look at watch weight similarly. Cheap watches are light. Again, this is just an opinion and isn't really substantiated by evidence outside of the inherent psychology.
My Tag still shines, too. I love the brushed stainless more than the polished. And because this watch is monochromatic in its stainless color, it's really versatile. I wear it fine dining fittingly as when I wear it walking through an airport, playing sports, or at the office. Some douchenozzle mentioned that his watch dies if he wears it at his computer. Mine doesn't die and I sit at a computer most of day at my office, so I don't know what he's talking about. It's never died on me, in fact.
I will say that the watch doesn't get a ton of compliments. Actually, the only compliments I've gotten were from other watch people. I have a yellow faced Fossil watch (CH2545) that receives WAYYYY more compliments than my Tag. Seriously, if you want a watch that will get you some damn compliments, get that Fossil watch. It's insane. It should be renamed to the Fossil "Pussy Magnet."
But again, my Tag doesn't get compliments due to its understated elegance and this is a preference on my part. I like subtlety. If you want compliments, I recommend getting a Grande Date Tag, Grand Carrera, or go full on stadium watch with a Breitling (a POS, from what I've heard).
One bode of contention, I wish the buttons that operate the chronograph were screw down instead of simple pushbutton. They feel like they're begging to get water-logged, since they don't have that screw down feature. Of course, that would preclude me bringing my $1,500 watch into a swimming pool (yes it's a divers watch, but seriously--wtf are you thinking when you put metal in a corrosive salt-water / chlorinated environment?) Dude, buy a cheap Invicta diver for those occasions. Swimming with expensive jewelry is like swimming with eyeglasses--take it off!
As for the runs-fast complaint, whatever. It's an analogue automatic watch, not a digital satellite. It takes twenty seconds to roll back my minute hand once every three weeks. Plus, that implies I haven't let the watch die from not wearing it for three days (btw, that's an amazing feat, having a solely automatic movement that can last 72 hours without a recharge). I have a bunch of watches I trade between, so it's inevitable that by the time I wear my Tag, it'll need to be reset. 20-seconds and then I'm good to go.
My gf, who wasn't a watch person but is becoming one, loves my Tag too. It's handsome. And it's as versatile as you want it to be. Just when buying one, avoid all the Aquaracers in all the stupid trendy colors and gimmicky gizmo features. Get a simple, timeless color and you'll be able to wear it for years without looking like a shmuck wearing his neon blue Tag from the eighties.
Ultimately, consider this poorly written review as upmost support to this particular color and pedigree of Aquaracer. I'm a big fan.

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