Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 120 Unique:
The Springfield 120 immediately distinguishes itself through the quiet complexity of its dial. A softly aged, ivory-toned surface carries a subtle, naturally developed patina that speaks to more than a century of timekeeping. Bold, stylized, Arabic numerals anchor the layout, framed by a clean minute track that keeps the design legible and purposeful. At 6 o’clock, an unconventional hexagonal sub-seconds register replaces the traditional circular form, adding architectural interest without disrupting the balance of the dial. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue tone and slender profile provide crisp contrast against the warm, time-worn surface.
Inside, the Springfield 120 is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1916. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals finely finished bridges, polished steel components, and gold-plated gears arranged with the disciplined symmetry Illinois Watch Company was known for. The jewel settings and carefully executed finishing reflect an era when mechanical precision and visual refinement were treated as inseparable qualities.
We housed this movement in a sandblasted stainless steel case that offers a muted, utilitarian counterpoint to the ornate dial within. A sandblasted coin-edge bezel introduces tactile texture while remaining faithful to early 20th-century design language, and the vertically grooved sandblasted-steel crown provides confident grip and visual continuity. The watch is paired with an American-made leather strap in a warm rye tone, its natural grain and stitching complementing the dial’s patina and reinforcing the Springfield 120’s cohesive, historically grounded aesthetic.
In 1916, American industry was operating at full momentum as the nation prepared to support Allied Forces in the growing global conflict overseas. Precision manufacturing became increasingly critical, driving advances in tooling, materials, and quality control across industries—including watchmaking. Illinois Watch Company stood at the forefront of this shift, producing movements built for reliability under demanding conditions. The Springfield 120 reflects that moment in history, preserving a watch born from necessity, craftsmanship, and enduring American ingenuity.
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: Sandblasted Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Domed Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Leather Strap in Rye by W&W with Nickel-Plated Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3051189
- Manufacture Year: 1916
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 120 Unique:
The Springfield 120 immediately distinguishes itself through the quiet complexity of its dial. A softly aged, ivory-toned surface carries a subtle, naturally developed patina that speaks to more than a century of timekeeping. Bold, stylized, Arabic numerals anchor the layout, framed by a clean minute track that keeps the design legible and purposeful. At 6 o’clock, an unconventional hexagonal sub-seconds register replaces the traditional circular form, adding architectural interest without disrupting the balance of the dial. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, whose deep blue tone and slender profile provide crisp contrast against the warm, time-worn surface.
Inside, the Springfield 120 is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1916. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals finely finished bridges, polished steel components, and gold-plated gears arranged with the disciplined symmetry Illinois Watch Company was known for. The jewel settings and carefully executed finishing reflect an era when mechanical precision and visual refinement were treated as inseparable qualities.
We housed this movement in a sandblasted stainless steel case that offers a muted, utilitarian counterpoint to the ornate dial within. A sandblasted coin-edge bezel introduces tactile texture while remaining faithful to early 20th-century design language, and the vertically grooved sandblasted-steel crown provides confident grip and visual continuity. The watch is paired with an American-made leather strap in a warm rye tone, its natural grain and stitching complementing the dial’s patina and reinforcing the Springfield 120’s cohesive, historically grounded aesthetic.
In 1916, American industry was operating at full momentum as the nation prepared to support Allied Forces in the growing global conflict overseas. Precision manufacturing became increasingly critical, driving advances in tooling, materials, and quality control across industries—including watchmaking. Illinois Watch Company stood at the forefront of this shift, producing movements built for reliability under demanding conditions. The Springfield 120 reflects that moment in history, preserving a watch born from necessity, craftsmanship, and enduring American ingenuity.
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.
