1964 Vertex Revue 9ct gold case presentation dress watch, with box and papers
The 9ct gold case is well proportioned, measuring 31mm x 31mm with a lug-to-lug measurement of 37.5mm. The dial is a clean and smart design with its matte satin silver tone and Arabic and arrow hour markers. Inside is a good quality Revue calibre 76 with 17 jewels. The watch comes with its original vertex signed box, jewellers guarantee and un-signed jewellers card.
The front of the case is 9ct gold and is in good condition. There is light surface scratching on the front of the case but no dents. The lugs are an interesting angular design, curving downwards. The case back is 9ct gold and is a snap back. It is in good condition with only light surface scratching. It has a personal engraving “presented by S.P.D Limited to Arthur R. Broad for good service 1949-1964”. The inside of the case back has peerlage finishing and is signed “Vertex Made in England”. It has English hallmarking for 9ct gold from Birmingham assay office, with the date letter “p”. This puts the watches production at 1964.
The dial is in good condition for the age. The base tone is a silver satin finish, with rose gold tone Arabic numerals and arrow markers. The sub second dial is inset and has a circular grained finish. The dial is signed Vertex Revue below 12 o’clock, with the swiss made signing either side of 6 o’clock. There is some discolouration to the extremities of the dial, with a scratch on the edge between 2 and 3 o’clock.
The hands are original. They are in good condition with no bending and minimal corrosion. They are gold in tone and of stick style. The crystal is a replacement which fits the profile of the watch perfectly. It is in good condition, with light surface scratching.
The crown appears to be original but the gold plating has worn from the face of it.
The watch is on a new old stock genuine leather strap.
The movement is a Revue calibre 76 which has 17 jewels, a frequency of 18,000 BPH and a power reserve of 34 hours.
The service history is unknown, but the movement is in good condition cosmetically and is keeping acceptable time. It has a daily gain of +134 seconds, with an amplitude of 200 degrees and a beat error of 0.0 m/s.
Vertex Revue
Thommens Uhrenfabrik AG decided to use the name, Vertex, for its products marketed in the UK, and by 1929 this name had been officially registered. The Thommens firm moved with the times, and from round watches with simple wire lugs, Thommens produced some very striking Art Deco timepieces in the 1920s and 1930s. The economic depression of the early 1930s hit watchmaking hard, but Thommens Uhrenfabrik responded by concentrating on its already established expertise in the production of aircraft instrumentation.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Revue Thommen continued developing new watch movements, with the GT82, GT44, GT54, GT56, GT12 and GT14. Then, in 1961, MSR Holding was founded as a consortium consisting of the Phenix Watch Company, Revue Thommen, Vulcain and Buser Freres & Co, aimed at rationalising watch production and reducing manufacturing costs. Vulcain was tasked with commercialising the products, Revue Thommen was to manufacture components, and Phenix was to undertake assembly.
In the story of Vertex, one important event must be mentioned. Towards the end of World War Two, Vertex, together with 11 other watch manufacturers, was invited by the British War department to produce so-called WWW waterproof military wristwatches. After the War, Vertex played on this link with these watches to imply in their advertising that their general watches were accurate and durable.
Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The dial is in good condition for the age. The base tone is a silver satin finish, with rose gold tone Arabic numerals and arrow markers. The sub second dial is inset and has a circular grained finish. The dial is signed Vertex Revue below 12 o’clock, with the swiss made signing either side of 6 o’clock. There is some discolouration to the extremities of the dial, with a scratch on the edge between 2 and 3 o’clock.
Hands:
The hands are original. They are in good condition with no bending and minimal corrosion. They are gold in tone and of stick style.
Glass:
The crystal is a replacement which fits the profile of the watch perfectly. It is in good condition, with light surface scratching.
Crown:
The crown appears to be original but the gold plating has worn from the face of it.
Case:
The front of the case is 9ct gold and is in good condition. There is light surface scratching on the front of the case but no dents. The lugs are an interesting angular design, curving downwards.
Caseback:
The case back is 9ct gold and is a snap back. It is in good condition with only light surface scratching. It has a personal engraving “presented by S.P.D Limited to Arthur R. Broad for good service 1949-1964”.
The inside of the case back has peerlage finishing and is signed “Vertex Made in England”. It has English hallmarking for 9ct gold from Birmingham assay office, with the date letter “p”. This puts the watches production at 1964.
The inside of the case back has peerlage finishing and is signed Marlys Watch Co, Swiss Made. There are English hallmarks for imported 9ct gold, assayed at Glasgow assay office. The watch dates to 1932, with the date letter “j”.
Strap:
The watch is on a new old stock genuine leather strap.
Movement:
The movement is a Revue calibre 76 which has 17 jewels, a frequency of 18,000 BPH and a power reserve of 34 hours.
The service history is unknown, but the movement is in good condition cosmetically and is keeping acceptable time.
It has a daily gain of +134 seconds, with an amplitude of 200 degrees and a beat error of 0.0 m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 31mm
Case width with crown: 33mm
Case length: 31mm
Case length lug to lug: 37.5mm
Case Depth: 9mm
Lug width: 16mm