In 1944 the British Ministry of Defense commissioned twelve companies to build and supply combat-ready watches to troops on the front lines. Today, these watches are know to collectors as the Dirty Dozen. The MoD requisition order specified that the watches had to have black dials with luminescent markers, Arabic numerals and a railroad minute track, all enclosed in a stainless steel case topped with a shatterproof crystal. Among the companies that fulfilled the order were Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, IWC, Omega and Vertex.
The affordable, hard-wearing mechanical watches produced by Vertex were popular with civilians after the war. But by 1972, changes in the industry and the advent of quartz watches overtook Vertex and the business closed. In 2015, the company was relaunched by the great grandson of the founder, with a focus on military inspired timepieces.
Vertex created The Bronze 75 to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The design is a tribute to the watch Vertex produced for the British Military in 1944 and 1945. Per the original MoD requisition, the matte black dial has luminescent indices, Arabic numerals and a seconds sub-dial at six o’clock – all circled by a railroad minute track. The 40 mm bronze case, a new addition, features a double curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Overtime, the bronze case and vintage brown leather strap will both develop a unique patina.
The Bronze 75 (£2,250.00/approx $2,944.00) from vertex-watches.com.
