RZE Endeavor - Blaueis
As always, I would like to begin with some history and a word from the company “RZE” and why the Sketchy Boyz have locked in a killer watch for review. The RZE Endeavor Blaueis. (Translation: Blaueis = Blue Ice)
A word directly from RZE’s Website:
“Since 2020, RZE has been dedicated to building timepieces for the everyday adventurer. Inspired by the use of titanium in the aerospace industry for its strength to weight ratio, each watch is crafted from solid UltraHEX™ titanium to ensure your adventure companion is capable of enduring the toughest conditions and escaping unscathed. From beaches to boardrooms, high tide, and desk dives, we are proud to be a part of your journey; We are #assembledforadventure.”
I was first introduced to RZE through listening to Ricos Watches Podcast over a year ago. I was thoroughly impressed by the interview/podcast and immediately started researching their company. What I found was a rock-solid micro brand that had a line up of watches built tough enough for the modern adventurer. Considering myself an amateur adventurer with a lifetime of travel into some of the most inhospitable terrain you can think of I strongly considered getting one of their watches in the collection. As time went on, I had not yet pulled the trigger. Until recently I was afforded the opportunity to review one of their watches by RZE themselves The Endeavor Blaueis. Which brings us to today.
I have had the watch for over a week now and I can tell you one thing its hard to take off. Not physically remove but to take it off and set it down and give other watches in my collection an opportunity to shine. I like to ensure I wear the watches I get to review for an extended period in as much diverse conditions as possible to ensure I give a well-informed review as possible.
So let us begin.
Day one. The RZE package arrives at my doorstep, and I pull out my trusty Swiss Army knife to unbox this legend of a micro brand timepiece. The slashed envelope reveals a small box containing a Titanium Pen very well executed with RZE’s logo on the clip and a black and yellow cardboard box with a personalized note in it along with an EDC pouch securing the Endeavor. Unzipping the EDC pouch which is of great construction and a clam shell style design with hook and loop patch I can already tell what I am in for. Opening the case, you find the Endeavor and a spare watch strap. I ensure to open the case near some natural light to truly let the dial shine. I knew it would be a stunner just from the beautiful images on RZE’s website.
In hand the watch is of course incredibly light being made of Titanium with a UltraHex Coating. The bracelet feels very well made and the links are quite flexible. Moving down from the head of the watch to the double push button clasp I was greeted by a quite versatile QuickCliq Buckle allowing for on-the-fly adjustments perfect for being active in any conditions as your wrist swells or shrinks. I threw the watch on and immediately stepped outside. That’s when I was able to truly get a good look at the fit and finish and see the watch for how it truly was meant to be seen. Outside in the wild.
The watch sat quite comfortably on the wrist once the bracelet was adjusted with a very much appreciate screwed links. Looking down at the time piece its hard to not let the dials texture steal the show. Starting from the outside working in. The bracelet as mentioned above is rock solid design and flexible not pulling on hair and the clasp is a breeze to operate and micro adjust to your wrist’s current circumference. Where the bracelet meets the head of the watch has a Quick Release Spring bar that with some practice is a breeze to operate and make strap changes effortless. The secondary strap is a robust HexaFlex strap that is moulded from 100% flouro-rubber and capable of withstanding exposure to chemicals and extreme temperatures. I cannot explain the feeling when I look at the Endeavor other than I feel like I am ready to take on any adventure but also, I am ready to take on some architectural drawings and develop a plan of attack on building a project in my current profession. It gives you a sense of do it all watch that has a killer finish.
Running your fingers along the case and bracelet you feel the UlraHex Coated Titanium robustness that has this very pleasant “chalky” feeling. The case finishing is very well done, and all the chamfers and edges are seamlessly executed. Sporting a 20MM lug width this watch is ready to support a wide range of aftermarket straps. Although I think the Bracelet and back up rubber strap will never need replacing it may be fun to throw a leather strap on and class it up for a formal evening.
