Auch verfügbar auf 
Deutsch
TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer as a GMT in Pepsi dress is one of the most popular divers that the Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches currently has on the market. Read about all important details of the Aquaracer with world time function here in the test!
Your online store for luxury watches: the Uhrenlounge
Nowadays, luxury watches from well-known manufacturers are usually bought on the Internet. Especially here, however, it is important to find a suitable and reputable provider. This time I cooperated again with the Uhrenlounge of Aika Juweliere Dresden, who kindly provided me with the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi. Uhrenlounge is he best when it comes to ordering your new timepiece securely and quickly online. In addition, there is a good customer service that you can turn to. A look at the homepage is worth it! The Uhrenlounge has more than twenty selected brands on its site. Everybody should find what he is looking for. You can also order TAG Heuer’s Aquaracer 300M Calibre 7 GMT Automatic in the iconic Pepsi design. As always, you’ll find all the important links at the end of this review!
What you need to know about the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi …
2019 is the year that TAG Heuer introduced its Aquaracer GMT Pepsi. And in fact, it is the first time in TAG Heuer’s history to launch an Aquaracer watch that has a GMT function and features the two-tone bezel in red and blue. GMT watches have been more common in the Aquaracer collection, yeah. But in this look? As you might expect, there was a rush of fans at the launch. Die-hard TAG Heuer supporters in particular were well aware of the distinctive two-tone bezel design, affectionately known in the lingo as “Pepsi” in reference to the soft drink giant’s logo. Historically, it can be traced back to the Autavia GMT, a sort of ancestor that TAG Heuer carried in its model lineup in the 1960s. And even its blue-red bezel was used on Rolex’s GMT Master back in the ’50s.
With the Aquaracer 300M Calibre 7 GMT Automatic, as the watch is officially called, TAG Heuer has returned to the classic GMT look. In the past years, the Swiss company had tried different systems such as magnetic bezels or the so-called rotating disc system. The timeless design of the new GMT Pepsi is a return to the old values.
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi in the unboxing
Reason enough to take a closer look at the watch with the reference number WAY201F.BA0927. Within a few days, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi found its way from the Uhrenlounge warehouse quickly and easily onto my desk. From a white package, I retrieve a black box whose silver lettering immediately reveals from which manufacturer the watch comes. The box, in turn, contains a warranty booklet as well as another box whose surface texture feels slightly rubberized and makes a high-quality impression. So I open the box once again as well. Now the TAG Heuer Diver finally comes to light. I take it out of its box, securely wrapped. Then I free the watch from its foil.
The first impression
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi makes an incredibly high-quality impression. Stainless steel surfaces of the case shimmer brilliantly when I turn the watch in the light and examine it from all sides. The matching silver bracelet is still covered by a blue protective film.
The most striking feature is certainly the design of the bezel, which functions as a countdown bezel, befitting a diver. Dark blue on top, red on the bottom. Similar to the Pepsi logo, even though the colors are arranged in reverse there! This look may take some getting used to at first. Still, I can see why so many people love the distinctive color design.
The workmanship seems excellent at first glance. To be honest, you can expect that from a TAG Heuer diver’s watch from the luxury segment. I press the crown and wind the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi for the first time. The second hand does not tick, it runs extremely smoothly. This is an indication of the quality of the Calibre 7, which I will come to in a moment. The data sheet promises a lot more besides the GMT function: illuminated hands and indices, water resistance up to 300 meters, a modified automatic movement and much more!
Hands On! The TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi on the wrist
One of the most important things, however, is that the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi also looks good on the wrist. I unfold the bracelet’s folding clasp and put the watch on. With 43 millimeters, TAG Heuer’s GMT Aquaracer doesn’t exactly look small on the slim wrist. The Diver is a timepiece that wants to stand out. And it does. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that the design of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi is very versatile. It just doesn’t look technical, but chic. As a result, the watch not only enhances any wetsuit, but also various business outfits and suits that I am trying on. Anyway the GMT Aquaracer is not a reserved and discreet watch; you should be aware of that when buying it. However, the versatility I attest to stands out positively. What about the qualities as a diving watch?
The case: Proven shape with good quality
The experienced TAG Heuer customer won’t call it a big surprise. TAG Heuer’s new Aquaracer uses a familiar case. The round stainless steel case with a 43 millimeters diameter is the same one that the manufacturer uses in the other Aquaracers of the 300M series. A critic might call this standard case boring. In my opinion, it makes perfect sense for TAG Heuer to stick to the tried-and-true shape. It is one of the distinguishing features of the diving watch collection. However, there is one small innovation. The surfaces are now partly polished and partly brushed, providing a fresh coat of paint.
However, other characteristics are decisive for the case of a diver’s watch. It has to be durable and robust, withstand salt water and protect the inner workings from impacts and sharp objects. The stainless steel that TAG Heuer uses here can withstand quite a bit. Unattractive scratches are not easily scratched into this material. The case is water resistant up to a pressure of 30 bar! Such a water pressure even allows a theoretical diving depth of 300 meters. Thus, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi puts a number of competitors in the shade. Since the world record for a scuba diver is only 332 meters anyway, these values should be more than enough.
Crown, watch crystal and case back
The screw-down stainless steel crown has turned out to be large enough that you can comfortably operate it and set the time. A special praise: if you turn it, you’ll notice that it has a slight play. This solves an often annoying problem that everyone knows. You want to fine-tune the time, turn, and the minute hand shoots way too far forward. TAG Heuer has solved that here, in my opinion, simply and intelligently, as you can move the hand more finely.
