As ani-digi watches are enjoying a (minor) comeback, the market for full digital watches from the same brands may be heating up as well. This week, we’re seeing a new release from RZE called the UTD (UltraHex Titanium Digital) 8000 that goes all in on a full digital module within a titanium case. RZE has made a name for themselves with bold, sometimes colorful tool watches across a range of genres, and the UTD-8000 takes things a step further by placing a digital screen within the 41mm confines of a titanium case and bracelet. The brand has even gone so far as designing their own module for this watch.
RZE has developed the UTD-8000 in the “Canadian North” in an effort to validate this platform in the most robust way possible. The module itself was built to remain operational in extreme environments, while remaining resistant to water, dust, corrosion, and shock. If you’re going the full digital route, these are the kinds of expectations that come with the territory. The bona fides are there, but it’s also important that the watch remain as approachable as possible to remain usable in more than just extreme conditions.
To that end, the case measures 41mm at the bezel, and 42mm at the case, remaining broadly palatable, and the total thickness is 13.4mm, a touch larger than we’d like to see when using a quartz module such as this. Regardless, the frame within reason and this has no aspirations of being versatile with all ends of your wardrobe. This is a tool watch through and through, and you can easily get away with wearing it with your weekend lounge wear on the side (the true realm of the tool watch?).
The UDT-8000 is being offered in three different configurations: the BK with a negative display; the MY with a yellow frame; and the NB with a dark blue frame. The dial itself is split into three sections displaying the day at the top, the time in the middle, and the date at the bottom. Different modes, such as a calendar, alarms, and a stopwatch are accessible through a button at the bottom left, as you’d expect. The other buttons manage the lighting situation, and the nested complications.
The case and bracelet are typically geometric in nature as we’ve seen from RZE previously, bringing a high level of character to the watch to differentiate from others in the category. Large screws appear to be holding a non-functional bezel in place, driving home the “tough as nails tool watch” vibes.
It’s great to see a brand like this taking a quartz module so seriously to develop a watch such as this, and while the market may still be developing for such a product, it’s going to take leaders to forge a path and set a precedent. The RZE UTD-8000 will be available for pre-order beginning March 20th, at 9:00am ET for the launch price of $169 on a custom elastic strap, or for $329 on a full titanium bracelet. RZE