Vero Launches the Meridian, a Casual Weekend Watch with a Manually Wound Movement

One of the big hits of the recently completed Windup Watch Fair in San Francisco came from Vero, a brand we’ve been covering for years. The transformation that Vero has made as a company doesn’t get enough coverage. Longtime readers might remember the time we took a look at how Vero was manufacturing watches at their Oregon headquarters, but since that time, the brand has changed their strategy and found their groove with an entirely new aesthetic. In 2021, with the launch of the Open Water diver, Vero made a hard pivot toward outsourcing their manufacturing to trusted Swiss partners, and refocusing the brand on customer service (they now offer a ten year warranty) and shifting the design language into something a little bolder and more colorful. The Open Water and Workhorse Chrono have proven to be durable hits on the microbrand scene, each spawning multiple new references since they made their debuts, and now they’re joined by the Meridian, a handsome manually wound piece that is a completely Vero take on the classic field watch.   

Vero characterizes the Meridian as a “weekend watch,” which is borne out in the casual color schemes of the two models that recently launched the collection. First up is the Rambler, a bright blue dial with a red and white outer track, and easy to read black Arabic numerals at each hour. We also have the Rally, which is something of an inversion of the Rambler with its cream colored dial and accents in the perimeter in blue and red. Each dial has a sunken inner section where you’ll find the brand’s wordmark for some added depth and visual interest, and hands are simple rectangles with a black base and inlaid lume.

The cases are 38mm in stainless steel, and are defined largely by their wide, radially brushed bezel, which contrasts with case flanks that have been given an attractive high polish. The appearance is clean and simple, and in a medium size they are meant to be unobtrusive and easy to wear. The watches are mounted to a very nice five link bracelet that uses the Nodus developed “NodeX” push button micro-adjustment clasp. 

In terms of specs, we kind of know what to expect from Vero. The brand’s identity is very much tied to outdoor adventure, and the Meridian is equipped to handle just about anything you can throw at it, short of the deepest dives. It has a 100 meter water resistance rating and a flat sapphire crystal, and the movement is the rock solid Sellita SW-210 manually wound caliber. It’ll run for 42 hours on a full wind, and has been custom decorated with black coated plates, heat blued screws, and “snail finished” gears. It bears repeating here that the Meridian, like all of Vero’s new watches, has a 10 year, no questions asked warranty, which is basically unheard of for watches in this category, and should do as much as any of the watch’s specs to alleviate concerns about durability during any potential activities. 

The Meridian is available now through Vero’s website at a retail price of $795. Vero