RZE has been working hard over the past five years, claiming its rightful place at the table of established microbrands. We took notice at Fratello, as confirmed by our collaborative release just last year. Today, the brand introduces a rather interesting new stage in its development - digital timekeeping. This is the new RZE UTD-8000.I have often wondered why we don't see more microbrands venturing into digital watches. It seems so logical, especially for those aiming for hardcore tool watches at amazingly competitive prices. How do you make your tool watch cheaper and more robust? By throwing out that mechanical movement, dial, and handset, and replacing it with a digital module, of course! Let's see how that logic holds up!The new RZE UTD-8000Let's start with the obvious. The new RZE UTD-8000 looks as if a G-Shock had a rather cozy outing with an RZE Resolute roughly nine months ago. ActuallyI have no clue what the gestation period is for tool watches; I may be anthropomorphizing here. Still, the result is quite clearly an RZE watch with a digital display.Its case offers a 42mm diameter and a 50.2mm lug-to-lug. Pair this with a 13.4mm thickness, and you have a rather substantial timekeeper on your hands. Fear not; the Grade 2 titanium construction keeps weight to a minimum. Speaking of titanium, RZE applies its UltraHex coating, resulting in a surface hardness of 1,200 Vickers. No worries about scratches, then.The digital module sits within a cushioned construction for added shock resistance. The proprietary module displays the time, date, day, month, and week. You can also switch between 12- and 24-hour modes. A 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph, multi-alarm, hourly chime, automatic calendar until 2099, and a backlight feature complete the package.On the RZE UTD-8000's designNow, I get that it is a bit lame of me to immediately throw in the G-Shock name. However, I do so because RZE adopts a few Casio-esque design cues beyond the mere digital concept. The branded bezel with four screws, for instance, is completely new for RZE. It looks a lot like a G-Shock MT-G to me, though. Similarly, the black model features gold, red, and pale blue accents around the display, lifted straight from a G-Shock DW-5000R-1A.Frankly, I find this nothing short of baffling. With infinite options, why pick such specific features so characteristic of an existing brand? And not just any existing brand, mind you, but the king of the segment no less. Just imagine how cool these watches would look with a cleaner bezel, as on the RZE Resolute.Still, you can opt for a yellow-accented or a blue-accented alternative, which feels less derivative. Frankly, I rather like those two. Those hues feel authentic to RZE, which I greatly appreciate. The RZE UTD-8000 comes on a matching fabric strap as standard. However, the 20mm lug spacing allows for using RZE's UltraHex-coated titanium bracelet. This makes for a rather distinct overall offering.The RZE UTD-8000 launches soonThe new RZE UTD-8000 finds its way to the market via the brand’s website. The tiered campaign begins on March 20th, with a starting price of US$169?until March 31st, or while supplies last. The presale then kicks up to US$199 until delivery commences in June. After the campaign, the regular MSRP goes up to US$219 for the watch on a strap or US$369 for one on a titanium bracelet. This is where RZE has beaten G-Shock since the Japanese brand does not offer a full-titanium watch below the $3,500 mark.Interestingly, enthusiasts can download a papercraft model of the watch via the RZE website. This clever campaign should drive some traffic while offering people a chance to try the watch on for size. If you complete the free paper model, you get a titanium bracelet thrown in for free with your order.Frankly, that makes for a ridiculously good value proposition. A shock-protected digital watch made of scratch-resistant titanium on a matching bracelet for US$169 is unheard of. Kudos, RZE! Nice one.What do you think of the new RZE UTD-8000? Let us know in the comments below! Watch specifications Brand RZE Model UTD-8000 Dial Digital with black, blue, or yellow surrounds Case Material Grade 2 titanium with UltraHex coating Case Dimensions 42mm (diameter) 50.2mm (lug-to-lug) 13.4mm (thickness) Crystal Sapphire with underside antireflective coating Case Back Grade 2 titanium Movement UTD-8000 digital module Water Resistance 20 bar (200 meters) Strap Fabric or optional Grade 2 titanium H-link bracelet Functions Time (hours, minutes, and seconds) in 12- and 24-hour formats, stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second, full auto calendar to 2099 (day, month, week), multifunction alarm, hourly chime, backlight Price US$169 (initial promo price) / US$219 (MSRP with strap) / US$369 (MSRP with titanium bracelet)