Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 088 unique: Introducing the Springfield 088, or as we call it, the “Republican”—a timepiece that beautifully merges history, craftsmanship, and a touch of American legacy. At its heart is an Illinois movement from 1916, distinguished by a unique Abraham Lincoln insignia. This mark isn’t just decorative; it’s a tribute to one of Illinois’ greatest historical figures, aligning perfectly with the Illinois Watch Company’s values of precision, quality, and American pride. The A. Lincoln designation was reserved for high-quality movements, symbolizing reliability and integrity—a testament to Illinois’ watchmaking heritage.
The dial on this piece is a true rarity. It’s a Montgomery dial designed to meet railroad standards, featuring a full set of second markers and the distinctive “6” on the hour sub-dial—a detail rarely seen. Another unique feature is the 18-mark in the seconds sub-dial, a nod to the Canadian 24-hour standard, adding an international twist to this distinctly American piece. These elements make the Springfield 088 a collector’s dream, carrying both functional precision and historical significance.
Wrapped in a polished 45mm stainless steel case with brushed-finish lugs, an angled polished steel bezel with a brushed face, and a knurled Vortic-machined crown, the watch balances elegance with durability. Paired with a deep navy strap from Worn & Wound and a sturdy Vortic steel buckle, it’s designed to make an impression. The Springfield 088 is more than a watch—it’s a piece of history, a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, and a story you’ll love to share.
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.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2024
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Polished Steel Case
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4210035
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 21 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 088 unique: Introducing the Springfield 088, or as we call it, the “Republican”—a timepiece that beautifully merges history, craftsmanship, and a touch of American legacy. At its heart is an Illinois movement from 1916, distinguished by a unique Abraham Lincoln insignia. This mark isn’t just decorative; it’s a tribute to one of Illinois’ greatest historical figures, aligning perfectly with the Illinois Watch Company’s values of precision, quality, and American pride. The A. Lincoln designation was reserved for high-quality movements, symbolizing reliability and integrity—a testament to Illinois’ watchmaking heritage.
The dial on this piece is a true rarity. It’s a Montgomery dial designed to meet railroad standards, featuring a full set of second markers and the distinctive “6” on the hour sub-dial—a detail rarely seen. Another unique feature is the 18-mark in the seconds sub-dial, a nod to the Canadian 24-hour standard, adding an international twist to this distinctly American piece. These elements make the Springfield 088 a collector’s dream, carrying both functional precision and historical significance.
Wrapped in a polished 45mm stainless steel case with brushed-finish lugs, an angled polished steel bezel with a brushed face, and a knurled Vortic-machined crown, the watch balances elegance with durability. Paired with a deep navy strap from Worn & Wound and a sturdy Vortic steel buckle, it’s designed to make an impression. The Springfield 088 is more than a watch—it’s a piece of history, a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, and a story you’ll love to share.
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.
