SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Maria Sharapova Daring Red' Limited Edition Quartz Watch

 

WAY1312.FC6356

In a world where 'limited edition' can mean practically anything, it's kind of refreshing to come across a piece that is genuinely limited, well.... sort of. In truth the WAY1312 Aquaracer is/was readily available on a bracelet, but only five lucky ladies got to wear it on this rather cool red strap and it was only available to buy from the TAG Heuer Boutique in Melbourne during the 2015 Australian Tennis Open. Now that really is 'limited'!

The inspiration behind this limited edition was apparently Maria Sharapova's 'daring red' outfit which she wore during the aforementioned tennis tournament and, well that's about it really. The watch itself is a 32mm quartz piece with a mother of pearl dial, probably the sort of thing you wouldn't look twice at in a jewellers window, but putting it on this red strap is a masterstroke - what a fantastic combination!

WAY1312.BA0915

It's curious indeed that TAG Heuer would make just five straps though, and I can't find that this strap was used anywhere else. Which makes me wonder if you can buy a replacement when it wears out and whether you couldn't then buy the strap and recreate your own 'limited edition'? I somehow doubt this watch has a bespoke backplate (there's no mention of it in the sole article I can find about this watch) which would be the obvious way to distinguish... perhaps TAG Heuer will only sell you the strap if you can prove you own one already - like maybe you have to send the old one back?

Leaving that aside, I quite like the idea of limited editions using standard watches and bespoke straps, a pity it doesn't seem to have caught on over the last five years as it's an easy way to turn a fairly anonymous (or perhaps 'tasteful' if you prefer) watch into a piece with real 'impact'. Though whether it's financially viable to make any strap in a quantity of five is doubtful I would have thought...

Here is a link to the only article I can find about this watch:

https://masterhorologer.com/2015/01/09/tag-heuer-aquaracer-lady-300m-32mm-quartz-daring-red-limited-edition-exclusivity-australia/