RZE UTD-8000: A Rugged Digital Alternative to the Usual Suspects
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
When a watch brand has been hyped enough, I tend to approach it like a movie everyone swears is the “best thing ever”, with excitement but I’m also bracing for the disappointment I feel at the end of every Wes Anderson movie (he’s weird for the sake of being weird…it’s not charming and doesn’t add anything…I’m not apologizing). RZE is one of those names that keeps popping up in my watch-o-sphere, usually in the context of rugged tool watches that are tough and adventure-ready. The kind of watches I usually admire from afar, but are typically not for me.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
The UTD 8000 supersized me. This was my first RZE experience, and instead of dipping their toes into the digital realm, RZE went for the cannonball. This watch is a beast all its own and I can see why it’s made such an impression on the community.
It’s not perfect, let’s get that out of the way early. There are some comfort quirks, especially when you line it up next to G-Shocks. But flaws aside, the UTD 8000 is exciting. This microbrand release is, overall, quite special, and I imagine we’ll see many future iterations.
The Case and Finishing: Block Party Chic
RZE has never done “subtle,” and the UTD 8000 isn’t about to start. At 42mm wide and 13.4mm thick. This thing is a brick, but a mostly wearable one. The squared-off, angular profile gives off a toolish feel, but it’s also quite fashionable compared to other digital tool watches. It’s like a fashion accessory that you can also throw at a wall. In fact, I believe that RZE had early reviewers purposely try to beat this watch to hell.
The UltraHex-coated titanium case is where RZE shines with all of its watches. Every watch they release is composed of this case material. The blasted matte finish and scratch resistance elevate this style of watch above its competitors, often themselves made of resin. Everything feels deliberate, and you get the sense that RZE actually cares about offering something different.
Now to the caseback. It’s like they chopped off the tippy top of Mount Everest, flipped it over, and then made me wear it. It feels fine on the bracelet, but if you’re wearing it on any strap that passes underneath, it’s a bit wobbly on the wrist. It’s not a dealbreaker; however, it’s definitely something you’re going to notice, especially if you have a smaller wrist.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
The Dial and Hands: LCD and Proud of It
There’s no ani-digi bullshittery here. All we’ve got is a crisp, large LCD digital display. The contrast is sharp, at least on the version I’ve tried (negative displays TBD). This is the watch for those of you who haven’t learned to tell time on a traditional clock face, I hear that’s a real issue in schools nowadays.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
RZE also did a fine job framing the display and breaking it up into sections. You have the day of the week at the top, the time in the middle, and the date at the bottom when the watch is in the main settings.
Strap and Bracelet: Titanium > Everything Else
The bracelet is where the UTD 8000 had me smiling like a friggin idiot. It’s also made from the same lightweight titanium as the case. It has great articulation and is well worth the extra money. It looks excellent and provides the watch with a sense of balance, and even makes the caseback situation easier to live with. On the bracelet, the UTD 8000 wears way better than its dimensions suggest.
Of course, I had to have a bit of a fashion show with straps. On double-pass fabric, the watch looks fantastic at first, like it’s ready to storm the beaches, and then you notice the added height. With 13.4mm of thickness already, stacking fabric under the caseback turns the UTD 8000 into a full stack of pancakes. It’s not a weight problem because the titanium keeps it light; it’s just a matter of appearance when viewed from the side. It just sort of hovers there.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
RZE offers fabric options, but I recommend sticking with the bracelet. It’s the best version of the watch, both visually and functionally, and is the best of what RZE offers, even if it does bump the price up a bit.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
The Movement and Caseback: Brains and Brawn (With a Bump) *
Inside, you’re getting a quartz digital module that I believe was made exclusively for RZE. The module displays time, alarm, stopwatch, date, and a backlight. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here, other than the watch itself. Navigating the functions is pretty intuitive if you’ve ever handled a Casio. The buttons are clearly defined and responsive. All perfectly executed, with nothing that feels out of place.
The caseback is a screw-down and made of titanium as well. It’s deeply engraved marking the 200 meters of water resistance. The rest we’ve already gone over.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
It may not sit snugly on the wrist like most G-Shocks, but it completes the tool-watch aesthetic and offers more than enough water resistance.
Closing Thoughts: Microbrand Muscle in Digital Form
The RZE UTD 8000 was my first encounter with the brand, and I get the hype now. The watch is solid and offers something compelling and affordable in a genre sorely lacking alternatives.
What struck me most is how it differentiates itself from obvious competitors. It seems like a more luxurious response to most of what’s on the market simply because of RZE’s impeccable case and bracelet construction.
If you want a watch that feels engineered rather than decorated, the UTD 8000 is worth your attention. For me, it was the perfect entry point into RZE, and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of their other pieces moving forward.
Photo by Chris Antzoulis
Specifications:
Dimensions - 42mm diameter, 13.4mm thickness. 49.5mm lug-to-lug.
Lug Width - 20mm
Materials - Solid Grade 2 Titanium with UltraHex™ Coating
Crystal - Sapphire
Water Resistance - 200 meters
Movement - Custom UTD-8000 Multi-Function Digital Module with 3-year battery life
Price - At the time of writing: $250 on an elastic strap. $445 on the titanium bracelet.
***Transparency***: This watch was borrowed from a fellow RedBar Virginia Beach member who purchased the watch for themselves. There was no collaboration with RZE and no exchange of product or money.
REMEMBER, nerds…. to keep the comments clean. Please don’t make me pull out ole Abraham-Louis here.
