The Vertex M100: A Tribute in Pencil
It’s not every day your job requires you to turn around, look back, and recreate the past.
Not literally recreate it — I’m not about to go full Viking— but seriously, recently I’ve had the privilege to pay homage to the iconic Vertex M100. My tools to do so? A humble collection of graphite pencils, erasers, blending stumps, a sharpener and, at times, wandering concentration.
At first glance, the M100’s clean, modern design might suggest it's an easy subject to draw. Well, let me tell you, it was not. But we’ll get to that.
The History
Along with field watches from brands like Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre, the M100 is the contemporary reissue of one of the twelve “Dirty Dozen” watches from Vertex - originally called the Calibre 59. This is a timepiece with serious history; a watch that carried soldiers through battle, built with the weight of World War II on its shoulders.
Photo credit: Teddy Baldassarre
Photo credit: Monochrome
When I first started drawing photorealistic portraits of watches, I didn’t imagine I’d one day be tackling something this bold and, frankly, this intimidating. Let’s just say my nerves were real.
Commissioned by Vertex to create artwork for their Mayfair showroom, I began with a deep dive into the watch’s background. I found that, like so many other brands, Vertex met its match during the Quartz Revolution of the 1960s and ’70s — an era that saw plenty of mechanical giants silenced.
Decades later, Don Cochrane, great-grandson of founder Claude Lyons, decided to revive the brand. And naturally, his first release was the Calibre 59 — reborn, sensitively modernised, and renamed the Vertex M100, with the M100A following later.
Researching that story, I realised the scale of what Don and his team had achieved: bringing back a heritage design that feels authentic to its roots while still fitting seamlessly into modern life. That balance of history and relevance is, I think, what makes collectors so drawn to the M100, the M100A and of course the brand itself.
To get a sense of the watch's magnetism, I looked to the watch community for their views:
The M100A is the modern reinterpretation of the Cal59 WWW timepiece Vertex produced as part of the legendary Dirty Dozen. Its design is simple yet striking, featuring large 3D blocks of X1 Super-LumiNova that glow like a burst of energy. In my view, it’s the greatest field watch ever made. When Don Cochrane revived Vertex in 2015, he chose the M100 to lead the comeback—and every time I wear it, I’m reminded of the sacrifices made during the Second World War. The M100 is more than just a timepiece; it's an important period of history locked inside a steel case.
Yasin Zengin, @vertexcollector
It's amazing how one watch that was a trusty tool for soldiers in the Second World War is able to seamlessly span decades, captivating the most discerning modern-day collectors:
I first fell for Vertex at a Windup Watch Fair a few years ago, specifically, for the M100A. It wasn’t the kind of watch I usually chase; I tend to gravitate toward pieces that shout a little louder. But the M100A didn’t need to. It had that quiet, confident presence with a dial that sucked me in like the tractor beam from an Imperial Star Destroyer. Don Cochrane somehow distilled the essence of a field watch into its purest form, then turned every detail up just enough to make it feel special. And my favorite aspect was that he didn’t try to recreate the dirty dozen model from the brand’s history, rather he made something entirely modern. The dial is a deep, satisfying black; the X1-grade moulded Super-LumiNova doesn’t just glow, it performs a one-watch light show better than anything else I own, day or night. And the watch as a whole is a horological hoarder of strap-accumulation.
Over time, my admiration for Vertex grew beyond the watch itself. Once you delve into the brand’s history, you realize Don’s doing more than just reviving a name; he’s carrying a legacy with genuine respect and craftsmanship. Every model he’s released carries that same DNA of purpose and precision. And after meeting Don in London, the whole thing clicked: Vertex isn’t just a great watch brand, it’s a reflection of a guy who genuinely cares about making something excellent, without pretense or hype. The M100A may be my default “I don’t know what to wear” watch, but honestly, that’s only because it somehow fits every moment perfectly.
Chris Antzoulis, @poppingcrowns
The Concept
When brands commission artwork from me, I’m often given creative freedom to interpret their watches the way I see them, through my lens. Don was keen for me to use my vision for the artwork, so for the M100, I wanted to capture not just the watch itself, but the people and stories behind it.
War can often feel distant to those who haven't lived through it. When I was younger, my older brothers often talked about our grandfather’s service in WWII — stories I listened to but didn’t fully connect with at the time, being so young. They felt proud, fascinated; I felt... detached and dare I say bored by these 'olden days' stories.
That changed while researching for this collaboration. I started thinking about how the soldiers’ watches weren’t just tools — they were the consistent companion worn by those with the most unpredictable lives. That realisation shaped my concept for the piece: I was sure I needed a human element.
My eldest brother Guy, who knew most about our grandfather’s time in the war, became the natural choice, and with big hands like my Grandfather, I asked him to hold the watch for reference photos. His hand being the cradle the watch would sit in, his skin marked with earth, creases and fingerprints forming what looked like the maps soldiers might use to navigate the living nightmare of war.
The Artwork
Drawing any beloved watch is a challenge, especially one so treasured by collectors. But, add a human hand, wartime symbolism, and a pitch-black dial, and the pressure intensifies.
I’ve drawn dark dials before — recently for Brew Watches in New York — but the M100 felt darker still. This kind of black can’t be rushed; it needs endless layers, patience, and a lot of pencil sharpening. My fingers had strong opinions after the first week!
Once I’d mapped out the case structure, I started building tone slowly. The skin alone stole days from the project. The NATO strap, Arabic numerals, and sub-dial demanded a level of concentration, I am only able to achieve when I'm drawing.
As I work exclusively in graphite — no white ink or paint for highlights — there’s always a fine line between light and the murky smudges made by the movements from my hand pressed tightly against the paper. One wrong move and the 'shine' becomes a dull grey and the character is compromised. These were the sections that required caffeine rationing for very steady hands.
The Final Piece
After several weeks under magnifying glasses, the portrait is finally complete.
So here it is: my tribute to an icon — the Vertex M100. A watch born from war, reimagined in the modern age, and I've been delighted that, for the last few weeks, I've been part of its recreation in graphite.
For art prints of this piece, please email sophiescottlewis@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Yasin and Chris for their contribution to this article. Lastly, thank you to the team at Vertex for trusting me with this piece, it's been an honour.
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