After releasing two successful collections, the Resolute and the Endeavour, RZE watches introduced an ultra-tough titanium mecha-quartz chronograph: The RZE Valour, coming in 3 colors. Unlike the Endeavour and Resolute, that both use automatic movements, the Valour uses a Meca-Quartz movement. This particular movement has a mechanical chronograph module paired with the quartz base movement, which provides you with the feel of a mechanical chronograph, which we will go into in detail later. Maybe even more important is the fact, that it is a light-weight solid titanium watch with a very special titanium surface for such a reasonable price for only 369€ / $436 incl. 19% VAT (310.08€ / $366.39 excl. VAT). RZE is onto the third success, let’s have a closer look on these new models in this hands-on review.
RZE Valour Crusader White wrist shot (wrist circumference: 18 cm / 7″)
Sharp edges of the case and sharply sloping lugs make the 42mm case width and a case thickness of 12.5mm wear like a max. 40mm watch and can be easily worn on 16-18cm wrists.
The Valour has a sharp-defined edgy tonneau-shaped case and its chronograph pushers are nicely integrated into the case which form the crown guards protecting the screw-down crown. These rectangular pushers are almost invisible when wearing the watch, which is a very aesthetic design feature. Big round standing out chrono pushers would have destroyed the overall edgy and modern look of the watch, so RZE designed this important part of the watch very well.
UltraHex™ coating
RZE’s proprietary titanium hard coating is called UltraHex™ and is applied to all their watches, which greatly increases the strength of the usually easily scratchable titanium surface. This special treatment makes the surface 8-times harder than stainless steel and prevents simple oxidation.
Interestingly, this model drops out the going seconds indicator, which removes any visual indication this is actually a quartz chronograph. Without the “ticking” seconds hand, you could almost fool yourself into believing it has a mechanical heart. With the rapid-stepping chronograph seconds hand (that advances five times per second), it’s not an illusion that is entirely broken by using the chronograph. A clever and thoughtful decision.
The sub-dials display elapsed minutes at 9 o’clock…
Mecha-Quartz Movement
the RZE Valour is powered by a Seiko SII VK64 mecha-quartz chronograph movement. Seiko was the first watch manufacturer to present this hybrid at Baselworld in 1986 and has continued to develop it to this day. It combines the functions of a quartz- and mechanical movement; For the daily operation the quartz movement controls the accurate timekeeping. A battery feeds the movement with energy, which is regulated by a quartz crystal with an accuracy of + – 10 to 30 seconds per month. (For comparison: a mechanical watch has an accuracy of approx. + – 6 to 10 seconds a day.) The flyback chronograph is then activated mechanically. When the chronograph does its laps, it is nice to see that it moves fluently with five ticks a second like a mechanical watch.
…and a 24 hour indicator at 3 o’clock
Another advantage of the movement that should not be underestimated is that it ticks extremely quietly. Furthermore it allows for a much slimmer and lightweight watch design while keeping production costs low, as well as better durability and reliability.
All three models have sharp applied hour markers with a double index at 12 o’clock. They’re filled with white Swiss Superluminova BGW9, as are the hour and minute hands with a blue glow in the dark.
The soft and comfortable FKM Rubber strap is the same as our WB Original Classic Rubber Straps and can therefore be easily exchanged with every color you like. Even the original titanium clasp can be reused on our straps.
RZE Valour Titanium Buckle on a Black Classic Rubber Strap
The RZE Valour is available in three colors:
1. Crusader White
With its neutral white and black colors it’s a classic so called “panda dial” and offers the light blue details a perfect stage. Its fresh appearance suits the light titanium wearing comfort and makes it the perfect summer watch. The hands are brushed like at all models, but depending on how the light falls to it and might reflect on them, the readability decreases because of the as well white Superluminova filling above the white dial. Black hands and indices could improve the readability.
2. Vintage Salmon
The a salmon-colored dial has a subtle roughened structure, that gives it a nice matte-shiny finish. Black sub-dials, black dial prints and date-wheel offer a great contrast and is rounded off by the black rubber strap.
RZE Valour Vintage Salmon – (wrist circumference: 16,5 cm / 6,5″), Photo: @bowlofsalmon
3. GT Black
The matte black dial matches the matte black titanium DLC-coating of the case perfectly, with brilliant flashes of orange on the sub-dials and central chronograph seconds hand. Perfectly balanced in colors and contrast, the black date wheel with its white numerals is almost invisible in the overall composition of the dial.
RZE GT Black – Photo: @wristrockers
Specifications
- Solid Titanium with ULTRAHex/DLC-Black Coating (up to ~1200Hv hardness)
- 42mm case width
- 12.5mm case thickness
- 48mm case length /lug-to-lug
- 20mm lug width tapers to 18mm at buckle
- SII VK64 Mecaquartz Movement
- 200m (660ft) / 20ATM water resistance
- Screw-down crown with custom reverse engraved logo
- Sand textured dials with applied indexes
- Swiss Superluminova BGW9
- Sapphire Crystal with inner-side Super-AR
- Premium FKM (Fluroelastomer) rubber strap with quick release buckle
- Optional: Solid Titanium bracelet with ULTRAHex/DLC-Black Coating (with 316L stainless steel buckle in titanium coating)
- Screw-down solid titanium caseback
- Included extras: Tarpaulin watch pouch
- 369€ / $436 incl. 19% VAT (310.08€ / $366.39 excl. VAT)
- More info at RZE Watches
RZE Valour Strap Guide by WatchBandit
