Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 140 unique:
The Springfield 140 brings together character, craftsmanship, and just the right dose of boldness. Its dial features a parchment-toned surface with a swirling, feather-like texture that gives the entire face a soft, organic movement—almost as if the metal itself has been brushed by time. The stylized, expressive numerals arc playfully around the dial, with darkened teardrop terminals that add a distinctly vintage charm. Hovering above are blued diamond-kite hands that extend with sharp elegance, paired with a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock that balances the layout with crisp symmetry and a matching blued pointer.
This timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement from 1926, visible through the open caseback. The bridge is engraved with “Elite”—a designation used for higher-grade models known for elevated finishing and more precise adjustments. Geneva stripes sweep across the surface, complemented by gold-plated gears and polished steelwork that together create a mesmerizing visual rhythm in motion.
The 45mm sandblasted steel case houses a scalloped bezel, offering tactile depth and a subtle sense of movement even while still. The knurled sandblasted crown provides grip and grit, while the deep navy W&W leather strap ties the composition together with a bold pop of color—echoing the vibrance of the heat-blued hands while modernizing the overall palette.
This movement was originally manufactured in 1926—the same year U.S. Route 66 was officially established. Just as that highway would become a symbol of American exploration and progress, this watch captures the spirit of bold design and enduring legacy, repurposed for the road ahead.
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: 4747586
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 140 unique:
The Springfield 140 brings together character, craftsmanship, and just the right dose of boldness. Its dial features a parchment-toned surface with a swirling, feather-like texture that gives the entire face a soft, organic movement—almost as if the metal itself has been brushed by time. The stylized, expressive numerals arc playfully around the dial, with darkened teardrop terminals that add a distinctly vintage charm. Hovering above are blued diamond-kite hands that extend with sharp elegance, paired with a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock that balances the layout with crisp symmetry and a matching blued pointer.
This timepiece is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement from 1926, visible through the open caseback. The bridge is engraved with “Elite”—a designation used for higher-grade models known for elevated finishing and more precise adjustments. Geneva stripes sweep across the surface, complemented by gold-plated gears and polished steelwork that together create a mesmerizing visual rhythm in motion.
The 45mm sandblasted steel case houses a scalloped bezel, offering tactile depth and a subtle sense of movement even while still. The knurled sandblasted crown provides grip and grit, while the deep navy W&W leather strap ties the composition together with a bold pop of color—echoing the vibrance of the heat-blued hands while modernizing the overall palette.
This movement was originally manufactured in 1926—the same year U.S. Route 66 was officially established. Just as that highway would become a symbol of American exploration and progress, this watch captures the spirit of bold design and enduring legacy, repurposed for the road ahead.
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.
