Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 131 unique:
The Springfield 131 is a visual study in rhythm, contrast, and craftsmanship. Its parchment-toned dial shows subtle signs of age, with a fine texture that feels both storied and sophisticated. Bold gold numerals and sharp indices circle the dial, surrounding a dramatic black sub-seconds register that draws the eye with its striking contrast. Blued steel spade and whip hands add dimension, their color shifting in the light beneath the domed crystal.
Powering this piece is a 17-jewel movement built by the Illinois Watch Company in 1917. The bridges are scalloped in a distinctive arc pattern—beautifully engraved and mechanically purposeful. Between the grooves, rose-gold-toned gears glint beneath polished steel components, a combination of warm tones and cool precision. The word “Stewart” is engraved into one of the bridges, signifying that this was a private-label piece originally sold by a jeweler or retailer under their own name—a common practice in the early 20th century.
We paired this movement with a stonewashed stainless steel case, machined in our Colorado workshop. The notched bezel subtly mirrors the scalloped pattern of the movement bridges—an intentional nod to symmetry between exterior and interior design. A knurled sandblasted-steel crown completes the case, offering tactile grip and a rugged edge. Finished with a warm-toned leather strap, this build brings antique character and modern durability together in perfect balance.
This movement was manufactured in 1917—the same year the world heard the first jazz recording. Released by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, it marked the birth of a distinctly American sound and the beginning of the Jazz Age. In much the same way, The Springfield 131 is a piece of American innovation and expressive craftsmanship, made to be heard in rhythm and seen in detail.
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 is a visual study in rhythm, contrast, and craftsmanship. Its parchment-toned dial shows subtle signs of age, with a fine texture that feels both storied and sophisticated. Bold gold numerals and sharp indices circle the dial, surrounding a dramatic black sub-seconds register that draws the eye with its striking contrast. Blued steel spade and whip hands add dimension, their color shifting in the light beneath the domed crystal.
Powering this piece is a 17-jewel movement built by the Illinois Watch Company in 1917. The bridges are scalloped in a distinctive arc pattern—beautifully engraved and mechanically purposeful. Between the grooves, rose-gold-toned gears glint beneath polished steel components, a combination of warm tones and cool precision. The word “Stewart” is engraved into one of the bridges, signifying that this was a private-label piece originally sold by a jeweler or retailer under their own name—a common practice in the early 20th century.
We paired this movement with a stonewashed stainless steel case, machined in our Colorado workshop. The notched bezel subtly mirrors the scalloped pattern of the movement bridges—an intentional nod to symmetry between exterior and interior design. A knurled sandblasted-steel crown completes the case, offering tactile grip and a rugged edge. Finished with a warm-toned leather strap, this build brings antique character and modern durability together in perfect balance.
This movement was manufactured in 1917—the same year the world heard the first jazz recording. Released by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, it marked the birth of a distinctly American sound and the beginning of the Jazz Age. In much the same way, The Springfield 131 is a piece of American innovation and expressive craftsmanship, made to be heard in rhythm and seen in detail.
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.
