Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 101 unique:
This Springfield 101 showcases a dial rich with character, its speckled patina and worn numerals telling the story of nearly a century of use since its creation in 1926. The blued kite hands glide elegantly across the ornate dial, which features an intricate pattern and bold numerals. Every mark and faded detail serves as a testament to this piece’s history and enduring craftsmanship.
Inside, this watch houses a 21-jewel manual-wind movement produced by the Illinois Watch Company. The movement proudly bears the “A. Lincoln” designation, a mark reserved for high-grade movements known for precision and reliability. Named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, these movements were crafted to meet exacting standards, reflecting the quality and prestige of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
Encased in a machined stainless steel case with a matching stainless steel back, this piece offers durability and a sleek, timeless aesthetic. The robust knurled crown completes the look, providing a functional yet stylish accent. Paired with a classic black leather strap, the Springfield 101 is a harmonious blend of historical significance and modern refinement—a true celebration of American horological heritage.
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: 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: 4786327
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 21 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 101 unique:
This Springfield 101 showcases a dial rich with character, its speckled patina and worn numerals telling the story of nearly a century of use since its creation in 1926. The blued kite hands glide elegantly across the ornate dial, which features an intricate pattern and bold numerals. Every mark and faded detail serves as a testament to this piece’s history and enduring craftsmanship.
Inside, this watch houses a 21-jewel manual-wind movement produced by the Illinois Watch Company. The movement proudly bears the “A. Lincoln” designation, a mark reserved for high-grade movements known for precision and reliability. Named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, these movements were crafted to meet exacting standards, reflecting the quality and prestige of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
Encased in a machined stainless steel case with a matching stainless steel back, this piece offers durability and a sleek, timeless aesthetic. The robust knurled crown completes the look, providing a functional yet stylish accent. Paired with a classic black leather strap, the Springfield 101 is a harmonious blend of historical significance and modern refinement—a true celebration of American horological heritage.
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.
