Continue chasing the sun with TAG Heuer and Time+Tide, as they unveil their latest team-up in the Aquaracer Professional 300 Sundowner II!
TAG Heuer’s success in Australia is anomalous. Where they often compete on level or uphill playing fields across other regions of the world, the Land Down Under has always been one of the brand’s strongest footholds. Whether that’s attributable to their early market entry, the Aussie appetite for motorsport racing, or longstanding community outreach, it’s paid dividends in making them one of Australia’s most universally recognised luxury watch brands.
As such, they often team up with Australian watch enthusiasts who share their values. In the past, this has included collector Paxton Wong’s incredible community in Sydney, as well as ourselves here in Brisbane on many occasions.
But in Melbourne, our friends over at Time+Tide have done well to build their own relationship with the Swiss brand. Their association with TAG Heuer came to a head in 2024, when they released a double-signed limited edition of the Aquaracer Professional 200 Solargraph, nicknamed the ‘Sundowner’, to massive acclaim. But you know what they say: the first time was so nice, they had to do it twice!
Tidal Wave
And do it twice they have. This year, both brands have unveiled their sophomore collaboration with the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 x Time+Tide Sundowner II. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but far easier to understand on the wrist than it is to say, I assure you. From the outset, little has changed about the 300m water-resistant case profile. Sized at 42mm in diameter, 48mm lug-to-lug, and 12mm thick, the Sundowner II is perfectly in line with the most recent generation of Aquaracers introduced at Watches & Wonders 2024.
Though its wearing profile is surprisingly curvaceous and ergonomic, it’s been further enhanced through the use of Grade 2 titanium. Much like the limited-edition Aquaracer Professional 500 Date models released earlier this year, the Sundowner II’s matte sandblasted finish gives it an unmistakable tool-oriented identity. This makes it the sixth (and seventh, technically) titanium Aquaracer reference in the current line-up, following the Professional 500s and the titanium Solargraphs.
The Sundowner II is available on either a similarly blasted titanium bracelet or a cut-to-size black rubber strap. While the total production run is reportedly 500 pieces, only 50 will come on the titanium bracelet, with the other 450 fitted with the rubber strap. Either way, though, you still get the benefit of TAG Heuer’s clever micro-adjustable clasp, ensuring optimum wearability in any conditions.
A word of advice, though: if you’re buying the rubber strap reference, ensure the micro-adjustment is set to its tightest setting before having the strap cut to fit your wrist. That way, you’re accounting for any fluctuations in wrist size should it expand in hot environments.
Motion Of The Ocean
It’s not just the familiar case silhouette that carries over to the Sundowner II, though. The watch also reinterprets the design cues presented on the original Sundowner, upholding the marriage of Swiss excellence and Australian sensibility. Where the original Solargraph featured a titanium unidirectional bezel, TAG Heuer reinterprets this through the use of grey-toned ceramic instead. Matching seamlessly with the titanium case and finish, it’s contrasted by warm rose gold-filled engravings.
Also finished in rose gold are the heavily lumed applied indices, which use a mixture of trapezoids and octagonal appliqués to draw focus towards the hands at the centre. These are also finished in rose gold and carry a similar level of lume for optimum low-light legibility. Something you might have already noticed is the omission of the Aquaracer Professional 300’s signature date window and integrated cyclops. In their place lies Time+Tide’s applied anchor logo, also finished in rose gold and set atop a sunray-brushed, varnished black backdrop.
The dial itself features the brand’s signature wave ridges stamped into its brass plate, adding a new, dizzying level of light play not often seen in black-dial timepieces. It’s a look and colour arrangement intended to interpret the transitional appearance of the ocean at sundown, hence the name. But while it still evokes that identity, I find the watch more reminiscent of cloudy days at rocky beaches, such as Valugan Boulder Beach in the Philippines or Chesil Beach in the United Kingdom. Either way, it’s an absolute looker.
Anchors Aweigh
Sadly, those looks don’t fully extend to an open caseback. But given the robust nature of the dive watch, that was always to be expected. Behind the caseback’s anchor logo, though, lies a capable automatic movement in the form of the Calibre TH31-01. Instead of the previous TH50-00 Solargraph movement, the mechanical Calibre TH31-01 comes to life with a 4Hz (28,800VpH) beat rate and a generous 80-hour power reserve.
In terms of its specifications alone, this is essentially the same movement found in the most recent TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 models unveiled in 2024, just without the date function. Still, manufactured in collaboration with AMT, the upscale wing of prolific movement maker Sellita, it packs a serious horological punch.
Not only does it offer more than three days’ worth of power, but it also delivers COSC-certified chronometer accuracy. Yet another feather in TAG Heuer’s already well-decorated cap, and a show of commitment to watchmaking from the team at Time+Tide.
Initial Thoughts
With Australia’s watch market rapidly emerging, it’s always good to know there are other enthusiasts out there beyond your immediate circles. Having had the pleasure of meeting members of their team, both domestic (Hi, Alex!) and international (Hi, Meighan!), it’s clear that Time+Tide are just as enthusiastic about the watch world as we are.
Their association with TAG Heuer in the Australian market has also allowed both brands to draw inspiration from the region, having now crafted two pieces that encapsulate a distinctly Aussie identity. But with the Sundowner II, that identity has expanded to include a globally appealing sense of adventure, one that will resonate with collectors everywhere. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if these fly off the shelves.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | WBP5185.BF0010 (Bracelet) WBP5184.FT6257 (Strap) |
| Dimensions | 42mm case diameter x 48mm lug-to-lug x 12mm thickness |
| Case | Grade 2 titanium |
| Dial | Sunray-brushed black with wave motif, rose gold accents, & double-signed TAG Heuer/Time+Tide logos |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Closed, engraved with Time+Tide Logo |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. TH31-01 with COSC Chronometer certification |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 300m / 30bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Titanium bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp Cut-to-adjust black rubber strap with micro-adjustable folding clasp |