FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraph Two-Tone Watches

So here we are at last, the final 'First Impressions' post for 2024... and it's a two-fer! Believe it or not these two are numbers 80 and 81 in the 'C.O.C.O. Watch of the Year 2024' list, which if I remember correctly is six more than we had last year! Crazy. 

Anyway, it's been pretty clear this year that TAG Heuer are firmly embracing the 'Solargraph' movement with several new models appearing in 2024; including of course the recent 'Time & Tide' limited edition, the green dial and a whole bunch of 34mm pieces issued way back at the beginning of the year. I think it's a safe bet to say we'll continue to see more solar-powered watches joining the ranks in 2025. 

Indeed I can see a point in the not to distant future where the only old-school quartz pieces with replaceable batteries will be those rather long-in-the-tooth Formula 1s that have been around for about 8 years now. 

I guess it makes sense to keep them in the line-up though, as the brand does need something at that £1200 price point to give new customers an attainable entry level model, even if they do insist on hiding them at the back of their boutiques (as if spending £1200 on a watch is something to be embarrassed about...what are you, poor?).

But going forward it does make far more sense to embrace the Solargraph.

Sure you pay a few hundred pounds more, but in return you get a fifteen year service life with no need to change the battery every three to four years, and that in itself probably saves you the difference (especially since the new Aquaracer is a lot harder to get the back off than the older models). 

The only real problem is that so far all the coloured dial models have looked a bit strange, with a metallic-plastic aesthetic that looks all kinds of wrong. Thankfully the black dial models look great, so it's probably no surprise which one of these two-tone models I'd rather own. Which is a shame really, since I do think the recently retired Calibre 5 'Douchebag' Aquaracer looked pretty darned cool... 

Carried over from that model of course are the gold plated hands and baton markers, which look great, but of course we still have the ultra-ridiculous polished centre section on the old school clasp (when are they going to give the 40mm Aquaracers proper micro adjustment for God's sake?). I mean I suppose we should be grateful they didn't gold plate that as well as the centre links; sure it would have looked nice in the showroom, but the first time you sat at a desk that would have been toast.

So far so good, right? Well, yes... but unfortunately there's the small matter of the price. Oh Lord, here we go again... I mean take a guess, what do you think? The steel model is £2050 and the titanium models are £2800, so what do you think? £2750? Maybe £2950 at a push? £3050? £3150...? The old Calibre 5 model peaked at £3400 so it surely can't be as much that, right?

Wrong! These are actually priced at £3600. Which blows my freaking mind...

How much gold is there in these that they cost £1550 more than the steel model? These are plated watches after all, no solid bezels here. I honestly don't understand it and I don't understand how it's £200 more than the old Calibre 5 model either. I mean, in what world is quartz dearer than an automatic? We all know gold is expensive, and we expect to pay a premium for it, but £1550?

You know, I'm kinda glad this is the last 'First Impressions' post for this year, cos I'm starting to feel just a little jaded and grumpy... not to mention poor! So without further ado, let's hand this one over to the (equally fratchety, I'm sure) Council of Considered Opinion. 

And don't forget, on Christmas Eve it will be the first part of the 'C.O.C.O. Watch of the Year' extravaganza where I'll be revealing the final scores for most of this year's watches and then on the 27th of December it will finally be time to crown this year's champion. Can you guess what it is yet...? 

Black/Rose 8/10, Blue/Yellow 7/10: "Nice warm colour. I’m looking forward to seeing both in real life. Glad the second hand is in matching gold."

Black/Rose 5/10, Blue/Yellow 4/10: "Once again, TAG Heuer’s pricing is absurd."

Black/Rose 7/10, Blue/Yellow 7/10: "Is this new or old release ? 2024 ? I always like this design of the Aquaracer. But I think the best is in black PVD. Both get 7/10 from me for this two tone gold plated."

Black/Rose 7/10, Blue/Yellow 5/10: "Rose gold works as a ladies watch."

Black/Rose 7/10, Blue/Yellow 7/10: "Nice that the hands and markers match the bezel and centre of the bracelet. Otherwise, not very exciting."

Black/Rose 5/10, Blue/Yellow 4/10: "I’m not really sure for whom these were developed… Probably a bit too big for the ladies - and to feminine for most of the men. Could be a “straight to Jomashop” model…Sorry TH - ending (?) the year on a weak note!."

Black/Rose 5/10, Blue/Yellow 7/10: "Somehow I have a sweet spot for these yellow gold two-tone watches. They are so nerdy!"

Black/Rose 8/10, Blue/Yellow 6.5/10: "I like both renders, albeit leaning more towards the Black and Rose Gold, as I clearly have a penchant for that combo. The other issue with the blue is that these solar dials never look quite right in blue for some reason. Still a great late release for 2024 though."