Watch Description
What makes The Springfield 091 unique:
The Springfield 091 is defined by the refined surface of its dial, finished with an exquisite satin texture and a natural, soft patina that catches the light in soft, shifting bands. The effect gives the dial a quiet depth, allowing the bold black Arabic numerals to stand out with clarity while still feeling cohesive and restrained. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds both dimensionality and balance, its circular track clearly delineated from the main dial surface. We preserved the watch’s original blue steel hands, whose vivid tone provides a striking yet elegant contrast against the pale satin background and reinforces the watch’s early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 21-jewel Illinois movement, visible through the open caseback. The movement features distinctive linear engraving across the bridges, creating a rhythmic pattern that draws the eye while emphasizing the precision of its construction. Gold-plated gears, polished steel components, and carefully set jewels reflect the level of finishing Illinois movements were known for, combining visual refinement with mechanical reliability.
We housed this movement in a machined titanium case that keeps the watch lightweight while maintaining a solid, purposeful presence on the wrist. The smooth bezel is finished in stonewashed titanium, softening reflections and complementing the dial’s satin texture. A vertically grooved titanium crown provides tactile grip for winding and setting, and the watch is finished with a camel leather strap that adds warmth and balances the cool, modern tone of the case.
The Illinois movement inside The Springfield 091 was manufactured in 1925, a year when American industry was reaching new levels of efficiency and refinement. Manufacturing advances allowed companies to improve consistency and finishing without sacrificing durability, resulting in products that were both reliable and thoughtfully executed. This watch reflects that moment in time—where craftsmanship and industrial progress worked hand in hand—now preserved as a wearable piece of American horological history.
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: 1925
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: 22mm Camel Leather - Hadley Roma
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4612679
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 21 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes The Springfield 091 unique:
The Springfield 091 is defined by the refined surface of its dial, finished with an exquisite satin texture and a natural, soft patina that catches the light in soft, shifting bands. The effect gives the dial a quiet depth, allowing the bold black Arabic numerals to stand out with clarity while still feeling cohesive and restrained. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds both dimensionality and balance, its circular track clearly delineated from the main dial surface. We preserved the watch’s original blue steel hands, whose vivid tone provides a striking yet elegant contrast against the pale satin background and reinforces the watch’s early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 21-jewel Illinois movement, visible through the open caseback. The movement features distinctive linear engraving across the bridges, creating a rhythmic pattern that draws the eye while emphasizing the precision of its construction. Gold-plated gears, polished steel components, and carefully set jewels reflect the level of finishing Illinois movements were known for, combining visual refinement with mechanical reliability.
We housed this movement in a machined titanium case that keeps the watch lightweight while maintaining a solid, purposeful presence on the wrist. The smooth bezel is finished in stonewashed titanium, softening reflections and complementing the dial’s satin texture. A vertically grooved titanium crown provides tactile grip for winding and setting, and the watch is finished with a camel leather strap that adds warmth and balances the cool, modern tone of the case.
The Illinois movement inside The Springfield 091 was manufactured in 1925, a year when American industry was reaching new levels of efficiency and refinement. Manufacturing advances allowed companies to improve consistency and finishing without sacrificing durability, resulting in products that were both reliable and thoughtfully executed. This watch reflects that moment in time—where craftsmanship and industrial progress worked hand in hand—now preserved as a wearable piece of American horological history.
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.
