Vertex is a British watch manufacture originally founded in 1916 by Claude Lyons, which gained historical prominence as the only British company among the “Dirty Dozen” invited by the Ministry of Defence to produce custom-spec timepieces for the military during World War II. After closing in the 1970s due to the quartz crisis, the brand was revived in 2016 by the founder’s great-grandson, Don Cochrane, with a focus on high-end military-inspired tool watches. Collectors value the brand for its adherence to military specifications, robust construction intended for professional use, and the use of distinctive three-dimensional molded Super-LumiNova Arabic numerals.
The brand’s catalog is defined by several key collections and models: – M100: A contemporary reimagining of the original 1944 W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof) design, featuring a 40mm stainless steel case and a hand-wound Swiss movement.
– MP45: A monopusher chronograph based on a 1945 design, available in both manual and automatic versions.
– M60 Aqualion: An ISO 6425-certified dive watch waterproof to 600 meters that pays homage to the brand’s vintage divers from the 1950s and 60s.