Looking down at the watch face you see a very well-done titanium engraved count up bezel with a blueish black inlay of paint. The bezel has a downward slope away from the crystal and has a very tactile coin edge finish. The operation of the bezel is a ratcheting 120 click unidirectional with very minimal to no back play. At the 60 Minute mark there is a loomed Triangle making timing with the bezel in low light conditions very legible. The Endeavor sports a Sapphire Crystal with inner-side Super-AR completely mitigating any form of glare. Under the Sapphire is a well laid out and proportioned dial. The hour indices are applied to the dial and all very liberally inlaid with Swiss Superluminova C3 and BGW9. The twelve, six and nine reminds me of an old pill from Nintendo era Doctor Mario being two separate colours to help with orientation, all other indices matching with one colour. The chapter ring is a simple printed white given stark contrast to the dial and giving you a sense of accuracy. The date window is very well done with a bevel octagonal style frame and a contrasting date making it easy to read. On to the hands, pencil shaped and simple but keeping it on task. They do their job brilliantly with the hour hand reaching the hour indices and the minute hands sharp point just grazing the printed chapter ring. They are semi brushed finish with lume throughout the entire hand. The second’s hand is thin with a lumed lollipop style marker just shy of the tip given you great legibility in low light. The branding is printed in white on a raised shape of their logo as to not interfere with the dials incredible finish giving it an exceptionally clean but subtle presentation. The RZE’s logo sits just bellow the 12 o’clock indices and 200M/600ft Automatic sit above the 6 o’clock indices balancing out the printing flawlessly.
The Dial. I had to do a separate paragraph for the dial to truly hammer home the beauty of the Endeavor Blaueis. From the website it says “Glacier Texture” dial which goes along with RZE’s claims and serious proof they are an adventure-based company. But to me it reminds me of something different and the reason I picked this specific model. If you have ever been in a Helicopter over water at height or even low enough in a plane where the clouds do not obstruct your view or the ocean you get this vast emptiness feeling with a world to explore sub surface. Once explained its hard to un-sea right? Get it UN-SEA. Sorry poor attempt at humor. Back on task the dial is again executed to perfection. You do not see this in many micro brands giving you a sense of rugged luxury, wrapped in an extremely tough case.
Bellow the dial is the NH35A (With Date) Automatic movement mention in many forums as a work horse Japanese movement. The NH35A features 24 jewels, a 41-hour power reserve, 21,600 bph and a rated accuracy of -20 to +40 seconds per day. The NH35A Is made by Seiko and is known as the unbranded movement. Some watch snobs may look at -20 to +40 seconds a day as a little much but to me, a guy that will jump off cliffs, crash bikes, and run this watch into every environment you can think of its perfect. I’m not timing rocket engines firing re entering the earths atmosphere here. It fits my lifestyle, and I see no issues with the movement chosen at all in fact I believe it fits the adventure aesthetic perfectly.
The case back is a screw down solid titanium with VITON Gasket. With very minimal markings it leaves ample room for engraving something that RZE offers and something I look forward to taking advantage of to commemorate a future “Endeavor” I’m planning. The VITON Gasket under the case back and Screw down reverse engraved crown give you a solid reliability sub surface and a guarantee of 200m water resistance or 660ft.
Enough rambling for a minute here’s some Specifications and Dimensions:
Specifications
- Solid Titanium with UltraHex™ Coating (up to ~1200Hv hardness)
- NH35A(With-Date) Automatic Movement
- 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
- Screw-down crown with custom reverse engraved logo
- Glacier textured dials with applied indexes
- Swiss Superluminova C3 & BGW9
- Sapphire Crystal with inner-side Super-AR
- Solid Titanium bracelet with UltraHex™ Coating (On-the-fly quick adjust buckle and quick release springbars)
- Screw-down solid titanium caseback with VITON® gasket
- Included extras: Blackcomb Pouch with Standard Packaging Option
Dimensions
- 40.5mm case width
- 12.5mm case thickness
- 46mm case length /lug-to-lug
- 20mm lug width tapers to 16mm at buckle
- Weight: 100-110g (with bracelet)
Recently I took the RZE to the beach and decided to try out my skills in photography while also simultaneously rucking for physical training. I used the bezel to time my march and took breaks in the push up position timing my 1-minute planks with the second’s hand. I marched down to the waters edge where the battle of 1812 was fought between the British and American forces and had a water break post PT. Sitting in the sand washing my hands on the shores of the Niagara River the cold water splashed on the watch and the sun reflected off the dial, I realised that RZE truly had a winner here that I will forever keep in my collection.
I am very grateful for the opportunities this community and club have given me and I promise to always bring my full effort into these reviews to ensure we all have a better understanding of brands like RZE and let the world know that there are killer achievable entry watches that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some more well know brands.
Overall bang-up job to RZE and thanks for designing such a kickass piece. Looking forward to the future of the RZE and SBWC.
As Always,
Stay Sketchy
-Derek aka @sierra.66.actual