With the Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph Solar Quartz, a 40-millimetre timepiece in titanium, TAG Heuer introduced a robust tool watch version of the technology introduced in 2022. The caliber TH50-00 is co-developed with the La Joux-Perret Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. And when it comes to recharging energy needs, it is on the opposite side of the spectrum if you compare it with mobile phones: To achieve enough power to run for 24 hours, it just needs one single minute of light exposure, be it the sun or an artificial light source. To fully charge the watch, which will give it a 10-month run – or up to 4 years in power-save mode – it just needs 40 hours of charging.
For this to work, discreet solar cells are placed under the translucent dial, whose horizontal slats have been given a sunray brush. TAG Heuer’s version of a solar-powered movement was introduced two years after the master watchmaker Carole Forestier joined the brand. In an interview I made for The New York Times, she said that “The solar energy harvesting in the movement is very interesting, and even though electronic movements are different from mechanical movements, they are similar when it comes to working with moving wheels,” she said, adding that some of the things she learned from sun-powered movements might be applied to mechanical watches in the future.
The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is crafted from ultra-light grade 2 titanium. The 40-millimetre case (two millimeters larger than previous model) has been given a sandblast treatment, which gives a rugged appearance fit for a watch made to be used in the elements. Ergonomics is also a theme, which is further enhanced by the grey fabric strap held in place by a grade 2 titanium buckle. As for keeping up with the trends, the turquoise blue second hand and stitching echo one of the largest color trends in watchmaking 2026.
Another novelty utilizing the rays emitted of the star located 150 million kilometers from the Earth, whose core is burning at around 15 million degrees Celcius, is a new iteration of the 38-millimeter TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph in steel. Inspired by pitlane clocks and the F1 heritage of the brand, the energetic appearance of the watch is paired with legibility enhanced by the black flange measuring the red second hand. This legibility is further increased by the white opaline dials with lacquered indexes and (TAG Heuer-) shield-shaped quarter markers. The TH Polylight is used on the whole case and bezel for the new collection in soft pastels, and on the steel watch which guarantees a more robust wearing experience, the TH Polylight is only used on the turnable green bezel equipped with white minute counters from 0-60.
And what about the battery, which can be a nuicance, especially if would happen to be a watch that is not used all the time? No worries, even if you would only wear it for Sunday F1 sessions in your favorite armchair in front of the TV, or for an annual F1 track visit, the battery won’t cause any problems, since the battery can be used up to 15 years of battery without replacement.
The new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph is only available online through the brand’s website.
