Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 108 Unique:
The Springfield 108 presents a crisp white dial that immediately emphasizes clarity and balance, framed by bold black Arabic numerals that stand out with striking contrast. A clean chapter ring encircles the dial, reinforcing its instrument-like precision, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds depth and symmetry to the layout. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep, inky tone anchors the design and maintains excellent legibility. Subtle custom lume has been thoughtfully applied to the hands and select indices, enhancing low-light usability while remaining visually discreet in daylight.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1917. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals rich two-toned bridges and plates, accented by beautifully executed engraving that reflects the decorative standards of early 20th-century American watchmaking. The interplay of warm gold tones, polished steel components, and finely finished details gives the movement a visual presence that is both refined and purposeful. This is definitely a watch you'll want to take off and show people so they can see the back!
The movement is housed in our Version 3 machined steel case, finished in a clean, brushed texture that complements the dial’s brightness. A machined steel coin-edge bezel introduces tactile detail and subtle visual rhythm, while the knurled machined-steel crown provides confident grip and durability. We paired the case with a black ebony leather strap that grounds the watch in a classic, understated aesthetic and allows the dial and movement to take center stage.
In 1917, American industry was rapidly shifting to support World War I, with factories across the country adapting their production to meet unprecedented demands for precision equipment. That same focus on reliability and exacting standards defined Illinois Watch Company movements of the era, which were built to perform under pressure—making this watch a fitting representation of American craftsmanship during a pivotal moment in 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: 2024
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Ebony Leather by Hadley Roma with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3141246
- Manufacture Year: 1917
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel Hands
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 108 Unique:
The Springfield 108 presents a crisp white dial that immediately emphasizes clarity and balance, framed by bold black Arabic numerals that stand out with striking contrast. A clean chapter ring encircles the dial, reinforcing its instrument-like precision, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds depth and symmetry to the layout. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep, inky tone anchors the design and maintains excellent legibility. Subtle custom lume has been thoughtfully applied to the hands and select indices, enhancing low-light usability while remaining visually discreet in daylight.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1917. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals rich two-toned bridges and plates, accented by beautifully executed engraving that reflects the decorative standards of early 20th-century American watchmaking. The interplay of warm gold tones, polished steel components, and finely finished details gives the movement a visual presence that is both refined and purposeful. This is definitely a watch you'll want to take off and show people so they can see the back!
The movement is housed in our Version 3 machined steel case, finished in a clean, brushed texture that complements the dial’s brightness. A machined steel coin-edge bezel introduces tactile detail and subtle visual rhythm, while the knurled machined-steel crown provides confident grip and durability. We paired the case with a black ebony leather strap that grounds the watch in a classic, understated aesthetic and allows the dial and movement to take center stage.
In 1917, American industry was rapidly shifting to support World War I, with factories across the country adapting their production to meet unprecedented demands for precision equipment. That same focus on reliability and exacting standards defined Illinois Watch Company movements of the era, which were built to perform under pressure—making this watch a fitting representation of American craftsmanship during a pivotal moment in history.
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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.
