Other Watchy Bits: RZE & Travis Tan

RZE Watches is a contemporary watch brand that specializes in producing durable and rugged timepieces. The brand focuses on creating watches that can withstand the demands of active lifestyles and adventurous pursuits while maintaining a stylish and modern aesthetic.

RZE Watches places a strong emphasis on quality and craftsmanship. Their timepieces are designed with robust materials and built to endure challenging environments.

One notable feature of RZE watches is their innovative use of materials like titanium and its propriety UltraHex coatings. Titanium is known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, making it an ideal choice for watch cases. The added benefit of UltraHex is increased scratch-resistant, ensuring the watch maintains its aesthetic appeal even after prolonged use.

Ultimately, RZE—and all it represents—is a reflection of its founder, Travis Tan, and his own pursuits. Tan speaks fondly of his earliest memory of watches—an army green baby-G that his parents purchased for him when he was 9-years-old. By the time he was twelve, Travis had moved on to a G-Shock, and wore digital watches throughout his adolescence, as he was always into outdoor trekking—and digital watches were a lot more accessible for students.

However, it wasn’t until after he had begun his career in aviation that he took an active interest in watches which are often seen as a symbol of prestige and pride for pilots. Travelling the world for work, he was exposed to more brands and styles while roaming the shopping streets of big cities during layovers abroad.

It was in 2014, through his wife’s uncle–who happened to own a watch assembly factory—that Tan was introduced to the industry of watchmaking. This same uncle encouraged Tan to start his own brand. And he became obsessed with the idea. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter were just gaining traction, so he hopped on the bandwagon. However, his first effort did not work out in the long run. Nonetheless, having had a taste of pursuing the thing he loved, Tan kept at it—”and the rest,” he says, “is history.”

Tan, it seems, was always well suited to the task of watchmaking. He completed an Engineering degree in university and had always been interested in science since high school. “I would say my mind works very systematically and logically,” says Tan. “I like things that are built to serve a specific purpose and when buying something, I always look at why it is designed that way. That shapes the way I approach product design, no-nonsense, clean and minimalistic. I’m somewhat a perfectionist which is why I take a long time deciding on how the product looks and feels to the user. Making some simple item look good and lasting is always the hardest. I strive to make RZE products that way.”

This philosophy is evident in all RZE Watches, which also prioritize functional design. Their timepieces often feature clear and legible dials with high-contrast indices and hands, allowing for easy time reading. Many models include luminous elements for improved visibility in low-light conditions. The brand offers both automatic and quartz movements, catering to different preferences, as well.

In addition to their focus on durability and functionality, RZE Watches emphasizes a modern and sleek aesthetic. The brand creates distinctive watch designs that reflect a contemporary style. RZE watches often feature bold, angular cases and unique, brash dials, offering a visually striking appeal.

But building a successful watch brand has not been simple. Tan jokes, “I have not played computer games since I left university and spend most of my weekends or off days working on RZE. We all have the same 24hrs in a day; I just chose to spend it with my family and building RZE.”

Tan considers his greatest achievement to be constantly mentioned in online discussions when people ask, “Can you recommend the best titanium watch?” While he willingly admits that there is yet a long way to go for RZE, he is grateful to be positioned where he is now, given the relatively short period of time he has been running RZE.

For Tan, the biggest challenge remains spreading the word about the level of quality and care RZE put into its products. This is not limited to physical construction, either—but in the brand’s values, its desire to inspire a spirit of adventure, and its commitments to sustainability. “There are new brands that pop up daily promising to disrupt the watch business with bargain pricing, and generate a lot of noise while doing so, but we have to keep continuing to build our brand and reputation in order to stand out, “says Tan. “It’s cliche but a timepiece is truly more than a sum of its parts; I am proud to say I can stand behind all the watches we offer and look forward to a day where RZE as a brand speaks for itself.”

Outside the realm of watches and timekeeping, Tan enjoys travelling and exploring places with his wife. Golf, a favourite hobby, has taken a backseat of late. However, as his business stabilizes, Tan would love to hit the greens again with his wife and kids–who have recently started golf lessons, themselves.

Tan is philosophical about the future of RZE. “We have a lot of plans in the pipeline, but we’re working towards being synonymous with adventure. RZE is more than watches; we’re building a community around our everyday adventurers and striving to offer more to the ownership experience.” Tan wishes to highlight some of the adventurers who wear his watches. He wants to share their stories and build a sense of solidarity in community. But the environment in which we enjoy our adventures is also at the forefront of his mind. “We’re constantly finding ways to improve how we do business by using sustainable packaging, offsetting the carbon of our logistics and supporting projects that help ensure the planet is good for our future generation. Technology is also a big part of RZE; with the help of technology we are trying to improve the way ownership, warranty tracking and service history records are maintained for smaller brands without the limitless resources available to bigger brands.”

Without a doubt, the watch community can look forward to more exciting times ahead with RZE. In Tan’s own words, “Our adventure is just getting started.”