Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 137 unique:
The Springfield 137 brings together whimsical charm and precision craftsmanship in a design that’s both elegant and expressive. Its lightly brushed dial features a distinctive linear texture—almost like metal striations—that shifts subtly in the light. A set of large, black numerals in a hand-painted style gives the dial a storybook quality, with each number resembling a paintbrush stroke. At center, a pair of gothic-style hands completes the picture, blending ornamental form with practical function. The recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition, with its own set of petite gothic hands adding to the harmony.
Powering this piece is a 17-jewel movement originally crafted by the Illinois Watch Company in 1925. One of the more unique elements of this mechanism is the “Sterling” signature engraved directly onto the bridge—a nod to Illinois’s historic line of higher-grade movements. This particular build also features a "double roller," an important safety upgrade from the era that adds an extra jewel roller to protect the balance staff from shock and increase timekeeping stability. Paired with elegant bridgework and period-correct typography, this movement is as beautiful as it is historically significant.
We’ve housed this piece in a sandblasted stainless steel case for a soft, matte finish that contrasts nicely with the smooth polished bezel. The case is topped with a knurled, machined-steel crown, giving it a tactile feel and vintage aesthetic. It’s finished with a deep ebony leather strap with light stitching—a subtle pairing that lets the dial speak for itself.
In 1925, the same year this Illinois movement was produced, the first motel in the United States—known as the "Milestone Mo-Tel"—opened in San Luis Obispo, California. It marked a pivotal moment in American travel culture, reflecting the same spirit of mobility and innovation that defined the early 20th century—and continues to inspire our work today.
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: Sandblasted Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4634136
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 137 unique:
The Springfield 137 brings together whimsical charm and precision craftsmanship in a design that’s both elegant and expressive. Its lightly brushed dial features a distinctive linear texture—almost like metal striations—that shifts subtly in the light. A set of large, black numerals in a hand-painted style gives the dial a storybook quality, with each number resembling a paintbrush stroke. At center, a pair of gothic-style hands completes the picture, blending ornamental form with practical function. The recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition, with its own set of petite gothic hands adding to the harmony.
Powering this piece is a 17-jewel movement originally crafted by the Illinois Watch Company in 1925. One of the more unique elements of this mechanism is the “Sterling” signature engraved directly onto the bridge—a nod to Illinois’s historic line of higher-grade movements. This particular build also features a "double roller," an important safety upgrade from the era that adds an extra jewel roller to protect the balance staff from shock and increase timekeeping stability. Paired with elegant bridgework and period-correct typography, this movement is as beautiful as it is historically significant.
We’ve housed this piece in a sandblasted stainless steel case for a soft, matte finish that contrasts nicely with the smooth polished bezel. The case is topped with a knurled, machined-steel crown, giving it a tactile feel and vintage aesthetic. It’s finished with a deep ebony leather strap with light stitching—a subtle pairing that lets the dial speak for itself.
In 1925, the same year this Illinois movement was produced, the first motel in the United States—known as the "Milestone Mo-Tel"—opened in San Luis Obispo, California. It marked a pivotal moment in American travel culture, reflecting the same spirit of mobility and innovation that defined the early 20th century—and continues to inspire our work today.
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.
