Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 144 unique:
The Springfield 144 delivers striking legibility with vintage flair, anchored by a dial that is as bold as it is immaculate. Its crisp white surface features a full set of black, curly Gothic numerals—each one artfully thick and slightly stylized, offering dimensional character and an unmistakable presence. A recessed sub-seconds dial sits confidently at 6 o’clock, encircled by concentric engravings and marked with fine, railroad-style numerals. Surrounding the dial, precision minute markers trace the perimeter, while a pair of heat-blued diamond-kite hands floats above with sharply tapered grace, adding dynamic contrast and historical elegance.
Inside the case, a 17-jewel movement from the Illinois Watch Company powers this timepiece. Originally crafted in 1922, the movement showcases a beautiful arrangement of pinstriped bridgework—its surface etched with vertical lines that shimmer in the light and echo the industrial precision of early American watchmaking. The inner workings are a visual celebration of mechanical artistry, with polished screws, brass wheels, and beveled gears visible through the open caseback.
This piece is housed in a 45mm machined stainless steel case, finished with an angled bezel and matched with a knurled machined-steel crown. We’ve paired it with a warm cognac-toned leather strap, stitched in natural thread for a clean, complementary look. The watch sits comfortably on the wrist while proudly displaying its historic roots.
In 1922—the same year this movement was manufactured—Ford Motor Company introduced the Model T Coupe, the first affordable car with a closed body and sliding windows. This advancement made automotive travel more practical for everyday Americans, reflecting a transformative period in American industry and innovation—much like the mechanical marvel preserved within this timepiece.
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 Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4002613
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 144 unique:
The Springfield 144 delivers striking legibility with vintage flair, anchored by a dial that is as bold as it is immaculate. Its crisp white surface features a full set of black, curly Gothic numerals—each one artfully thick and slightly stylized, offering dimensional character and an unmistakable presence. A recessed sub-seconds dial sits confidently at 6 o’clock, encircled by concentric engravings and marked with fine, railroad-style numerals. Surrounding the dial, precision minute markers trace the perimeter, while a pair of heat-blued diamond-kite hands floats above with sharply tapered grace, adding dynamic contrast and historical elegance.
Inside the case, a 17-jewel movement from the Illinois Watch Company powers this timepiece. Originally crafted in 1922, the movement showcases a beautiful arrangement of pinstriped bridgework—its surface etched with vertical lines that shimmer in the light and echo the industrial precision of early American watchmaking. The inner workings are a visual celebration of mechanical artistry, with polished screws, brass wheels, and beveled gears visible through the open caseback.
This piece is housed in a 45mm machined stainless steel case, finished with an angled bezel and matched with a knurled machined-steel crown. We’ve paired it with a warm cognac-toned leather strap, stitched in natural thread for a clean, complementary look. The watch sits comfortably on the wrist while proudly displaying its historic roots.
In 1922—the same year this movement was manufactured—Ford Motor Company introduced the Model T Coupe, the first affordable car with a closed body and sliding windows. This advancement made automotive travel more practical for everyday Americans, reflecting a transformative period in American industry and innovation—much like the mechanical marvel preserved within this timepiece.
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.
