Vertex Vintage Tank, Yellow and White Gold, Breguet Numeral Dial, circa 1930s

Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist

A Charming Vertex Tank Watch Crafted From Yellow and White Gold with a Beautiful Breguet Dial and Blued Steel Hands, c.1930s Vertex Watches, founded in 1916 by Claude Lyon in London, boasts a rich history interwoven with horological innovation and military heritage. Initially, Vertex gained recognition for producing reliable and precise timepieces, quickly earning a reputation for quality. During World War II, Vertex was one of the select manufacturers that produced the legendary "Dirty Dozen" watches for the British Ministry of Defense. These particular watches were demanded for their durability, legibility, and precision, essentials for military operations. Over the decades, Vertex continued to innovate and expand its collection, maintaining an emphasis on both classic design and modern technology. However, in the 1970s, the brand faced challenges amid the Quartz Crisis, which saw a decline in traditional watchmaking in favor of cheaper quartz technology. In 2016, Don Cochrane, the great-grandson of the founder, revitalized Vertex, paying homage to its illustrious past while incorporating contemporary elements, ensuring its legacy endures in the competitive landscape of modern watchmaking. What's on Offer If this beautiful and unusual vintage tank watch crafted from yellow and white gold isn't, the epitome of charming, then I don't know what is! The ecru dial is wonderfully vintage with even patina and the Breguet numerals are still rich black and crisp. A sub-seconds dial sits at 6 o'clock and beautifully ornate blued steel hands complete the picture. The case of this watch, however, is the jewel in the crown, a delightful tank shape with very definite Art Deco styling, and unusually it is made of two colours of gold which we have never seen in this style of watch previously! The watch looks fabulous on the wrist. It has clearly been meticulously looked after over the years and was originally presented to an employee of WH Spencer & Sons (it appears by his name he IS the son!) in 1937, you will note the endearing inscription on the yellow gold case back. This is a particularly beautiful watch which would make a wonderful gift or a very worthy addition to any collection.