2023 Vertex MP45 Heritage Edition Manually Wound
Ref: MP45 Heritage M
Specification
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : Manufacturer's Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Vertex tough pelican case, spring bar removal tool & Vertex paperwork, plus all the accessories that come with the MP45. The watch comes paired with two 20mm vintage style brown leather straps, a 20mm Vertex stainless steel bracelet with a signed folding push-button clasp and a 20mm NATO strap with Vertex signed buckle. The watch is in worn condition with very few signs of wear, likely worn a handful of times. The watch was originally purchased in February 2023 and comes with its Manufacturer's Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ic7hTC1J2GBG44XlfhkQzOTjPEUeMVND?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 21:06 - https://youtu.be/0R_K7b-bqUU
The Watch
Here we have the 2023 Vertex MP45 Heritage Edition Manually Wound, a mono-pusher chronograph first commissioned in 1945 but never put into production due to rationing. Its 42mm brushed stainless steel asymmetric case sits like a cushion comfortably on your wrist with a lug-to-lug length of 49mm and a case thickness of 14.5mm. A stepped smooth bezel on the right side is a signed coin-edged screw-down crown, a double-domed box crystal AR coated protects a black dial with an outer minute track with lume pips and two red pips at 12 o’clock, moulded Aged X1 Super-LumiNova™ Arabic numerals mark the hours, giving the dial dimension and interest, at 3 o’clock sits the 30-minute sub-register and at 9 o’clock sits the sub-seconds register, precise syringe hands and needle-sharp chronograph seconds hand-painted with Super-LumiNova, In keeping with the military theme sits the Broad Arrow (pheon) signifying a British military issue, British government property, marking at 6 o’clock. On the back, we have a sapphire exhibition screw-down case back showcasing the manually wound Sellita Cal. SW510 MP, 27 jewels, beating at 28,800 beats per hour, a movement finished in Rhodium, perlage and blued screws and Vertex signed bridges. The watch comes paired with a Vertex 20mm vintage style brown leather strap, a 20mm rubber strap, and a 20mm NATO strap in the box and the Vertex bracelet to fit this model. The watch comes with its Vertex tough pelican case, accessories, and paperwork.
Personal Note
I have been fortunate to have sold many of the Vertex MP45 models, from automatic to manual and varying dial colours, but this MP45 Heritage Edition has to be my favourite. The subtle tone differences of the dial and faux patina really pop and bring this vintage inspiration into the modern world, but authentically rather than a blatant copy of something old. I would not hesitate to add this watch to your collection, as a complete set and including the additional bracelet, you'll be hard pressed to find a reason not to!
The Brand
Vertex was the brainchild of Claude Lyons of London, born in 1885. At the age of 17, he started his involvement in the watch Industry. With the help of a £1000 loan, he set up Dreadnaught Watches in 1912. In 1915, they produced watches for the British armed forces during WW1. In 1916, he founded Vertex Watches Ltd in both Hatton Gardens and in Switzerland. In 1927, Vertex became the exclusive importer of Movado Watches to the UK. 1938 Henry Lyons Claude's son-in-law joins the company. In 1940, their Hatton Gardens premises were destroyed by a Luftwaffe bomb. In 1941, Henry, a British Army Captain, was asked to create a watch suitable for the British military. 1944 saw the production of the Cal.59 W.W.W. Nav watch. Business continued successfully throughout the 50s and 60s; sadly, in 1972, due to the emergence of the Quartz revolution and the expiration of his lease in Hatton Gardens, Henry closed the Company. In 2015, Claude’s Great-Grandson, Don Cochrane re-established the Company. And the rest is history, as they say.