Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 145 unique:
The Springfield 145 pairs historical intrigue with timeless elegance. At the center of this watch is a parchment-toned dial with Roman numerals that radiate early American charm. Its aged surface shows visible scratches and patina—honest signs of a century lived—giving it an appearance reminiscent of intentional distress. Hovering above, a pair of bold, blued steel moon-style hands arcs gracefully across the dial, complemented by a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock. Together, these elements create a visually layered aesthetic that invites closer inspection with every glance.
Inside, you’ll find a 19-jewel Illinois movement from 1920, engineered during one of the most prolific production periods in the company’s history. The movement is a true work of mechanical art, featuring striped bridgework with crisp vertical pinstripes, gold-plated gears, and a suite of visible jewel cups that gleam beneath the crystal. This blend of symmetry and texture gives the movement a depth that’s both architectural and poetic.
We encased this piece in a 45mm machined steel case with a sandblasted coin-edge bezel for extra vintage flair. The knurled sandblasted-steel crown offers a tactile connection to the past, while the black Horween leather strap—stitched in contrast—grounds the design in modern American craftsmanship. Altogether, this is a watch that bridges generations through details you can see, feel, and hear.
The Illinois movement inside was originally manufactured in 1920—a year when America was booming with industrial optimism. That same year, the American Professional Football Association played its inaugural season, later becoming the NFL. It was a time of mechanical innovation and cultural transformation, much like the era that birthed this movement.
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: 3707563
- Manufacture Year: 1920
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 19 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 145 unique:
The Springfield 145 pairs historical intrigue with timeless elegance. At the center of this watch is a parchment-toned dial with Roman numerals that radiate early American charm. Its aged surface shows visible scratches and patina—honest signs of a century lived—giving it an appearance reminiscent of intentional distress. Hovering above, a pair of bold, blued steel moon-style hands arcs gracefully across the dial, complemented by a recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock. Together, these elements create a visually layered aesthetic that invites closer inspection with every glance.
Inside, you’ll find a 19-jewel Illinois movement from 1920, engineered during one of the most prolific production periods in the company’s history. The movement is a true work of mechanical art, featuring striped bridgework with crisp vertical pinstripes, gold-plated gears, and a suite of visible jewel cups that gleam beneath the crystal. This blend of symmetry and texture gives the movement a depth that’s both architectural and poetic.
We encased this piece in a 45mm machined steel case with a sandblasted coin-edge bezel for extra vintage flair. The knurled sandblasted-steel crown offers a tactile connection to the past, while the black Horween leather strap—stitched in contrast—grounds the design in modern American craftsmanship. Altogether, this is a watch that bridges generations through details you can see, feel, and hear.
The Illinois movement inside was originally manufactured in 1920—a year when America was booming with industrial optimism. That same year, the American Professional Football Association played its inaugural season, later becoming the NFL. It was a time of mechanical innovation and cultural transformation, much like the era that birthed this movement.
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.
