I have a soft spot for pilot watches. Not because I need one, and definitely not because I spend any time in a cockpit, but because the design language is so unapologetically functional. Big numerals. Stark layouts. That triangle at twelve that every collector recognizes from across the room. It is one of those formats that either gets handled with respect or turns into a costume. So when I saw that RZE was stepping into flieger territory with the Resolute Type A, I was curious.
This is a brand I usually associate with titanium field watches and that hard, tool-first aesthetic. Aviation feels like a natural extension of that philosophy, but it is still a shift. Founded in 2020, RZE built its identity quickly around affordable titanium watches with its proprietary UltraHex coating. That combination of lightweight cases and scratch resistance became the brand’s calling card. Most of the catalog has lived in the field watch and adventure space, with a few divers rounding things out. The Resolute Type A marks a move into the sky, while still staying rooted in what the brand does best.
As the name suggests, this is a Type A flieger layout. The dial keeps the core elements intact: large Arabic numerals, sword-style hands, and the triangle flanked by two dots at twelve. Legibility is central to the concept, and RZE leans into that with oversized markers and generous Super-LumiNova application. It follows the traditional blueprint closely enough to feel familiar, but there are modern cues woven in.
The stylized R logo at twelve replaces any historic insignia, and the hour track uses a contemporary font that feels sharper than what you would see on a vintage German piece. The hands and markers have an angular profile, and the sandwich-style construction adds a bit of depth without complicating the layout. It still reads as a flieger, just filtered through RZE’s more technical lens.
There are three dial options at launch, and each one shifts the personality. The yellow dial with its coarse texture and black minutes track is the most on-brand for RZE. It feels energetic and distinctly modern, especially paired with the titanium case. The black dial stays closest to tradition, with creamy off-white markers and an orange seconds hand adding a small jolt of color. The white dial sits somewhere between the two, glossy and monochromatic with a yellow seconds hand that keeps it from feeling sterile. If you ask me, I’d go for the yellow in this case.
Outside the dial, the watch is unmistakably RZE. The case is Grade 2 titanium, shaped with a rounded bezel, flat midcase, and sharply angled lugs. Everything is treated with the brand’s UltraHex hard coating, which has become one of its defining features. The caseback follows suit, secured by four screws and fitted with a partial sapphire window.
Through that window sits the Miyota 82S0 automatic movement. It beats at 3Hz and offers a 40 hour power reserve. This is a familiar, dependable caliber that keeps pricing accessible and servicing straightforward. No one is buying this for high-end chronometry, but within this price category it makes practical sense and aligns with the brand’s utilitarian focus.
Strap options depend on the dial. The white version comes on a green TecTuff strap with a synthetic upper bonded to a calfskin lining and a titanium pin buckle. The black dial pairs with a black TecTuff strap in the same construction. The yellow dial stands apart with RZE’s HexLink titanium bracelet, a five-link design with flat angular surfaces, quick-release pins, and the brand’s micro-adjustable QuikCliq clasp. For a brand that built its reputation on coated titanium, offering a fully treated bracelet feels consistent with its identity.
Preorders open March 20th, with pricing set at $499 on a TecTuff strap and $699 on the titanium bracelet. In a space where many independents are chasing vintage nostalgia or escalating into higher price brackets, RZE seems focused on refining its formula. Titanium, tool-driven design, and accessible mechanics.
For collectors who appreciate the flieger template but want it expressed in a more contemporary, adventure-ready material, the Resolute Type A feels like a logical next step for the brand. It stays within RZE’s lane while nodding to one of the most recognizable pilot watch formats out there, and that balance may be exactly what its audience has been waiting for.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.