Vertex watch, any info appreciated!

[jimmyt]

I’ve had quite a lucky run recently in acquiring some interesting old pieces.
Today this landed on my lap









You can see that the crown is missing but if you pull the stem the hands turn as they should, you can also wind it and it ran for a few seconds before stopping again so I left it at that in case I caused any damage.

I don’t know much at all about these but I think it’s a military issued piece? Can anyone decipher the age from the serial numbers?

This is another one I would like to get running and actually wear so hoping a new crystal can be obtained and one of our esteemed watchmakers can bring it back to life.

If anyone has any info on this piece I’d be eternally grateful to hear it.

Many thanks
Jimmy



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sinnlover]

It's a Vertex WWW issued to the Army about 1945/46
Hands have been relumed as some point, but it has the original dial. Not so sure on the second hand. Case back is correct.
It's one of the 'dirty dozen' but not one of the better quality ones. In decent condition they are £1000 (ish) retail but I am not sure I would pay that unless that was the one I was looking for. £700 seems more likely currently.
It's well worth spending a bit of money on it to get it running (dependant on how much you paid)
I love WWWs great vintage watches in a modern size.

Have a look over at the BWM section there is a thread showing a Vertex WWW in Austin Kate's window

[jimmyt]

It's a Vertex WWW issued to the Army about 1945/46
Hands have been relumed as some point, but it has the original dial. Not so sure on the second hand. Case back is correct.
It's one of the 'dirty dozen' but not one of the better quality ones. In decent condition they are £1000 (ish) retail but I am not sure I would pay that unless that was the one I was looking for. £700 seems more likely currently.
It's well worth spending a bit of money on it to get it running (dependant on how much you paid)
I love WWWs great vintage watches in a modern size.

Thanks for the info, appreciate it. I guessed that the hands had probably been re-lumed, I actually didn’t pay anything for this so am happy to spend some money on the thing!

[trident-7]

As Sinnlover said.

The second hand is correct. The number on the back prefixed with an A is correct for the Vertex.

All the WWWs are from 1945. Just in time to miss the end of WW2.

They all look very similar and are from 12 Swiss manufacturers: Buren, Cyma, Grana, Eterna, IWC, JLC, Lemania, Longines, Omega, Record, Timor & Vertex.

An estimated 15,000 Vertex were produced. The rarest is the Grana which were originally 1000-1500 in number.

Edit: There were supposed to be 13, that being Enicar, but there are no known examples. It is thought that the company was found to have supplied fuses for Germany & were consequently blacklisted.

[jimmyt]

As Sinnlover said.

The second hand is correct. All the WWWs are from 1945. Just in time to miss the end of WW2.

They all look very similar and are from 12 Swiss manufacturers: Buren, Cyma, Grana, Eterna, IWC, JLC, Lemania, Longines, Omega, Record, Timor & Vertex.

Thanks for this, just found an interesting Hodinkee article online about the dirty dozen which is my bedtime reading sorted!

[SimonK]

Have a read here for some background into what you've got

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/di...litary-watches

[Sinnlover]

If you didn't pay anything get it up and running then!
Op you have influenced my choice of watch for tomorrow as a result of this thread.
My Record WWW has now been wound and is ready to go for the morning.
Cheers!!!

[jimmyt]

If you didn't pay anything get it up and running then!
Op you have influenced my choice of watch for tomorrow as a result of this thread.
My Record WWW has now been wound and is ready to go for the morning.
Cheers!!!

Glad to be of assistance 👍

[jimmyt]

Bit of a thread resurrection but I’ve recently received the Vertex back which now looks like this


Some more info here https://kernowwatches.co.uk/vertex-w...y-dozen-watch/
for anyone interested


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sinnlover]

Looks fantastic

[Carlton-Browne]

That's come out nice - well done .

[Montello]

Very nice work to that watch.

[Watch freek]

Looks fantastic.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[Ghost Chilli]

👍🏼 Really great job. Love these WWWs.

[Griswold]

Excellent work.