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The Encyclopedia of Horology

London, United Kingdom

Vertex

Partially verified

Maker of catalogued military wristwatch, open-face pocket watch

History

The firm originated in 1912 when Claude Lyons founded the Dreadnought Watch Co. in London's Hatton Garden district.

In 1916, Lyons registered the name Vertex for his timepieces in both London and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The company historically utilized movements from various manufacturers and eventually established a collaborative arrangement with Thommen A.G. to produce watches using Revue movements. During the Second World War, Vertex became the sole British brand among the twelve manufacturers that supplied watches to the War Office’s W.W.W. specification.

Following competitive pressure from international brands and the emergence of new electronic technologies, the business was voluntarily liquidated in early 1972.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Current watchmaking & later fate

  • Since its 2015 revival, the brand has operated under the leadership of Don Cochrane and produces modern interpretations of historical models.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-11-03. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Cal59
This was the military-issued wristwatch produced by Vertex to meet the W.W.W. specification during the Second World War.
M100
Introduced in 2016 as the first model of the revived brand, it was inspired by the design of the original W.W.W. Cal59.
MP45
Released in 2019, this monopusher chronograph was based on an unrealized military design commissioned in 1945.
M60 AquaLion
This model, released in 2021, represents the first diving watch produced by the brand since its modern revival.

Known markings

  • Vertex utilized the broad arrow mark on its military-issued timepieces to signify British government property.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

4 catalogued objects are recorded under Vertex. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

Diagram

top plate or bridgespillar platebalance and cockwheel train between the plates
Schematic: plate and bridge layout. An outline schematic drawn to show the arrangement of the parts discussed here. It is not a dimensioned working drawing and does not depict a particular maker's calibre.

Sources & references

  1. Vertex Watches Limited, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-11-03 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.