Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 113 unique:
We don't see blue numerals like this very often, but when we do, we have the perfect blue strap for it. Take a close look at this dial to see a very unique patina likely because this original 1923 Illinois pocket watch dial, hands, and movement were outside its pocket watch case before we found it. Many of these antique American pocket watches come from pawn shops where the gold or silver case was scrapped for its precious metal value, leaving this piece of history discarded.
Our watchmakers restored the beautiful Illinois Autocrat movement and did their best to preserve the authenticity of the dial while leaving this patina. Interestingly enough, 1923 was the year that Caterpillar Tractor Company was started in Peoria, Illinois, just down the street from Springfield where this movement was manufactured. We used our machined steel case and crown to house this beauty and not take away from the art that is the dial.
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: 2025
- 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: 4434824
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 113 unique:
We don't see blue numerals like this very often, but when we do, we have the perfect blue strap for it. Take a close look at this dial to see a very unique patina likely because this original 1923 Illinois pocket watch dial, hands, and movement were outside its pocket watch case before we found it. Many of these antique American pocket watches come from pawn shops where the gold or silver case was scrapped for its precious metal value, leaving this piece of history discarded.
Our watchmakers restored the beautiful Illinois Autocrat movement and did their best to preserve the authenticity of the dial while leaving this patina. Interestingly enough, 1923 was the year that Caterpillar Tractor Company was started in Peoria, Illinois, just down the street from Springfield where this movement was manufactured. We used our machined steel case and crown to house this beauty and not take away from the art that is the dial.
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.
