Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 1138 unique:
The Springfield 1138 immediately draws you in with a dial that feels like it belongs to another galaxy. Its rich golden tone is amplified by an aged patina that hints at a lifetime of adventures—some of them perhaps even light-years away. The patina’d sub-seconds dial adds sharp contrast and balance with heavy moon-style hands—blued steel and battle-worn. Look closely and you’ll notice the dial’s subtle textural shifts under the domed crystal—details that whisper of long-forgotten missions and stories etched in metal.
Inside, this piece is powered by a 17-jewel Autocrat movement from Illinois, manufactured in 1922. What makes this movement truly extraordinary is its two-tone finish: alternating rhodium and brass bridge plates form a layered, armor-like structure—like the inner workings of a golden protocol droid. Engraved scrollwork and mechanical symmetry suggest intention and elegance, reinforced by polished steel gears and screws that gleam.
We encased this remarkable movement in our 47mm titanium case, which features a specialized “gilded” surface treatment that gives it a muted, warm-metal finish—an aesthetic nod to mechanical legends of science fiction. The notched bezel and knurled crown echo industrial design elements from classic galactic starships, while a warm-toned leather strap keeps things grounded in earthy resilience. It’s a tactile blend of old-world craftsmanship and otherworldly character.
The original movement of this timepiece was manufactured in 1922—the same year that American inventor Philo Farnsworth first sketched the design for an image dissector, the core technology that would later make television possible. A device built to transmit images across space and time—how fitting for a watch like this. With The Springfield 1138, we’re not just preserving history—we’re launching it into a new dimension.
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: Gilded Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3099955
- Manufacture Year: 1917
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 1138 unique:
The Springfield 1138 immediately draws you in with a dial that feels like it belongs to another galaxy. Its rich golden tone is amplified by an aged patina that hints at a lifetime of adventures—some of them perhaps even light-years away. The patina’d sub-seconds dial adds sharp contrast and balance with heavy moon-style hands—blued steel and battle-worn. Look closely and you’ll notice the dial’s subtle textural shifts under the domed crystal—details that whisper of long-forgotten missions and stories etched in metal.
Inside, this piece is powered by a 17-jewel Autocrat movement from Illinois, manufactured in 1922. What makes this movement truly extraordinary is its two-tone finish: alternating rhodium and brass bridge plates form a layered, armor-like structure—like the inner workings of a golden protocol droid. Engraved scrollwork and mechanical symmetry suggest intention and elegance, reinforced by polished steel gears and screws that gleam.
We encased this remarkable movement in our 47mm titanium case, which features a specialized “gilded” surface treatment that gives it a muted, warm-metal finish—an aesthetic nod to mechanical legends of science fiction. The notched bezel and knurled crown echo industrial design elements from classic galactic starships, while a warm-toned leather strap keeps things grounded in earthy resilience. It’s a tactile blend of old-world craftsmanship and otherworldly character.
The original movement of this timepiece was manufactured in 1922—the same year that American inventor Philo Farnsworth first sketched the design for an image dissector, the core technology that would later make television possible. A device built to transmit images across space and time—how fitting for a watch like this. With The Springfield 1138, we’re not just preserving history—we’re launching it into a new dimension.
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.
