RZE Updates The Resolute Line With A New Desert Tan Colorway For Its Tough Titanium Field Watch
The RZE Resolute is getting a fresh coat of color. Today, the brand introduces a new Desert Tan colorway for the Resolute and reintroduces Urban Teal and Arctic Grey. Starting the year off strong is not something most brands do. It’s a tradition for Switzerland’s watch industry to go into a state of hazy hibernation each winter. This will end soon, with an exciting roster of releases lined up for debut over the coming weeks. But in the meantime, while the seasonal lull remains, agile and tireless micro/independent brands like RZE are making the most of the opportunity. With some of the classic colorways discontinued, it’s great to see RZE bring back some color to this brilliant value proposition.
This introduction of a new dial color (and the reintroduction of two classic ones) comes shortly after the December introduction of the Resolute Pro. If you’ve been keeping up with RZE, you’ll know that the Resolute line has been around for over three years before this latest upgrade. That’s three years of the brand offering a rugged, well-specced, slim, and affordable titanium tool watch. The EDC (everyday carry) community’s adoption of the brand’s watches among a select group of reliable favorites already hints at what one might expect. I had the opportunity to spend quality time with these new RZE Resolute models and was genuinely impressed. Let’s see precisely what makes these watches worth paying close attention to in 2024.
The RZE Resolute
My first impressions of the RZE Resolute are rather positive. There’s a tangible sense of rugged purposefulness to the watches. It’s plain to see that these have been designed with indiscriminate daily use in mind and packed with nice features like a flat sapphire crystal and an impressively slim (10.5mm) case. Unlike many microbrands that commonly opt for a vintage-inspired aesthetic, the Resolute is unapologetically modern. Sure, it’s a general-purpose field watch, but it doesn’t align with any stereotypes. There are no cathedral hands, 24-hour scales, or fauxtina. And specs-wise, it ticks a lot of boxes, from its AR-coated sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance to the use of the ever-reliable Miyota 90S5 premium automatic movement, which hacks, hand-winds, and features a 42-hour power reserve.
The Resolute measures 38mm wide at the bezel and 40mm across the case. It features a universally wearable 46mm lug-to-lug span, drilled lug holes, and a 20mm strap width. It’s concocted from Grade 2 titanium and features a handy UltraHex coating. This provides additional surface hardness and scratch resistance. These watches had clearly already been tested and worn yet presented no visible scratches. This was especially impressive on the titanium bracelet (fitted to the Arctic Grey model), the clasp of which was entirely pristine. On the wrist, the watches are unsurprisingly quite comfortable, both on the canvas strap and the bracelet. This is partly due to the lightweight construction, totaling 58 grams on the strap and 98 grams on the bracelet (sized to my 17.5cm wrist).
The Arctic Grey version of the dial is the older 2022 version (with the 3-6-9 dial layout) and is for comparison purposes. The Arctic Grey color is continuing in the new and updated 2024 version but with the baton-style hour markers.
New colors and new tricks
The main novelty today for the Resolute is the Desert Tan colorway. However, the Arctic Grey and Urban Teal are also making a comeback. As you can see, the Resolute is available in two well-balanced dial variants. There’s a 3-6-9 dial and a more minimalist version. Unlike the Pro, the logo is printed (not applied) onto the matte dial surface. All three colorways feature a light vignette, fading into a darker shade towards the edges. It’s a solid look that, coupled with the lume-filled and brushed applied markers, creates great depth and dynamism. The Resolute’s hands are also brushed and filled with Super-LumiNova. The split markers at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock feature a dot of green lume for added low-light legibility. Besides that, the dials have only two lines of text on the lower half and the brand’s logo below 12 o’clock.
Finally, I want to touch upon the bracelet. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t come as a standard option for the RZE Resolute. Only the Resolute Pro comes on the bracelet by default. However, it is available as an option (for an added cost). If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, I can only say that the bracelet was impressive, especially given the price. I love the look of the H-link construction and how the quick-release end links fit the case perfectly. The bracelet also has a 20–16mm taper, and its clasp is one of the better ones I’ve experienced from a watch at this price point. It clicks reassuringly into place and has a relatively slim profile, and its push buttons feel solid. Links can be easily added or removed with a small flat-head screwdriver, and the built-in ratcheting micro-adjustment system is top-notch.
Final thoughts
One final detail worth mentioning is the beautifully machined and signed crown. It’s extremely grippy and screws smoothly into the case, giving that extra bit of reassurance. Overall, the RZE Resolute seems to be one of the most complete package deals in the microbrand world for less than €500. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better option if you’re looking for an adventure-ready watch with solid specs and a workhorse movement. Prices for the Resolute start at US$529 on the strap (just under €490). These three colorways are available starting today on the RZE website and include free worldwide shipping.
Please note that the Arctic Grey version of the dial displayed in this article is the older version (with the 3-6-9 dial layout). The updated 2024 Resolute will feature the same markers you see on the Desert Tan and Urban Teal dials.
With plenty of great watches under its belt, we look forward to seeing what RZE has in store for us in 2024. In the meantime, please share your thoughts on the Resolute in the comments below.
