Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 131 unique:
The Springfield 131 presents a harmonious blend of balance, depth, and design. Its parchment-toned dial carries a soft patina, with gentle variations that speak to more than a century of history. Bold gold numerals circle the display, each slightly raised above the surface, while slender blued steel spade-and-whip hands bring elegant contrast—shifting from deep navy to bright cobalt beneath the domed crystal. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock completes the composition, reflecting the measured precision of early American craftsmanship.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Illinois Stewart movement originally manufactured in 1917. The bridges feature intricate scalloped engraving that adds both texture and structural refinement. Between these curved forms, rose-gold-toned gears glint against polished steel components—an interplay of warm and cool tones that showcases the artistry of American horology at its peak.
Encased in stonewashed stainless steel, the design is both rugged and refined. Its notched bezel subtly echoes the scalloped bridgework of the movement, uniting form and function in perfect symmetry. A knurled sandblasted-steel crown offers tactile precision, while a warm leather strap provides an inviting, timeless finish. Together, these elements capture the balance between history and modern craftsmanship that defines every Vortic build.
In 1917, the world heard the first jazz recording—a distinctly American sound that would shape culture for generations. The Springfield 131 carries that same spirit of originality and rhythm, transforming antique engineering into a contemporary expression of American innovation.
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 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: 3115422
- Manufacture Year: 1917
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 131 unique:
The Springfield 131 presents a harmonious blend of balance, depth, and design. Its parchment-toned dial carries a soft patina, with gentle variations that speak to more than a century of history. Bold gold numerals circle the display, each slightly raised above the surface, while slender blued steel spade-and-whip hands bring elegant contrast—shifting from deep navy to bright cobalt beneath the domed crystal. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock completes the composition, reflecting the measured precision of early American craftsmanship.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Illinois Stewart movement originally manufactured in 1917. The bridges feature intricate scalloped engraving that adds both texture and structural refinement. Between these curved forms, rose-gold-toned gears glint against polished steel components—an interplay of warm and cool tones that showcases the artistry of American horology at its peak.
Encased in stonewashed stainless steel, the design is both rugged and refined. Its notched bezel subtly echoes the scalloped bridgework of the movement, uniting form and function in perfect symmetry. A knurled sandblasted-steel crown offers tactile precision, while a warm leather strap provides an inviting, timeless finish. Together, these elements capture the balance between history and modern craftsmanship that defines every Vortic build.
In 1917, the world heard the first jazz recording—a distinctly American sound that would shape culture for generations. The Springfield 131 carries that same spirit of originality and rhythm, transforming antique engineering into a contemporary expression of American innovation.
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.
