Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 163 Unique:
The Springfield 163 is defined by its richly toned gold dial, a surface alive with intricate engraving that spans nearly every inch of its face. The engraved patterns catch the light differently with every movement of the wrist, giving the dial a sense of depth and motion that feels almost architectural. Bold Arabic numerals sit confidently around the perimeter, their softened edges showing honest age, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces balance and clarity within the ornate design. We preserved the original purpled-steel hands, whose deep violet hue provides striking contrast against the warm gold background and reinforces the watch’s refined, early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1921. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals flowing Geneva stripes across the bridges, polished steel components, and gold-toned gears that reflect the precision and care that defined Illinois watchmaking of the era. The visual harmony between the movement’s finishing and the dial’s engraving creates a cohesive experience from front to back, emphasizing craftsmanship over excess.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 bronze case, finished with a pre-patina’d surface that complements the dial’s warmth and sense of age. A notched bronze bezel adds subtle texture and visual framing without overpowering the dial, while the knurled pre-patina’d bronze crown offers both tactile grip and aesthetic continuity. The case is paired with a brown leather strap that grounds the watch with a classic, understated feel, allowing the dial and movement to remain the focal point.
In 1921, American manufacturing was entering a period of rapid transformation as industries shifted from wartime production back to consumer innovation. That same year, Illinois Watch Company was producing finely finished movements that balanced technical precision with decorative artistry, reflecting a broader national confidence in American-made goods. The Springfield 163 captures that moment in time—a watch built when craftsmanship, function, and design were expected to coexist without compromise.
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 Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Pre-Patina Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Brown Leather by Hadley Roma with Bronze Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 3936566
- Manufacture Year: 1921
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 163 Unique:
The Springfield 163 is defined by its richly toned gold dial, a surface alive with intricate engraving that spans nearly every inch of its face. The engraved patterns catch the light differently with every movement of the wrist, giving the dial a sense of depth and motion that feels almost architectural. Bold Arabic numerals sit confidently around the perimeter, their softened edges showing honest age, while the recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock introduces balance and clarity within the ornate design. We preserved the original purpled-steel hands, whose deep violet hue provides striking contrast against the warm gold background and reinforces the watch’s refined, early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1921. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals flowing Geneva stripes across the bridges, polished steel components, and gold-toned gears that reflect the precision and care that defined Illinois watchmaking of the era. The visual harmony between the movement’s finishing and the dial’s engraving creates a cohesive experience from front to back, emphasizing craftsmanship over excess.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 bronze case, finished with a pre-patina’d surface that complements the dial’s warmth and sense of age. A notched bronze bezel adds subtle texture and visual framing without overpowering the dial, while the knurled pre-patina’d bronze crown offers both tactile grip and aesthetic continuity. The case is paired with a brown leather strap that grounds the watch with a classic, understated feel, allowing the dial and movement to remain the focal point.
In 1921, American manufacturing was entering a period of rapid transformation as industries shifted from wartime production back to consumer innovation. That same year, Illinois Watch Company was producing finely finished movements that balanced technical precision with decorative artistry, reflecting a broader national confidence in American-made goods. The Springfield 163 captures that moment in time—a watch built when craftsmanship, function, and design were expected to coexist without compromise.
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.
