Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 147 unique:
The Springfield 147 pairs gothic elegance with bold vintage character, brought to life through a warm, vertically brushed dial and rare blue numeral treatment. Each numeral is thick, curved, and whimsical—almost playful in their fat curly forms—yet grounded in sharp contrast against the soft champagne tone of the background. A matching recessed sub-seconds dial anchors the design at 6 o’clock, echoing the primary dial's coloring and font style for a seamless aesthetic. At center, a pair of heat-blued gothic-style hands adds architectural flair, hovering just above the dial with crisp precision.
Inside, you'll find a 17-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement from 1923. It was considered a higher-grade offering at the time and represents a legacy of American ingenuity. Visible through the open caseback, the movement showcases ornate gold-accented engraving across the bridgework, vibrant jewel settings, and a dynamic interplay of polished steel and warm-toned gears. Its layout is both elegant and technical, emphasizing symmetry and expert craftsmanship.
This timepiece is housed in a 45mm machined stainless steel case with a coin-edge, tumbled steel bezel for added dimension and texture. The vertically grooved, knurled crown enhances the industrial aesthetic, while the black Horween leather strap with cream stitching ties everything together. The result is a compelling fusion of historical charm and modern ruggedness.
In 1923, the same year this movement was produced, the inaugural issue of TIME magazine was published. It marked the beginning of a new era in American journalism and cultural commentary. As media and technology began to reshape daily life, watches like this Illinois served as precise tools in a world quickly moving into the modern age.
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: Titanium
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4236153
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 147 unique:
The Springfield 147 pairs gothic elegance with bold vintage character, brought to life through a warm, vertically brushed dial and rare blue numeral treatment. Each numeral is thick, curved, and whimsical—almost playful in their fat curly forms—yet grounded in sharp contrast against the soft champagne tone of the background. A matching recessed sub-seconds dial anchors the design at 6 o’clock, echoing the primary dial's coloring and font style for a seamless aesthetic. At center, a pair of heat-blued gothic-style hands adds architectural flair, hovering just above the dial with crisp precision.
Inside, you'll find a 17-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement from 1923. It was considered a higher-grade offering at the time and represents a legacy of American ingenuity. Visible through the open caseback, the movement showcases ornate gold-accented engraving across the bridgework, vibrant jewel settings, and a dynamic interplay of polished steel and warm-toned gears. Its layout is both elegant and technical, emphasizing symmetry and expert craftsmanship.
This timepiece is housed in a 45mm machined stainless steel case with a coin-edge, tumbled steel bezel for added dimension and texture. The vertically grooved, knurled crown enhances the industrial aesthetic, while the black Horween leather strap with cream stitching ties everything together. The result is a compelling fusion of historical charm and modern ruggedness.
In 1923, the same year this movement was produced, the inaugural issue of TIME magazine was published. It marked the beginning of a new era in American journalism and cultural commentary. As media and technology began to reshape daily life, watches like this Illinois served as precise tools in a world quickly moving into the modern age.
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.
