The brand’s first digital, indestructible watch—built to withstand, well… basically anything life throws at it.
RZE is a watch brand from Singapore, started in early 2020 by Travis Tan, along with Vivian Tan and Clarence Chew. They launched their first watch, the Resolute, on Kickstarter — and it was fully funded in under six minutes.
RZE focuses on making tough, lightweight titanium tool watches with a clean, modern look. They’re built for everyday use — whether you’re diving, hiking, or just need a solid daily watch — and are priced fairly, usually between $400 and $700.
What makes RZE stand out is their use of titanium with a special scratch-resistant coating called UltraHex (more on that later), and their commitment to making watches that are both functional and stylish.
How did I first discover this model?
Well, it is a simple story really. While browsing YouTube, I came across some videos testing the UTD-8000 by running it over with cars, dropping it from high places(could handle a 10m fall), and putting it through all kinds of tough challenges. It immediately caught my eye and sparked my interest. Watching those videos, along with interviews with the brand’s founders, I just knew I had to get one and see it for myself.
I haven’t felt this excited about a digital watch in a long time. There’s something really special about how RZE has combined durability, style, some retro vibes and quality in a single package.
The UTD-8000 introduction
The UTD8000 is the very first digital watch ever made by the Singapore-based company, and instead of playing it safe, they decided to aim high right from the start by creating an indestructible digital watch. With this release, they’re taking on some of the biggest and most well-known names in the watch industry — something that’s usually quite a challenge, especially for a newcomer in this field.
It was designed and tested in the harsh conditions of the Canadian North, the UltraHex™ Titanium Digital (UTD) is built to withstand water(200m water resistance), dust, corrosion, scratches, shocks, drops and vibrations. It features an advanced custom module that remains fully functional even when exposed to extreme temperatures.
The UTD-8000 combines the exceptional comfort and reliability that RZE is known for with a lifetime-guaranteed, advanced multi-function module. It comes ready for adventure with a custom elasticized fabric strap and is also compatible with RZE’s UltraHex™ Titanium Bracelet which can be added to the package and really elevates the whole experience.
After all that introductions let’s dive into it, shall we?
The watch is available in many colorways(I have the blue one):
- Black(UTD-8000-BK)
- Yellow(UTD-8000-MY)
- Blue(UTD-8000-NB)
- Red(UTD-8000-FC) – limited edition
- Yellow with inverse display( UTD-8000-MYN)
The watch arrives in a special metal box made by the Japanese brand Toyo, which adds great value to the overall package. I’m a big fan of these toolboxes — they’re well-made and feel solid in hand.
As soon as I opened it, the first thing that caught my eye was the blue anodized ring around the digital display. It instantly gives the watch a more playful yet premium look. Somehow, the combination of blue with the titanium case works beautifully. It’s one of those watches that’s just a joy to look at.
The UTD-8000 is built from Grade 2 titanium with a matte sandblasted finish, giving it a rugged and modern look. To make it even tougher, RZE applies its proprietary UltraHex™ coating — a special hardening treatment inspired by the strength and efficiency of natural hexagon structures like honeycombs. This coating increases the surface hardness of the titanium to 1,200 Hv, making it up to eight times harder than stainless steel. The result is a lightweight, scratch-resistant watch that’s built to handle whatever adventure comes its way.
The UTD-8000’s case features a very complex multi-component construction. It is designed to keep the movement well-protected — and to back that up, RZE offers a lifetime warranty on the movement itself.
A flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface protects the display and enhances visibility. The LCD screen offers good legibility even from different angles, making it easy to read in various conditions. It features an aqua-marine, bluish LED backlight that ensures excellent visibility in low-light conditions. It lights up beautifully.
Operation is handled by four titanium pushers placed along the sides of the case. The bezel is secured by four screw-like pins that keep the structure intact.
The movement inside the UTD-8000 was developed exclusively with a partner factory that RZE works with. The same applies to its shock-resistant construction and case, which are also made specifically through this partnership.
In terms of features, it offers a day and date display, a stopwatch, and an alarm that you can set. It’s not overloaded with functions, but it has more than enough for everyday use.
Now my opinion here might be not that popular but think about that how many features do you really use while wearing a digital watch? Probably beside to check the time and date not many. Most of us wants to have a lot of cool functions that we tend not to use.
So some might say it lacks certain features, but honestly, I don’t really miss them. Besides the stopwatch, I rarely use any of the extras on most watches. Having a dedicated way to track a second time zone could be useful—especially when I visit my wife’s family in Vietnam, where keeping an eye on different times comes handy. In the end, though, it all depends on how you use your watch. Everyone has different needs, I guess I have less in this matter.
The bracelet
There’s one more thing I have to mention—the bracelet. By default, the watch comes with a comfortable elastic strap, unless you decide to pay extra for the titanium bracelet. The elastic strap is great: it fits easily on any wrist and feels very comfortable.
Despite of that if your budget allows, I highly recommend opting for the titanium bracelet. It looks absolutely stunning and feels like a seamless extension of the watch itself, offering exceptional comfort on the wrist.
The bracelet is lightweight, making it easy to wear all day without discomfort. Adjusting its size is simple thanks to the small screws holding the links together, which are easy to remove, and the micro-adjustment system is thoughtfully designed and user-friendly.
More than just comfort and fit, the titanium bracelet elevates the watch’s overall look and adds a strong sense of durability to the package. It truly looks and feels indestructible.
Final thoughts
I’ve seen many watch reviews and influencers compare this watch to the obvious choice—the G-Shock. While I understand the reasoning behind this comparison, since both are incredibly durable and nearly indestructible, I’d rather not put them in the same category. Just consider the vast financial resources and decades of experience that Casio has.
For a smaller brand like RZE to create something equally strong and tough, is truly impressive. Not to mention I had several Casios and the metal ones are scratch magnets basically.
On the other hand after nearly a month of daily wear, the UTD8000 still doesn’t have a single scratch. I’ve worn it for everyday “desk diving” at the office, taken it up into the mountains, used it while doing fieldwork, and even for working in the garden—yet it remains completely unmarked.
In my opinion, RZE has crafted something really special with this digital watch—one that can bring a lot of joy to any watch enthusiast. I love its design; it has a sort of retro vibe that really stands out. The craftsmanship of the case is breathtaking, and when you factor in the lifetime warranty on the watch’s module, it becomes a package that’s definitely unbeatable.
If you add the titanium bracelet as an extra, this watch becomes a companion built to last a lifetime. It can handle whatever life throws at it—extreme cold or heat, scratches, heavy bumps, and vibrations—making it a reliable partner for all your adventures.
All in all I could highly recommend this watch if you are in the search for a digital watch. I really think its a must have in every collection for us watch enthusiasts.
Specifications
- CASE: Solid Grade 2 Titanium with UltraHex™ Coating + Shock Resistance
- LIGHT: Aqua-marine LED Backlight (UltraGlow)
- MOVEMENT: Custom UTD-8000 Multi-Function Digital Module
- BATTERY: CR2032
- BATTERY LIFE: > 3 years
- WATER RESISTANCE: 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
- LENS: Sapphire crystal with inner-side Super-AR
- STRAP: Custom elasticized fabric strap
- BRACELET: Available with RZE titanium bracelet coated with UltraHex™ and QUIKCLIQ™ on-the-fly buckle
- CASE BACK: Screw secured titanium caseback
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