Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 099 unique:
This Springfield 099 features an early 20th-century Illinois Watch Company movement, a testament to American watchmaking excellence. Encased in a robust steel case with a machined finish, this watch offers durability with a timeless aesthetic. The smooth bezel, also crafted from machined steel, complements the case perfectly, while the knurled steel crown adds a tactile and functional touch.
The dial tells its own story, showcasing vertical pinstripes that hint at the watch’s rich history. The worn black numerals reveal subtle signs of age, adding character and authenticity. Completing the design are the blued kite hands, which provide an elegant contrast and enhance the vintage charm of this piece.
Paired with a classic black American-made leather strap, the Springfield 099 seamlessly blends historical significance with modern craftsmanship. It’s a distinctive watch that honors the past while standing out in the present—a true reflection of American ingenuity and design.
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 Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4476340
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 19 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 099 unique:
This Springfield 099 features an early 20th-century Illinois Watch Company movement, a testament to American watchmaking excellence. Encased in a robust steel case with a machined finish, this watch offers durability with a timeless aesthetic. The smooth bezel, also crafted from machined steel, complements the case perfectly, while the knurled steel crown adds a tactile and functional touch.
The dial tells its own story, showcasing vertical pinstripes that hint at the watch’s rich history. The worn black numerals reveal subtle signs of age, adding character and authenticity. Completing the design are the blued kite hands, which provide an elegant contrast and enhance the vintage charm of this piece.
Paired with a classic black American-made leather strap, the Springfield 099 seamlessly blends historical significance with modern craftsmanship. It’s a distinctive watch that honors the past while standing out in the present—a true reflection of American ingenuity and design.
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.