Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 429 Unique:
The Springfield 429 immediately draws the eye with its warmly aged dial, where antique patina has settled into a soft, even tone that speaks to nearly a century of life. At the center, beautifully executed engraving adds depth and texture, catching the light as the watch moves and giving the dial a refined sense of craftsmanship. Bold black numerals frame the layout with confident legibility, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces visual balance and a subtle change in texture. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue hue offers crisp contrast against the patinated surface and reinforces the watch’s classic American character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1926. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals elegant Geneva striping across the bridges, polished steel components, and warm gold-toned gears that shimmer with motion. The layout reflects the precision and attention to detail that Illinois was known for during this era, showcasing both functional engineering and thoughtful finishing.
The movement is housed in our machined titanium case, finished to a smooth, understated sheen that allows the dial to remain the focal point. A matching machined titanium bezel frames the crystal cleanly, while the knurled nickel-plated crown provides a tactile, purposeful feel when setting the time. Completing the watch is a black leather strap that grounds the design and complements the dial’s darker tones, creating a balanced and versatile overall aesthetic.
In 1926, American industry was experiencing a period of rapid modernization, with manufacturers across the country refining mass production techniques while still emphasizing craftsmanship and quality. Watchmakers like Illinois played a central role in this evolution, producing precise, durable movements that reflected the growing confidence of American manufacturing during the Roaring Twenties.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Illinois Watch Company. We call this model "The Springfield" because the company was located in Springfield, Illinois.
Originally called the Springfield Watch Company, Illinois came to Springfield, Illinois in 1869 while the "modern" watch industry was fairly new but highly promising. City officials felt that the addition of industry to the city of Springfield would be excellent for the city's growth. However, after a series of failures and re-brandings, the company had a slow start until 1903 when they decided to manufacture high-quality watches only. Eventually making some of the most beautiful watches of their time, the company sold to Hamilton in 1927. Hamilton continued producing watches under the Illinois name for some time, but the original Springfield factory no longer stands.
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Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2024
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 47mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4748283
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 429 Unique:
The Springfield 429 immediately draws the eye with its warmly aged dial, where antique patina has settled into a soft, even tone that speaks to nearly a century of life. At the center, beautifully executed engraving adds depth and texture, catching the light as the watch moves and giving the dial a refined sense of craftsmanship. Bold black numerals frame the layout with confident legibility, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces visual balance and a subtle change in texture. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue hue offers crisp contrast against the patinated surface and reinforces the watch’s classic American character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1926. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals elegant Geneva striping across the bridges, polished steel components, and warm gold-toned gears that shimmer with motion. The layout reflects the precision and attention to detail that Illinois was known for during this era, showcasing both functional engineering and thoughtful finishing.
The movement is housed in our machined titanium case, finished to a smooth, understated sheen that allows the dial to remain the focal point. A matching machined titanium bezel frames the crystal cleanly, while the knurled nickel-plated crown provides a tactile, purposeful feel when setting the time. Completing the watch is a black leather strap that grounds the design and complements the dial’s darker tones, creating a balanced and versatile overall aesthetic.
In 1926, American industry was experiencing a period of rapid modernization, with manufacturers across the country refining mass production techniques while still emphasizing craftsmanship and quality. Watchmakers like Illinois played a central role in this evolution, producing precise, durable movements that reflected the growing confidence of American manufacturing during the Roaring Twenties.
Let customers speak for us
The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
