Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 159 Unique:
The Springfield 159 presents a dial that immediately draws you in through its layered complexity and refined contrast. The outer dial carries a softly aged, ivory-toned surface with even patina and subtle spotting that speaks to its century-old origin without overpowering the design. At center, a richly engraved gold-toned panel introduces a second visual plane, its fine vertical patterning catching the light and creating a clear distinction between timekeeping elements. Bold black Arabic numerals anchor the layout with excellent legibility, while the sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds depth and balance, framed by a crisp chapter ring that reinforces the watch’s precision-driven character.
We preserved the original blued-steel diamond hands, whose faceted profiles and deep blue tone provide striking contrast against both the ivory dial and the warm gold center. Their angular geometry reflects the design language of early 20th-century American watchmaking, offering clarity at a glance while contributing to the watch’s elegant, architectural feel. Together with the recessed sub-seconds, these elements create a dial that feels purposeful, layered, and exceptionally well composed.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1925. Visible through the open caseback, the movement displays intricate engraving across the bridges, with carefully executed patterns that flow around polished steel components and gold-plated gears. The balance assembly and jewel settings are beautifully framed, highlighting the mechanical harmony that defined Illinois movements of this era. The engraved details on the movement itself elevate the experience beyond function, reinforcing the craftsmanship and pride that went into American watchmaking at its peak.
The watch is housed in our machined titanium case, finished in a stonewashed texture that gives the metal a soft, matte character while maintaining crisp edges. A coin-edge bezel adds tactile detail without overpowering the dial, and the knurled tumbled-titanium crown offers both visual balance and confident winding action. The case is paired with a deep ebony leather strap that grounds the watch and complements the cooler tones of the titanium while allowing the engraved gold dial center to stand out.
In 1925, American manufacturing continued its rapid expansion into consumer goods that balanced precision with design, as industries refined both function and form to meet a growing demand for quality and reliability. That same philosophy is reflected in this watch—where mechanical excellence, thoughtful ornamentation, and enduring materials come together in a piece that remains as compelling today as it was over a century ago.
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: 2024
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Tumbled Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Domed Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: 22mm Leather Strap in Ebony by Hadley Roma with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4551647
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 159 Unique:
The Springfield 159 presents a dial that immediately draws you in through its layered complexity and refined contrast. The outer dial carries a softly aged, ivory-toned surface with even patina and subtle spotting that speaks to its century-old origin without overpowering the design. At center, a richly engraved gold-toned panel introduces a second visual plane, its fine vertical patterning catching the light and creating a clear distinction between timekeeping elements. Bold black Arabic numerals anchor the layout with excellent legibility, while the sunken sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock adds depth and balance, framed by a crisp chapter ring that reinforces the watch’s precision-driven character.
We preserved the original blued-steel diamond hands, whose faceted profiles and deep blue tone provide striking contrast against both the ivory dial and the warm gold center. Their angular geometry reflects the design language of early 20th-century American watchmaking, offering clarity at a glance while contributing to the watch’s elegant, architectural feel. Together with the recessed sub-seconds, these elements create a dial that feels purposeful, layered, and exceptionally well composed.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1925. Visible through the open caseback, the movement displays intricate engraving across the bridges, with carefully executed patterns that flow around polished steel components and gold-plated gears. The balance assembly and jewel settings are beautifully framed, highlighting the mechanical harmony that defined Illinois movements of this era. The engraved details on the movement itself elevate the experience beyond function, reinforcing the craftsmanship and pride that went into American watchmaking at its peak.
The watch is housed in our machined titanium case, finished in a stonewashed texture that gives the metal a soft, matte character while maintaining crisp edges. A coin-edge bezel adds tactile detail without overpowering the dial, and the knurled tumbled-titanium crown offers both visual balance and confident winding action. The case is paired with a deep ebony leather strap that grounds the watch and complements the cooler tones of the titanium while allowing the engraved gold dial center to stand out.
In 1925, American manufacturing continued its rapid expansion into consumer goods that balanced precision with design, as industries refined both function and form to meet a growing demand for quality and reliability. That same philosophy is reflected in this watch—where mechanical excellence, thoughtful ornamentation, and enduring materials come together in a piece that remains as compelling today as it was over a century ago.
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.
