Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 126 unique:
This Springfield 126 features a clean, porcelain-white dial with striking black numerals that follow the direction of the outer minute track—a distinctive and uncommon feature from this period. The sub-seconds dial is neatly sunken, creating a classic single-sunk layout that adds depth to the design. The dial is finished with fine spade-style blued steel hands and the crisp insignia H. Fraiberg & Son across the center, all of which showcase the precise and thoughtful craftsmanship of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
Inside, you’ll find an antique Illinois movement with deep Geneva stripes, gold-plated gears, and elegant bridgework visible through the open caseback. Rather than bearing the standard “Illinois Watch Company” engraving, this movement is custom-stamped H. Fraiberg & Son – Cleveland, O., indicating that this watch was a private-label commission for a Cleveland-based jeweler. These exclusive partnerships were common in the early 1900s and often resulted in unique pieces with limited distribution—making this movement a rare and noteworthy artifact.
The watch is housed in a machined stainless steel case with a coin-edge bezel, a detail that adds both visual texture and tactile appeal. A knurled crown enhances grip and complements the vintage aesthetic. It’s paired with an oxblood leather strap stitched in cream for a handsome contrast that balances elegance with durability.
Manufactured in 1915, this watch was built during a pivotal year in American innovation. That same year, the U.S. Patent Office issued the first patent for a stop sign—a small but significant milestone in the growing infrastructure of the automobile era. As transportation and industry advanced, so too did the demand for precise, reliable timekeeping instruments like this one—made not only to mark the hours but to help power progress.
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: 2820354
- Manufacture Year: 1915
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 126 unique:
This Springfield 126 features a clean, porcelain-white dial with striking black numerals that follow the direction of the outer minute track—a distinctive and uncommon feature from this period. The sub-seconds dial is neatly sunken, creating a classic single-sunk layout that adds depth to the design. The dial is finished with fine spade-style blued steel hands and the crisp insignia H. Fraiberg & Son across the center, all of which showcase the precise and thoughtful craftsmanship of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
Inside, you’ll find an antique Illinois movement with deep Geneva stripes, gold-plated gears, and elegant bridgework visible through the open caseback. Rather than bearing the standard “Illinois Watch Company” engraving, this movement is custom-stamped H. Fraiberg & Son – Cleveland, O., indicating that this watch was a private-label commission for a Cleveland-based jeweler. These exclusive partnerships were common in the early 1900s and often resulted in unique pieces with limited distribution—making this movement a rare and noteworthy artifact.
The watch is housed in a machined stainless steel case with a coin-edge bezel, a detail that adds both visual texture and tactile appeal. A knurled crown enhances grip and complements the vintage aesthetic. It’s paired with an oxblood leather strap stitched in cream for a handsome contrast that balances elegance with durability.
Manufactured in 1915, this watch was built during a pivotal year in American innovation. That same year, the U.S. Patent Office issued the first patent for a stop sign—a small but significant milestone in the growing infrastructure of the automobile era. As transportation and industry advanced, so too did the demand for precise, reliable timekeeping instruments like this one—made not only to mark the hours but to help power progress.
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.
