Review of the Vero Meridian Manual Wound

Within the growing market of micro and independent horology, a few brands stand out as offering unique models that sometimes become iconic in their own right: the trademark of said brand, if you will. One such entity is Vero, an American brand that makes purpose-driven tool watches that do not have an equivalent on the market today. This is due not only to their looks but also their specs and relative affordability. Vero has made a name for themselves with their Rally and Sunset collections, 36mm time-only daily wears with souls of their own. Recently, the brand re-created these iconic models by releasing the Meridian Manual Wound which we’re going to look at today. 

Source: www.calibre321.com

The Ingenious Design of the Meridian 

At first glance, the Meridian Manual Wound looks both classic and original. Before we go any further, you should know that this model comes in three color variants—Rally (pictured here), Rambler (blue), and SickAlps (lichen green). Each variant offers a different vibe given its unique color scheme and accents. The Rally is the one that seems the most versatile to me, having a cream-colored dial with accents of blue and red around the hour markers. There is no minute track here because Vero wanted to keep the dial as clean as possible. What also makes this model look “clean” (for the lack of a better word) is the minimalist branding: only a small logo and the brand name above the pinion.

Source: www.calibre321.com

Black fencepost hour and minute hands and a black seconds hand contrast superbly with the cream background. The Arabic numerals hour markers, also printed in black, perfectly match the hands. The goal here was to make this watch as legible as possible; I would say the brand did so successfully. Being a field watch, there is of course a lot of lume. There are lume plots on the hour and minute hands, as well as right outside the hour markers in the form of dots. The concentric red and blue outlines add an interesting visual element and make it possible to ever-so-gently determine where the lume plots are. 

Source: www.wornandwound.com

A Classic Case Profile for Ultimate Wearability  

Measuring a modern 38mm in diameter, 44.5mm lug-to-lug, 9.4mm thick and coming with a 18mm lug width, the Meridian has the dimensions that will please many watch enthusiasts. It wears perfectly on my 6.25”/16cm wrist, especially given how thin it is. The case also comes with a classic profile that sits flat on the wrist, complemented with narrow lugs that gently turn down towards the wrist. The fixed stepped bezel works well here with this type of watch as it endows the Meridian with an air of restrained sportiness. While the case comes with a predominance of brushed surfaces, it does have polished flanks which create interesting angles in various lighting conditions.

Source: www.ablogtowatch.com

The Specs that Make it the Perfect GADA Watch

Now we know that the Vero Meridian Manual Wound looks classic and versatile, and has reasonable dimensions. What else makes it a great GADA (go-anywhere-do-anything) timepiece? Well, first of all, there is the Sellita SW210-01 manual movement within, which beats at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and comes with 42 hours of power reserve. The movement can be observed thanks to a see-through sapphire case-back and is actually a handsome one to look at. The top crystal is also made of sapphire and the Meridian is rated to 100 meters of water resistance. All of this means the Vero Meridian will run well, be easy to read, and comfortable to wear all day long. 

Source: www.watchuseek.com

The Vero Meridian Manual Wind Is a Complete Package 

What’s more is that this model comes with a custom-made leather strap and a fully articulated stainless steel bracelet complete with faux rivets that give it a serious vintage look. Vero partnered with another popular American brand, Nodus, to equip the clasp with the NodeX, Nodus’ proprietary on-the-fly micro-adjust system. This clasp endows the Meridian with a true everyday feel being comfortable to wear and adjust any time. Lastly, it should be noted that all Vero watches come with a 10-year no-questions-asked warranty, something unheard of in the industry. 

Source: www.ablogtowatch.com

Final Thoughts 

Retailing for $795, the Vero Meridian Manual Wind offers great value. Not only does it have great specs but it also has a look of its own. As someone who reviews many watches, I rarely come across field/GADA watches that are attractive, well-made, and offer tremendous specs for the money. I believe that’s what we have here. However, if you are not looking for this type of watch but rather a diver or a chronograph, I suggest giving Vero’s website a look as their catalog is varied and interesting. They make watches for all types of adventurous watch collectors and they most likely have a model for you.