RZE, known for its titanium tool watches, is expanding not just with a new model, but a new brand: Vostra. The name translates from Italian as “something belonging to you” or “yours” (according to the internet, as I don’t speak Italian), which captures a central aspect of the brand. Several microbrands operate brand communities for their fans, but Vostra has launched with the specific intent of building the brand around their community. Anyone who has worked on a group project, knows that more perspectives can often lead to disjointed results. That said, Vostra is taking an interesting approach, and I’m curious to see how the community inputs influence the design of their future models. It should help that Vostra is backed by the RZE design team, who have churned out hit after hit.
The first of the brand’s watches is the Vector, a MechaQuartz chrono that recently launched on Kickstarter. The style is retro-futuristic, but its design cues are not from a single era. Instead, there are sci-fi visions of the future from the 50’s and 60’s in the Vector’s dial design and packaging, while the case and bracelet recall the brutalist aesthetic of 70’s and 80’s science fiction. It is a combination that feels like it shouldn’t work, yet it comes together nicely at first glance.
On paper, the Vector has solid technical chops. The 40mm x 20mm x 13mm stainless steel case is fairly tidy, the screw-down crown facilitates 100m of water resistance, and the sapphire crystal will keep the view of the colorful dials clear of scratches. The Vector is powered by the Seiko VK63, the most commonly used of the brand’s MechaQuartz movements, which is both reliable and economical. Here, we see the other implication of the brand’s name, as Vostra is committed to producing watches that are priced for the masses, not a select few.
The Vector is already doubly funded on Kickstarter, but there are still backing slots available at the early bird price of S$279, about $210 USD. The campaign runs through March 7th, after which time the Vector will be available at the full retail price of $279 USD. You can choose from the Atomic Blue, Electro Yellow, and Gamma Grey colorways and a variety of add-on straps in addition to the steel bracelet standard to the Vector.
To go hands-on with more of RZE’s models, come to District Time, running March 8th and 9th at The Showroom DC, in Washington DC.
