RZE: A lifetime of Adventure
A weekend hike through the local forest is one of nature’s best ways to reset. I unplug from the endless scroll of social media and embrace a proper digital detox—but it takes a little planning. I pull my hiking pants from the depths of the closet, slip on my trail shoes still caked in last season’s mud, and pack my perpetually damp rain jacket. I pat down my pockets to feel the familiar outline of my wallet and keys and catch the shimmer of light reflecting from my embarrassing watch tan. How can I cover it up? Maybe I showcase my inner glamper with a Tudor or pivot to my Timex resin workhorse. Today, I’m craving something fresh: a rugged, adventure‑ready timepiece with nostalgic roots and modern reliability. With excitement, I pop open my RZE watch tin and pull out the UTD-8000.
In early 2025, Leather & Lume had the pleasure of meeting RZE co-founder, Huiy Tang, during District Time. He was making an impact, literally. While other vendors adorned their tables with plush velvet pillows cradling their ultra-polished products, Huiy took a different approach. RZE’s booth had three objects. A watch, a box of rocks, and a hammer. Like a 1920s newsboy shouting headlines, Huiy invited passersby to strike his watches with a hammer. This wasn’t a gimmick chasing a fad; it was a bold statement of quality and longevity. RZE isn’t here to mirror trends—they build timepieces that stand up to the unpredictability of true adventure.
RZE is a product-focused company that aims to foster enthusiasm in first-time customers, much like a child discovering a toy at the bottom of a cereal box. Unlike the cheap, mass-produced cereal toys, RZE creates durable products that never lose their sense of novel excitement. RZE leans into making their products with a utilitarian ethos of uncompromising durability, no-nonsense dials, and angular styling. These characteristics are further complemented with a subtle splash of retro-neon colors. They want to build products that are handed off from generation to generation. They expect these pieces to accumulate scars from each adventure. Each dent, scratch, ding, and chip is a memory woven into the surface of the watch, creating a unique façade reminiscent of a Jackson Pollock. Chaotic and complex but exclusively your own design. RZE also aims to differentiate itself from the masses by acknowledging its environmental impact and implementing proactive countermeasures. After all, what is the point of fostering deep nostalgia if there isn’t a subsequent generation to experience it?
RZE’s operational philosophy embodies the outdoorsman’s adage: leave no trace. They understand the inescapable truth of waste and take steps to combat their environmental impact. Whether it’s the TOYO metal tin watch packaging or their commitment to a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030, they pursue long-term environmental strategies. Buy once, waste once, but enjoy a lifetime of adventures. Or with RZE’s RE-VERIFIED program: buy used, reduce waste. RZE is dedicated to fostering a culture of shared responsibility and ownership. The future preservation of the great outdoors is in our hands, and RZE is willing to put its money where its mouth is.
Special editions, charitable proceeds, and partnership programs are integral to RZE’s philosophy. They cherish the responsibility of creating a joint product design that stewards the gravity of any given cause. Their special edition liveries offer customers the opportunity for positive second and third-order effects by purchasing from a company that strives to meet their ever-adapting community commitments. Therefore, their special edition models have no production limits. It is evident in the wake of the recent central Texas floods that every grassroots donation campaign is a critical thread in the communal fabric necessary to brace those most affected by tragedy.
The Prairie Tan and Lodgepole Pine Urbanist models exemplify these partnerships. The Prairie Tan model was designed in collaboration with STARS, a Canadian air ambulance service, providing emergency services across Western Canada (also referred to as the Prairie Provinces. Hint. Hint). The Lodgepole Pine livery represents RZE’s partnership with PROJECT FOREST, a reforesting organization focused on forest permanence. Each partnership represents RZE’s commitment to being part of the modern solution. A company that understands its impact and takes measures to alleviate its global burden. It provides a platform for organizations to share their message and a space for customers to express their response.
Numerous watch brands are competing for market share in this increasingly connected consumer society. There are brands with overwhelming advertising campaigns that overpromise and underdeliver. However, amidst the noise, there is a company that stands by a set of defined principles. It provides utilitarian timepieces with an emphasis on longevity and practicality. If you are looking for your next adventure companion, dedicate some time to RZE. It is a watch company that provides quality products with a vision deserving of your attention.
By Emiliano Concha-Toro
A special thanks to Huiy Tang for providing us with insight into RZE and quenching our curiosity.
