Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 123 unique:
The Springfield 123 is a true standout, boasting an eye-catching gold dial that shimmers with a warmth rarely seen in antique pocket watches. This rich golden hue is beautifully accented by deep black spade and whip hands, creating a striking contrast that enhances legibility and elegance. The sub-seconds dial at six o’clock is framed by a classic double-rail minute track, a refined touch that showcases the craftsmanship of its era.
Powering this timepiece is a 17-jewel Illinois movement, a testament to the precision and artistry of early American watchmaking. Originally designed as a hunting-style pocket watch, this movement was crafted with the crown at three o’clock, rather than the traditional twelve o’clock placement. This unique configuration was intended for pocket watches with a protective cover, making this conversion all the more special as it preserves an element of the movement’s original design.
Encased in a bronze case with a matching bronze crown, this watch exudes vintage charm. The warm metallic tones of the case perfectly complement the golden dial, while the black leather strap adds a bold and sophisticated finish. This is a watch that doesn’t just tell time—it demands attention.
In 1922, the year this movement was produced, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Designed as a lasting tribute to one of America’s greatest leaders, this monument became an enduring symbol of American resilience and history—much like this Illinois timepiece, a carefully preserved piece 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: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4107060
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 123 unique:
The Springfield 123 is a true standout, boasting an eye-catching gold dial that shimmers with a warmth rarely seen in antique pocket watches. This rich golden hue is beautifully accented by deep black spade and whip hands, creating a striking contrast that enhances legibility and elegance. The sub-seconds dial at six o’clock is framed by a classic double-rail minute track, a refined touch that showcases the craftsmanship of its era.
Powering this timepiece is a 17-jewel Illinois movement, a testament to the precision and artistry of early American watchmaking. Originally designed as a hunting-style pocket watch, this movement was crafted with the crown at three o’clock, rather than the traditional twelve o’clock placement. This unique configuration was intended for pocket watches with a protective cover, making this conversion all the more special as it preserves an element of the movement’s original design.
Encased in a bronze case with a matching bronze crown, this watch exudes vintage charm. The warm metallic tones of the case perfectly complement the golden dial, while the black leather strap adds a bold and sophisticated finish. This is a watch that doesn’t just tell time—it demands attention.
In 1922, the year this movement was produced, the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Designed as a lasting tribute to one of America’s greatest leaders, this monument became an enduring symbol of American resilience and history—much like this Illinois timepiece, a carefully preserved piece 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.
