Vertu is a British luxury mobile phone manufacturer originally established in 1998 as a subsidiary of Nokia. The company was conceived by Frank Nuovo, Nokia's chief designer at the time, with the goal of creating handcrafted mobile phones using premium materials traditionally associated with fine jewelry and watchmaking. Vertu operated as part of Nokia until 2012, when it was sold to a private equity consortium. The brand subsequently changed ownership multiple times, passing through EQT Partners and later a Chinese-led investor group.
Vertu's phones are assembled by hand at the company's facility in Church Crookham, England, with each device bearing the signature of the individual craftsperson who built it. Materials used in construction include titanium, sapphire crystal displays, ceramic, precious metals, and exotic leathers. The brand's product lines have included the Signature, Constellation, and Aster collections, each defined by distinct form factors and material specifications. Sapphire crystal, which is significantly more scratch-resistant than glass, has been a hallmark of Vertu screens since the brand's inception.
A distinguishing feature of Vertu ownership has been the Vertu Concierge service, providing 24/7 personal assistance to device owners. This lifestyle concierge offering connects users with a dedicated team for travel bookings, restaurant reservations, event access, and other premium services.
Vertu phones have historically been priced from several thousand dollars for entry-level models to over one hundred thousand dollars for limited editions incorporating diamonds and rare materials. The brand occupies a singular position in the mobile phone market, targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals who value handcrafted exclusivity and materials-driven luxury in personal technology.