Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 156 Unique:
The dial of The Springfield 156 is defined by a soft, ivory-toned surface that has developed a subtle, even patina over the past century. Applied Arabic numerals rise gently from the dial and are filled with custom lume, giving the watch a purposeful presence while preserving its original character. A clean outer minute track frames the layout, guiding the eye toward a neatly executed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock, whose recessed profile adds depth and balance. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, their deep blue hue providing crisp contrast against the aged dial and tying the entire composition together with clarity and restraint.
One of our master watchmakers meticulously hand-painted modern loom on the numerals and hands, restoring this dial to a beautiful Level of finish that was only possible using radium in the 1920s. Today, though, we can achieve the same style with no hazardous materials by using gills that very few have. This watch represents an amazing celebration of skilled trade.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1921. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals beautifully executed engraving across the bridges, paired with a striking dual-tone finish that blends warm gold elements with cooler steel components. The contrast highlights the geometry of the gear train and bridgework, while polished screws and jewel settings catch the light as the movement runs, offering a compelling view of early 20th-century American watchmaking at its finest.
The movement is housed in our Version 3 case, machined from titanium and finished to a clean, satin sheen that keeps the focus on the dial. A smooth machined titanium bezel frames the watch without distraction, while a knurled machined titanium crown provides confident grip and a cohesive visual match to the case. The watch is paired with an oxblood Horween leather strap with stitching, its rich tone complementing both the warmth of the dial and the cool neutrality of the titanium case.
The Illinois Watch Company produced this movement in 1921, a year marked by rapid industrial growth and technological optimism in the United States as the country transitioned fully into the post–World War I era. American manufacturers were refining precision engineering at scale, and Illinois stood at the forefront of that effort, producing movements that balanced reliability, finish, and thoughtful design—qualities that remain evident in this watch more than a century later.
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 Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: 22mm Oxblood Horween w/stitching and Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3963399
- Manufacture Year: 1921
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 156 Unique:
The dial of The Springfield 156 is defined by a soft, ivory-toned surface that has developed a subtle, even patina over the past century. Applied Arabic numerals rise gently from the dial and are filled with custom lume, giving the watch a purposeful presence while preserving its original character. A clean outer minute track frames the layout, guiding the eye toward a neatly executed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock, whose recessed profile adds depth and balance. We preserved the original blued-steel hands, their deep blue hue providing crisp contrast against the aged dial and tying the entire composition together with clarity and restraint.
One of our master watchmakers meticulously hand-painted modern loom on the numerals and hands, restoring this dial to a beautiful Level of finish that was only possible using radium in the 1920s. Today, though, we can achieve the same style with no hazardous materials by using gills that very few have. This watch represents an amazing celebration of skilled trade.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1921. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals beautifully executed engraving across the bridges, paired with a striking dual-tone finish that blends warm gold elements with cooler steel components. The contrast highlights the geometry of the gear train and bridgework, while polished screws and jewel settings catch the light as the movement runs, offering a compelling view of early 20th-century American watchmaking at its finest.
The movement is housed in our Version 3 case, machined from titanium and finished to a clean, satin sheen that keeps the focus on the dial. A smooth machined titanium bezel frames the watch without distraction, while a knurled machined titanium crown provides confident grip and a cohesive visual match to the case. The watch is paired with an oxblood Horween leather strap with stitching, its rich tone complementing both the warmth of the dial and the cool neutrality of the titanium case.
The Illinois Watch Company produced this movement in 1921, a year marked by rapid industrial growth and technological optimism in the United States as the country transitioned fully into the post–World War I era. American manufacturers were refining precision engineering at scale, and Illinois stood at the forefront of that effort, producing movements that balanced reliability, finish, and thoughtful design—qualities that remain evident in this watch more than a century later.
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.
