Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 149 unique:
The Springfield 149 is a quiet powerhouse of detail and patina, with a dial that tells its own century-old story. The creamy surface bears authentic scratches, scuffs, and age spots—marks of time that speak to the life it lived long before it crossed our workbench. Rounded, oversized numerals arc across the dial in true railroad fashion, while a band of silver-toned metal encircles the center like a track through history. A metallic sub-seconds dial sits recessed at 6 o’clock, partially eclipsing the numeral and adding depth and visual intrigue. Hovering above it all, a pair of blued steel heavy moon hands adds both elegance and contrast, catching the light with a flash of deep cobalt.
Inside this watch is a 17-jewel Illinois movement originally manufactured in 1916. What makes this particular movement special is its dual-tone finish and rare engraving pattern—striped and wavy textures layered across the bridgework, complemented by polished screws and gold-toned gears. It’s a beautifully preserved mechanism, now visible through the open caseback and still beating with precision after more than a century.
We cased this timepiece in a tumbled bronze case, pairing it with a sandblasted titanium coin-edge bezel for a blend of warm tone and cool contrast. The knurled sandblasted titanium crown mirrors the bezel's finish, while the black Horween leather strap with white stitching grounds the piece in classic, rugged styling. Every component was selected to balance vintage character with modern durability.
In 1916—the year this movement was produced—the U.S. Congress passed the Adamson Act, establishing the eight-hour workday for railroad workers. This legislation not only reflected the growing strength of organized labor but also underscored the critical importance of accurate timekeeping in the rail industry. Watches like this one were more than accessories—they were tools of national infrastructure.
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: Tumbled Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3078450
- Manufacture Year: 1916
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 149 unique:
The Springfield 149 is a quiet powerhouse of detail and patina, with a dial that tells its own century-old story. The creamy surface bears authentic scratches, scuffs, and age spots—marks of time that speak to the life it lived long before it crossed our workbench. Rounded, oversized numerals arc across the dial in true railroad fashion, while a band of silver-toned metal encircles the center like a track through history. A metallic sub-seconds dial sits recessed at 6 o’clock, partially eclipsing the numeral and adding depth and visual intrigue. Hovering above it all, a pair of blued steel heavy moon hands adds both elegance and contrast, catching the light with a flash of deep cobalt.
Inside this watch is a 17-jewel Illinois movement originally manufactured in 1916. What makes this particular movement special is its dual-tone finish and rare engraving pattern—striped and wavy textures layered across the bridgework, complemented by polished screws and gold-toned gears. It’s a beautifully preserved mechanism, now visible through the open caseback and still beating with precision after more than a century.
We cased this timepiece in a tumbled bronze case, pairing it with a sandblasted titanium coin-edge bezel for a blend of warm tone and cool contrast. The knurled sandblasted titanium crown mirrors the bezel's finish, while the black Horween leather strap with white stitching grounds the piece in classic, rugged styling. Every component was selected to balance vintage character with modern durability.
In 1916—the year this movement was produced—the U.S. Congress passed the Adamson Act, establishing the eight-hour workday for railroad workers. This legislation not only reflected the growing strength of organized labor but also underscored the critical importance of accurate timekeeping in the rail industry. Watches like this one were more than accessories—they were tools of national infrastructure.
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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.
