Hands-On with the RZE Fortitude GMT
RZE is a Canadian watch brand with a clear focus. They make watches for adventure that are as robust as they are good-looking. One of their top-tier products is the Fortitude GMT, a cleverly designed watch for people who like to go off the beaten pack when they travel. In this RZE they will have a faithful companion as it is created with harsh conditions in mind. This doesn’t mean at all that it is form follows function, as creating a thing of beauty seemed to have been equally important for the people at RZE.
This starts with the color of the dial that RZE calls ‘crimson red,’ which has a fume effect as it is much darker on the edges than it is in the middle. This works very well, as the slope chapter ring is black and has a 24-hour scale to support the GMT function. It is not only the color that makes the dial stand out but also the beautiful grainy texture. While it is normally not that exciting to examine watches in such a competitive price range under a loupe, I urge you to do so with the Fortitude GMT. Then you discover that you are actually looking at a sandwich dial and that the RZE logo, text, and numerals are not printed but in relief. There is enough luminous material to make this RZE also easy to read at night, and a fun detail is that the date is printed in orange, matching the GMT hand.
The bracelet is another thing of beauty, as it is very well crafted. It fits nicely in between the lugs and is fitted with a quick-release system in case you want to switch over to a strap. I can hardly think of a time when you want to do that, as the titanium bracelet is very comfortable and also comes with an easy-to-use micro-adjustment feature built into the robust clasp. There, we see that the people at RZE have a keen eye for detail, as the folding part of the clasp is engraved with the text ‘assembled for adventure.’
The caseback has a bit of an 80s vibe to it, as it lacks any decoration. Again, this is something that is done on purpose, as this is the only way that superb wearing comfort is ensured, as engravings can sometimes irritate the wrist. For a watch made for traveling and exploring, this is a key element. The text and RZE name are engraved quite shallowly but sharp. Here, we also see that inside ticks Miyota caliber 9075, a reliable automatic movement that runs at 4Hz. It allows you to adjust local time with one-hour increments when you pull the crown into the first position and the full setting of the hour and minutes when you go into the second position. There the seconds hand will also hack.
When unscrewing the crown, a red segment will be visible, a telltale that you need to screw it back to ensure the 100 meters/10 atm water resistance. With a diameter of 41mm, RZE has hit the sweet spot with the Fortitude GMT, especially as they combine it with a rather modest 12mm thickness. Because they use titanium, the overall weight with the bracelet included is a mere 120 grams. That titanium also comes with a special UltraHex coating, which is propriatory for RZE, which gives it a hardness eight times higher than stainless steel. While testing this watch extensively with normal daily wear, it still looks like new and also seems to be less prone to discoloration and fingerprints, as titanium sometimes tends to do.
All combined is the Fortitude GMT a very sophisticated watch. While it may be built for adventure, it is also particularly good-looking. Features such as the UltraHex coating and the overall excellent design make the watch a treat to wear under any circumstances, while its price of $699, doesn’t break the bank either.
For more info, visit RZE, here