Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 156 unique:
The Springfield 156 is a striking composition of symmetry, patina, and aged elegance—anchored by a clean white enamel dial that reveals its story through wear and time. A notable chip and hairline crack near 7 o’clock provide undeniable authenticity, while a circle of crisp, black, stylized numerals tilts inward in a bold, directional arc. This subtle tilt gives the dial a sense of momentum and depth, complemented by alternating lined and solid minute markers that add texture and rhythm around the chapter ring. The “Illinois Ambassador” designation beneath the 12 adds to the watch’s unique identity—signaling a higher-tier offering from the Illinois Watch Company.
Framing the display is a set of open diamond kite hands in deep heat-blued steel, cutting across the dial with sharp precision and vintage character. These ornate hands feel both architectural and elegant, commanding attention without overpowering the dial. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the design, completing the classic open-face configuration.
Inside, the 17-jewel Illinois movement from 1921 is visually rich with layered textures and fine detailing. A swirling damaskeening pattern reminiscent of braided rope spans the bridges, bordered by radiant Geneva stripes and accented by polished steel screws. A mix of golden brass and silver components gives the movement a warm two-tone finish. The engraved “Ambassador” marking on the bridge—mirrored by the same name on the dial—strongly suggests this pairing has remained intact since it left the factory over a century ago.
We preserved this historic mechanism inside a 45mm machined titanium case with a smooth bezel and vertically knurled crown. The oxblood Horween leather strap with cream stitching ties everything together, adding richness and contrast to the cool tone of the case and the crisp detail of the dial.
In 1921, the iconic Model T Ford had just seen its price drop below $400—thanks to America’s growing mastery of industrial efficiency and scale. It was a golden age for both automobiles and timepieces, as companies like Illinois Watch Company helped define what “Made in America” meant: innovation, reliability, and precision craftsmanship.
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.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
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: 3963399
- Manufacture Year: 1921
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 156 unique:
The Springfield 156 is a striking composition of symmetry, patina, and aged elegance—anchored by a clean white enamel dial that reveals its story through wear and time. A notable chip and hairline crack near 7 o’clock provide undeniable authenticity, while a circle of crisp, black, stylized numerals tilts inward in a bold, directional arc. This subtle tilt gives the dial a sense of momentum and depth, complemented by alternating lined and solid minute markers that add texture and rhythm around the chapter ring. The “Illinois Ambassador” designation beneath the 12 adds to the watch’s unique identity—signaling a higher-tier offering from the Illinois Watch Company.
Framing the display is a set of open diamond kite hands in deep heat-blued steel, cutting across the dial with sharp precision and vintage character. These ornate hands feel both architectural and elegant, commanding attention without overpowering the dial. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the design, completing the classic open-face configuration.
Inside, the 17-jewel Illinois movement from 1921 is visually rich with layered textures and fine detailing. A swirling damaskeening pattern reminiscent of braided rope spans the bridges, bordered by radiant Geneva stripes and accented by polished steel screws. A mix of golden brass and silver components gives the movement a warm two-tone finish. The engraved “Ambassador” marking on the bridge—mirrored by the same name on the dial—strongly suggests this pairing has remained intact since it left the factory over a century ago.
We preserved this historic mechanism inside a 45mm machined titanium case with a smooth bezel and vertically knurled crown. The oxblood Horween leather strap with cream stitching ties everything together, adding richness and contrast to the cool tone of the case and the crisp detail of the dial.
In 1921, the iconic Model T Ford had just seen its price drop below $400—thanks to America’s growing mastery of industrial efficiency and scale. It was a golden age for both automobiles and timepieces, as companies like Illinois Watch Company helped define what “Made in America” meant: innovation, reliability, and precision craftsmanship.
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.
