Hands-On: The New RZE Fortitude GMT-S With Vivid Blue And Gray Sunburst Dials

By now, you probably know we’re fans of RZE here at Fratello. The brand’s titanium watches are affordable, and they all have a strong explorer attitude. The RZE Fortitude GMT is a proper pilot’s watch that allows you to track an additional time zone. Today, the new RZE Fortitude GMT-S debuts, with the capital “S” for “sunburst,” I guess. That’s because both the new gray and blue versions feature a shiny sunburst dial. Let’s take a look at these new additions to RZE’s Fortitude GMT collection.

I’ve worn our RZE × Fratello Resolute Pro “Contour” for a few days, and I was impressed with its detailing and comfort. Now, I’ll be very honest with you: RZE’s styling is not usually my cup of tea. It’s a bit too rough and modern for me. However, I can certainly understand why these watches are so popular. The features you get for the price are impressive, and the designs are very coherent. Besides, once in a while, it’s nice to go hands-on with a watch that’s not necessarily up your alley. It makes you look at things from a different angle. So, here’s my perspective on the new RZE Fortitude GMT-S.

The RZE Fortitude GMT-S

RZE’s Fortitude is the brand’s pilot’s watch. Its 41mm case is made of Grade 2 titanium, just like its three-row bracelet. The 12mm thickness is quite impressive when you take into account that this is an automatic watch with a flyer GMT complication. In addition, because of its 47mm lug-to-lug span, it wears quite well on wrists of various sizes. For example, it fits nicely on my 17cm wrist, and it’s also very comfortable due to its reduced weight.

The case and bracelet have a brushed satin finish and feature a scratch-resistant UltraHex coating. This coating has a hardness of 1,200 Vickers, which is eight times harder than 316L stainless steel. That means you don’t have to worry about wearing this watch anywhere because it can take a beating. It is a shame if you like your watches to age nicely over time, though. The RZE Fortitude GMT-S will simply stay young forever. The angled knurling on the bezel is a nice nod to the engines on an airplane, and they perfectly match the original design of the bracelet links.

I also love the big 8mm screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. It suits the Fortitude’s tool-watch character and is extremely easy to grip and operate. A nice addition is the red crown tube that warns you when the crown isn’t fully screwed down.

A proper flyer GMT

With that user-friendly crown, you can control the Miyota 9075 movement inside. As a flyer GMT, it features an independently adjustable 12-hour hand, which you can set according to the time zone you’re in. In addition, you can also track another time zone — usually home time — with the fourth hand. The automatic movement runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and holds a power reserve of a respectable 42 hours. Regarding accuracy, the movement should run somewhere between -10 and +30 seconds a day. The case back is all titanium and screws into the case, helping to keep the Fortitude GMT-S water resistant to 100 meters.

So, what’s new?

If you’re already familiar with the Fortitude, then the above shouldn’t really surprise you. But now we get to that capital “S,” which, in my mind, stands for “sunburst.” Both new versions of the RZE Fortitude come with a very vivid sunburst effect on the dial. I say “vivid” because there are subtle and not-so-subtle sunburst dials out there. These Fortitude dials are very much alive. That’s most apparent in the blue version as the hue is a very electric and bright one.

But even on the gray version, the sunburst effect is very prominent. When you move these watches about and let them play with the light, it creates a lot of depth on the dials. That’s also because the brushed hands and indexes play along nicely in this game of catching the light. I’m surprised by how sharply everything is finished on the dial. Look, for example, at the applied RZE logo or the frame around the asymmetrical date window at 6 o’clock. Some higher-end brands out there could learn a thing or two from those.

The hands of the RZE Fortitude GMT-S are also more uniform now compared to the earlier models. They’re all skeletonized and match the applied hour markers nicely. This, in combination with the sunburst finish, makes the RZE Fortitude GMT-S feel more sophisticated than its predecessor.

The “S” for “sophistication”

Overall, I feel the RZE Fortitude GMT-S is a very well-put-together package, especially at its price point. You get an all-titanium watch with a scratch-resistant coating, a flyer-style GMT movement, and a very attractive tool-watch design for well under €1,000. Oh, and did I mention that the bracelet comes with quick-release spring bars and toolless micro-adjustment? That’s impressive. I also like the new Fortitude GMT-S models a little better than the previous versions. They’re simply a bit easier on the eye and more coherent. My definite favorite is the one with the dark gray dial. The color matches the titanium case and bracelet very well, and I like the combination of it with the ochre-tone details.

In the end, I guess the “S” might actually stand for “sophistication,” but we might never know for sure. What I do know is that the new RZE Fortitude GMT-S in blue or gray is available now for $679, (taxes excluded) shipping on October 10th. For more information on the two new models, check out the brand’s official website.

Let me know in the comments below what you think of the new RZE Fortitude GMT-S.