Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 127 unique:
At first glance, Springfield 127 draws you in with its commanding white enamel dial, where bold black Roman numerals arc gracefully around the perimeter. This crisp design is both elegant and confident, striking the perfect balance between clarity and old-world charm. At the center, a pair of heavy moon blued steel hands glide across the surface, joined by a slender blued sub-seconds hand inside the single-sunk seconds dial at 6 o’clock. If you look closely, you’ll find subtle age lines across the dial—gentle reminders of this watch’s remarkable journey through more than a century of American history.
Beneath the dial lies a 17-jewel Illinois movement produced in 1918. With its rhythmic Geneva stripes and warm golden gears peeking through, this movement reflects the precision and care of early American watchmaking. The classic bridge layout and “Illinois Watch Co., Springfield” engraving highlight its proud lineage. The finishing throughout this mechanism showcases the timeless artistry that Illinois was known for.
We’ve encased this historical gem in a machined stainless steel case, paired with an angled polished bezel and a robust knurled crown. The black leather strap completes the monochrome design, giving this piece a grounded, traditional look that complements the clean, Roman numeral dial. The domed crystal adds a soft curve to the silhouette, blending contemporary craftsmanship with historic form.
This movement was originally manufactured in 1918, the same year World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice. That year marked not only the conclusion of global conflict but also the beginning of a new industrial era in the United States—one that would solidify America’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse. Pieces like this represent the ingenuity and perseverance that defined that transformative time in our nation’s history.
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: 3305586
- Manufacture Year: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 127 unique:
At first glance, Springfield 127 draws you in with its commanding white enamel dial, where bold black Roman numerals arc gracefully around the perimeter. This crisp design is both elegant and confident, striking the perfect balance between clarity and old-world charm. At the center, a pair of heavy moon blued steel hands glide across the surface, joined by a slender blued sub-seconds hand inside the single-sunk seconds dial at 6 o’clock. If you look closely, you’ll find subtle age lines across the dial—gentle reminders of this watch’s remarkable journey through more than a century of American history.
Beneath the dial lies a 17-jewel Illinois movement produced in 1918. With its rhythmic Geneva stripes and warm golden gears peeking through, this movement reflects the precision and care of early American watchmaking. The classic bridge layout and “Illinois Watch Co., Springfield” engraving highlight its proud lineage. The finishing throughout this mechanism showcases the timeless artistry that Illinois was known for.
We’ve encased this historical gem in a machined stainless steel case, paired with an angled polished bezel and a robust knurled crown. The black leather strap completes the monochrome design, giving this piece a grounded, traditional look that complements the clean, Roman numeral dial. The domed crystal adds a soft curve to the silhouette, blending contemporary craftsmanship with historic form.
This movement was originally manufactured in 1918, the same year World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice. That year marked not only the conclusion of global conflict but also the beginning of a new industrial era in the United States—one that would solidify America’s position as a manufacturing powerhouse. Pieces like this represent the ingenuity and perseverance that defined that transformative time in our nation’s history.
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.
