Modern life, without owning at least one cellphone, is unthinkable. Cellphone buyers number amongst themselves individuals who demand the best. Vertu was established in 1998 with these buyers in mind, and to create an entirely new kind of crafted, luxury phone: a truly exceptional handset.
Vertu combined world class expertise in mobile technology with the outstanding craftsmanship of seasoned watchmakers and jewellers. They started with a blank canvas and worked from the inside out. Vertu is not about wrapping an existing product in an aesthetic case. Every component in every handset is exclusively made to Vertu’s own design, and put in its exact place by hand. At Vertu, the normal compromises of modern production simply don’t apply. Theirr goal, in a word, is perfection.
In 1995 Frank Nuovo, Nokia’s visionary Principal Designer, began to develop his idea for a specialist company producing the world’s most exceptional handsets. His core statement was: “there are no limits. The only goal is to create a truly exceptional handset.”
Two years later Nokia made his vision a reality and Vertu’s team of specialists began a programme of research and development. They took the finest materials from the world of watch making, automotive, aeronautics and jewellery, using them in ways that had never been done before.
Hidden away in the leafy English countryside, Vertu’s custom - built workshop is where each Vertu handsetis expertly assembled by hand.
Inside the building, Vertu craftsmen work in near-sterile, individual workshops, to ensure each Vertu piece is assembled in dust-free conditions.
The high-security building is also home to Vertu’s design and research & development operations, as well as housing its rigorous testing facilities.
Research and Development - Every component for each handset in the Vertu range is specifically researched, developed and designed by the most talented individuals in mobile engineering. Expert teams work together to produce the perfect combination of materials, components and designs that come together in the final blueprints for each handset.
Hand built by experts - It takes up to three years to master assembling a Vertu handset. Vertu recruits individuals with a passion for performing intricate tasks to perfection. Today there are only a handful of craftsmen in the world who have passed this extraordinarily detailed apprenticeship. Some of the screws are so small that just four human hairs can fit into a single thread.
Each handset is made up of hundreds of components, every one designed and made exclusively for Vertu and put in its exact place by hand.
The exclusive results - Hand-made in England, each Vertu handset is a masterpiece of design, engineering and craftsmanship. Vertu handsets are exceptional and owned by discerning people around the world.
Vertu Signature:
Inspired by the world of watch making and jewellery, each handset includes 388 mechanical components
Vertu Ascent:
Inspired by the design of classic sports cars and is as tough as it is elegant
Vertu Constellation:
Inspired by the World of Jet Set Travel. Finished in stainless steel or gold with an exceptional balance to weight ratio, it is the perfect example of how craftsmanship transcends borders.
Only the finest materials
When you pick up a Vertu handset, you instantly have a sense of the materials in your hand: leather that is found in the most luxurious cars, sapphire crystal of extraordinary hardness, jewelled bearings that are found in the finest watches. Each plays a part in the exceptional overall feel and balance.
The screen of every Vertu handset is made from sapphire crystal, a material famed for its clarity and durability.
Its extraordinary hardness makes it a very difficult material to polish. In fact it takes two days of continuous polishing in a secret process to provide the required level of smoothness.
For toughness Vertu employs surgical 316L stainless steel. It‘s hypoallergenic and extremely resistant to corrosion.
The acoustic profile of the loudspeaker used in a Vertu handset precisely matches the sensitivity characteristics of the human ear. The 20 mm speaker is 50 % larger than those used in normal mobile phones.
There is no batch or random testing at Vertu. Every single handset is scrupulously inspected. If one fails for however small a reason, it is sent back and re-assembled. Furthermore before a new design can be approved for production, a prototype must first be subjected to a series of rigorous durability tests. Here is a selection of Vertu’s development tests: Extreme temperatures freeze a handset to -40C° for two hours. It is then put straight into an oven at +85C° for another two hours. Five times in a row.
Each key is tested with more than a million presses - a total of more than 36 million presses across the entire keypad. The equivalent of making 10 calls a day, every day for 25 years.
The display screen is tested by a ball bearing dropped from a height. For a typical plastic handset a 13gr ball will crack the screen. Vertu uses a 64gr ball, which bounces off the sapphire crystal.
Vertu Signature - “ the chairman’s phone”
The Vertu Signature Collection makes an unmistakable statement.
Fine craftsmanship and elegant detail lend it a distinctive presence that effortlessly places it above all other mobiles. This collection is for those who want something precious that sets them apart. Influenced by fine watches and beautiful pieces of jewellery, each handset shows an extraordinary level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. A total of 74 patents protect its design and development.
Vertu Ascent - “engineered for strength”
The Vertu Ascent is the ultimate trophy to demonstrate status and success. The way that the handset is made - the materials that are used, the design and features - all convey strength and highest quality engineering. Like a high performance sports car the Ascent is “over-engineered” for toughness, strength and durability.
Liquidmetal/Titanium, leather, ceramic and sapphire crystal enforce its feel of performance and dynamism. Many design details show its inspiration from high performance sports cars.
Vertu Constellation - “jet set elegance”
Constellation is the classic of the Vertu range. It is timeless and elegant. Elegance is not about being overtly showy; it is innately confident and sure-footed. Elegance is understated style.
Constellation is the Armani of handsets - it comes to life when it is handled and instills the owner with the self-confidence that great quality and craftsmanship affords.
You can find Vertu cellphones in Kuwait at the Vertu Boutique, in Salhiya. Telephone 2241 1956
First Published in Men's Passion Issue #23 June-July-August 2010
