Precision Winter 2020: Vertex 75

Vertex

Vertex’s limited- edition British military-derived Bronze 75 marks 75 years since the end of World War II

Browse pages
Current page

1

Current page

2

Current page

3

Current page

4

Current page

5

Current page

6

Current page

7

Current page

8

Current page

9

Current page

10

Current page

11

Current page

12

Current page

13

Current page

14

Current page

15

Current page

16

Current page

17

Current page

18

Current page

19

Current page

20

Current page

21

Current page

22

Current page

23

Current page

24

Current page

25

Current page

26

Current page

27

Current page

28

Current page

29

Current page

30

Current page

31

Current page

32

Current page

33

Current page

34

Current page

35

Current page

36

Current page

37

Current page

38

Current page

39

Current page

40

Current page

41

Current page

42

Current page

43

Current page

44

Current page

45

Current page

46

Current page

47

Current page

48

Current page

49

Current page

50

Current page

51

Current page

52

Current page

53

Current page

54

Current page

55

Current page

56

Current page

57

Current page

58

Current page

59

Current page

60

Current page

61

Current page

62

Current page

63

Current page

64

Current page

65

Current page

66

Current page

67

Current page

68

Current page

69

Current page

70

Current page

71

Current page

72

Current page

73

Current page

74

Current page

75

Current page

76

Current page

77

Current page

78

Current page

79

Current page

80

Current page

81

Current page

82

Current page

83

Current page

84

Current page

85

Current page

86

Current page

87

Current page

88

Current page

89

Current page

90

Current page

91

Current page

92

Current page

93

Current page

94

Current page

95

Current page

96

Current page

97

Current page

98

Current page

99

Current page

100

Current page

101

Current page

102

Current page

103

Current page

104

Current page

105

Current page

106

Current page

107

Current page

108

Current page

109

Current page

110

Current page

111

Current page

112

Current page

113

Current page

114

Current page

115

Current page

116

Current page

117

Current page

118

Current page

119

Current page

120

Current page

121

Current page

122

Current page

123

Current page

124

Current page

125

Current page

126

Current page

127

Current page

128

Current page

129

Current page

130

Current page

131

Current page

132

Current page

133

Current page

134

Current page

135

Current page

136

Current page

137

Current page

138

Current page

139

Current page

140

Current page

141

Current page

142

Current page

143

Current page

144

Current page

145

Current page

146

Current page

147

Current page

148

Current page

149

Current page

150

Current page

151

Current page

152

Current page

153

Current page

154

Current page

155

Current page

156

Current page

157

Current page

158

Current page

159

Current page

160

Current page

161

Current page

162

Current page

163

Current page

164

Current page

165

Current page

166

Current page

167

Current page

168

Current page

169

Current page

170

Current page

171

Current page

172

Current page

173

Current page

174

Current page

175

Current page

176

Current page

177

Current page

178

Current page

179

Current page

180

Current page

181

Current page

182

Current page

183

Current page

184

Current page

185

Current page

186

Current page

187

Current page

188

Current page

189

Current page

190

Current page

191

Current page

192

Current page

193

Current page

194

Current page

195

Current page

196

Current page

197

Current page

198

Current page

199

Current page

200

Current page

201

Current page

202

Current page

203

Current page

204

It might be 81 years since the start of World War II, but it seems that time has done little to diminish the appeal of the classic military wristwatch. In a seamless transition from the battlefield to the bar, the explosion in popularity of ‘mil-look’ watches has been howitzer-like.

The story of the original waterproof wristlet watch, commonly known as the WWW, dates back to the end of WWII when the Ministry of Defence introduced what is believed to have been the first standard specification for a military timepiece before commissioning 12 Swiss-based manufacturers to produce them. The standard decreed that the watches should be water and shockproof with matt-black dials, Arabic numerals, luminous hands and hour markers, an outer minute track and a shatterproof crystal, surrounded by a stainless steel case to house a movement of specific size. As a result, all the watches from the 12 manufacturers (Buren, Cyma, Eterna, Grana, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Lemania, Longines, IWC, Omega, Record, Timor, and Vertex) looked more or less the same.

Military watch geeks have been collecting these originals for decades, but only recently have manufacturers revived the look, usually bringing it up to date with larger, more contemporary case sizes than the 36mm originals.

Back in 2017, entrepreneur Don Cochrane decided to relaunch Vertex after discovering that the firm had been set-up in 1916 by his great grandfather Claude Lyons. He started with an initial, limited-edition model called the M100, which featured a black dial with highly luminous Arabic numerals, a small seconds counter and ‘broad arrow’ government property mark, all of which harked back to the old military issue models.

Cochrane then introduced a blackened version called the M100B, and followed that with a single-button chronograph, the MP45, that’s based on a watch supplied post-war to the Royal Navy. Manual and automatic winding versions of that one are now available, along with a choice of blackened or plain steel cases and black or white dials.

Vertex back

Pre-internet, WWW referred to waterproof wristlet watch. Also note the UK government arrow mark

The most recent addition to the Vertex range, however, is arguably the best looking and most covetable. It’s a new take on the M100 called the Vertex 75, because it marks 75 years since the end of World War II.

The watch contains the same bespoke, hand-wound movement as the original M100 but features an all-new 40mm case made from bronze, the back of which is an exact reproduction of that used on the WWW made from 1944-45. It even has the WWW stamp, broad arrow mark and Army stores number.

Just 150 will be made, each priced £2,700 and supplied with a trio of straps and a genuine Pelican waterproof case. As far as we’re concerned, it’s mission accomplished.

vertex-watches.com