We have written plenty about the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 collection, and the Aquaracer collection in general too, but this latest addition to the fold requires serious attention. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition marks an important moment for dive watches because this one goes far outside the comfort zone of such watches.
Naomi Osaka needs no introduction and we have written about her joining the ranks of TAG Heuer’s ambassadors. This year, she gets a watch worthy of her name, and one that will surely catch the eye of watch enthusiasts. Yes, it has a green dial, which is de rigueur, and it has diamond-set hour markers, but it is really her creative input in the development of the watch that is significant. Just as Steve McQueen selected the Monaco to embody the character of a racing driver, Osaka has deliberately chosen the Aquaracer for the first watch to actually bear her name.
“I am excited to continue my work with TAG Heuer not only because their timepieces are so renowned and classic but also because it is an honour to be able to create a timepiece with such an iconic brand with a rich history in watch making. I’m grateful to TAG Heuer for allowing me to fuel my passion for fashion and product design,” said Osaka in a statement accompanying the press information about the 36mm Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition.
The green dial — and the brighter shade of the same on the minute track — and the green rubber strap are meant to reflect Osaka’s passion for tennis of course. As it happens, it is also her favourite colour. This makes green ideal here, and goes beyond the current yen for this colour. The watch comes with a second strap, this one in a fabric made of 100 per cent recycled fishing nets. The brand also notes that the strap is also recyclable, but we cannot think why anyone would want to give up this signature element! It should be noted that the watch does not precisely include interchangeable straps because TAG Heuer says a special tool is included with the limited edition watch to enable swapping the straps.
As you might expect from a series limited to 250 pieces and so specifically named, the caseback features an engraving personal to Osaka. It is a teddy bear holding a flower, the champion’s personal logo. The same logo is also on the presentation box, which is also mostly in green, with highlights in that signature tennis ball green.
About those diamonds, some might find this incongruous in a professional model, but dive watches are famously legible and the eight VS-grade diamonds definitely work to enhance that. Overall, the look of the Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition is surprisingly subdued, at least in the press images. We look forward to discovering the watch in person.
It is available now, and you can check the TAG Heuer website for more details. For those familiar with the Aquaracer collection, this limited edition shares all the key characteristics of this model, from the hands and the Calibre 5 automatic movement to ceramic bezel and 300m water-resistance.
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