Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 152 unique:
The Springfield 152 is a masterwork of aged elegance and mechanical artistry. Its dial carries the unmistakable weight of time—mottled with deep, irreplicable patina that shifts across the surface like a sepia-toned map of its journey. At the center, a richly faded gold medallion glows with intricate, wreath-like engraving, creating visual contrast and drawing the eye inward. Bold black Art Deco numerals stand sharply against the textured backdrop, each one slightly softened by time. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock is framed in silver-toned metal and engraved with concentric rings, providing depth and geometric counterpoint. Hovering above it all, a set of rare open diamond kite hands—heat-blued and finely detailed—offers a striking and sculptural sense of motion.
At the heart of this watch beats a 17-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement, originally manufactured in 1922. The Autocrat line marked a key shift for Illinois toward producing thinner, dress-oriented movements without compromising on decorative flair. This example is especially compelling: through the open caseback, you’ll see angled Geneva stripes cascading across the plates, intersecting dramatically with circular damaskeening on the mainspring barrel. The combination of these engraving styles—alongside polished steel hardware and gold-filled typography—creates a rare blend of kinetic energy and balance. It’s mechanical symmetry with a rebellious streak.
This one-of-a-kind movement is housed in a tumbled titanium case with a matching angled bezel—both finished for a rugged, stonewashed appearance that complements the watch’s age and character. The vertically grooved crown in tumbled titanium adds to the utilitarian silhouette, while the oxblood Horween leather strap, detailed with cream stitching, introduces a refined note of warmth and contrast. Together, the case and strap frame the dial with quiet reverence, letting the century-old story shine.
In 1922—the same year this Illinois movement was originally crafted—the Lincoln Memorial was officially dedicated in Washington, D.C. Designed to honor the 16th President of the United States, the structure became a powerful symbol of unity and civil rights. Like this timepiece, it stands as a testament to enduring American craftsmanship and the values etched into our nation’s history.
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 Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4112457
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 152 unique:
The Springfield 152 is a masterwork of aged elegance and mechanical artistry. Its dial carries the unmistakable weight of time—mottled with deep, irreplicable patina that shifts across the surface like a sepia-toned map of its journey. At the center, a richly faded gold medallion glows with intricate, wreath-like engraving, creating visual contrast and drawing the eye inward. Bold black Art Deco numerals stand sharply against the textured backdrop, each one slightly softened by time. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock is framed in silver-toned metal and engraved with concentric rings, providing depth and geometric counterpoint. Hovering above it all, a set of rare open diamond kite hands—heat-blued and finely detailed—offers a striking and sculptural sense of motion.
At the heart of this watch beats a 17-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement, originally manufactured in 1922. The Autocrat line marked a key shift for Illinois toward producing thinner, dress-oriented movements without compromising on decorative flair. This example is especially compelling: through the open caseback, you’ll see angled Geneva stripes cascading across the plates, intersecting dramatically with circular damaskeening on the mainspring barrel. The combination of these engraving styles—alongside polished steel hardware and gold-filled typography—creates a rare blend of kinetic energy and balance. It’s mechanical symmetry with a rebellious streak.
This one-of-a-kind movement is housed in a tumbled titanium case with a matching angled bezel—both finished for a rugged, stonewashed appearance that complements the watch’s age and character. The vertically grooved crown in tumbled titanium adds to the utilitarian silhouette, while the oxblood Horween leather strap, detailed with cream stitching, introduces a refined note of warmth and contrast. Together, the case and strap frame the dial with quiet reverence, letting the century-old story shine.
In 1922—the same year this Illinois movement was originally crafted—the Lincoln Memorial was officially dedicated in Washington, D.C. Designed to honor the 16th President of the United States, the structure became a powerful symbol of unity and civil rights. Like this timepiece, it stands as a testament to enduring American craftsmanship and the values etched into our nation’s history.
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.