The watch crystal is not particularly standout, but it is reliable and secure. The sapphire that TAG Heuer uses protects the movement and dial from enormous pressure and other external influences. In the data sheet of the diving watch, I could not find any special modification with, for example, various anti-reflective coatings. Nevertheless, I could not determine a poor legibility due to reflections in the watch glass.
I especially like the case back. This is a six-fold screwed, solid stainless steel case back. However, instead of installing a viewing window or printing the company name on it, as is usually the case, TAG Heuer has opted for a charming decoration. Emblazoned in the center is an engraved old diver’s helmet, the kind used until the 20th century. These are the little details that I appreciate and love in watches. The specifications of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi are also neatly engraved on the caseback.
Calibre 7: The Movement
Calibre 7 is the name TAG Heuer has given to the automatic movement inside the Aquaracer 300M GMT. The base caliber is a Swiss-made ETA 2893-2. It has been slightly modified for the GMT display. With dimensions of 25.6 millimeters in diameter and 4.1 millimeters in height, it is quite compact. With 21 jewels, the Calibre 7 reaches a frequency of 28800 vibrations per hour. And if you ever don’t wear the watch for a day, you won’t have to wind it right back up the next morning. 42 hours of power reserve is solid.
In my research, I found out that the first models of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi supposedly had other movements installed, such as an ETA 2893-A2 or a SW330-1. If this distinction is important to you, you should check the spec sheet when you buy the watch to see which automatic movement serves as the base caliber for the Calibre 7.
The dial of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi
Just like the case, the GMT Pepsi also shares its dial with the sister models of the other 300M Aquaracer watches. Small changes like the red “Calibre 7 GMT” lettering and the matching red GMT hand nevertheless stand out. The sheer size of the dial is certainly impressive. Immediately eye-catching is the black surface, which has a horizontally running structure. The applied indices are minimalist stripes, as known from most diving watches. Under water, it’s the readability that counts. To improve this even more, the striped indices are almost oversized. Their borders look very noble, their polished surfaces reflecting brilliantly.
The centerpiece: the Pepsi bezel
The minute scale is located on the slightly highlighted rehaut. To ensure optimum readability even at night and in poor visibility conditions, the indices and hands are coated with a luminous material. Their effect unfolds impressively as soon as it is dark. The cyclops magnifier above the date window at 3 o’clock is very practical. This feature is reserved only for the 300M divers from the Aquaracer collection, while other models have to do without the magnifier. Whether you like the design element or not is a matter of taste. Personally, I like it a lot and it reminds me of Rolex watches.
The centerpiece of the front, however, is the red-blue Pepsi bezel, the design of which I like more and more as time goes on. The colors are rich and make an extremely high-quality impression. For the bezel material, TAG Heuer relies on lightweight aluminum, which saves quite a bit of weight overall. In the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi design, the bezel acts as a second hour display for world time, which is measured by the red GMT hand. I’ll get to these functions in a moment. There is nothing to complain about in terms of quality. The clicks engage cleanly and provide good haptic feedback.
How do I use the GMT function?
TAG Heuer has opted for the classic way of reading and uses the bezel to set the 24 hour time of the selected time zone. The GMT function is especially useful when traveling. While the main dial here shows the time of my location, I can read the time of my home on the bezel in parallel. Now how do I set it?
The crown of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi has three positions. Position 2 changes the date and the position of the GMT hand. Position 3, on the other hand, is pulled out to move the main dial hands. If the crown is in position 2, turn the crown counterclockwise to change the date and clockwise to move the GMT hand forward. Caution. Date and GMT hand can only be moved forward, not backward.
My tip: set the GMT hand when the minute hand is at 12 o’clock. Then you can move the GMT hand to the exact hour marker and be sure that the GMT time is exact.
A second option would be to simply turn the bezel until the desired hour marker is exactly where the GMT hand is at the moment. However, I find the first method much more elegant.
The bracelet of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi – with diver extension
Finally, we turn our attention to the bracelet. There are no choices here. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi comes with a stainless steel bracelet as standard. Admittedly, this is also by far the best looking. As befits a true Aquaracer, the GMT variant also has a diver’s extension, which you shouldn’t do without on dives. If you open the folding clasp, you have a few centimeters more circumference available, so that the watch also fits over a wetsuit. Fortunately, there is a fine-tuning feature that allows for three different adjustment points when wearing the watch with a diver’s extension.
I really liked the wearing comfort for a stainless steel bracelet.
My conclusion on the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi.
It’s not necessarily surprising that the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi is one of the Swiss manufacturer’s most popular watches. There is nothing to be said against this premium segment diver’s watch. The quality of workmanship is as usual good. Just typical TAG Heuer. How could you have expected it otherwise. Admittedly, I had to get used to the red-blue Pepsi design first. In the meantime, however, I like it quite well.
So who is this watch suitable for? The question can be answered easily. For all those who want to enjoy the advantages of a diver’s watch and at the same time do not want to do without elegance in everyday life. Because this is one of the hobbyhorses of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi. Here it is also worth mentioning that the watch offers an exceptional price-performance ratio. In the Uhrenloung store, the diver costs 2900 euros as of February 2021. For this, you get a luxurious and very good diving watch from a renowned manufacturer.
Finally, my thanks once again to the Uhrenlounge for the cooperative partnership. You can find the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi in the Uhrenlounge store here.
Gallery
More about the TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi
TAG Heuer Aquaracer GMT Pepsi at the watch lounge
More diving watches on WATCHDAVID
