Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 167 Unique:
The Springfield 167 carries a warm, timeworn character, defined by a dial that shows its age in a way that feels natural rather than exaggerated. The surface has developed a soft, uneven patina over the past century, with subtle spotting and tonal variation that give the dial a lived-in texture. Applied gold-toned Arabic numerals rise gently from the surface, their softened edges and warm coloration blending seamlessly into the dial’s aged backdrop. At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds register introduces depth, with its crisp inner track providing a point of contrast against the more organic wear of the surrounding dial. The original hands, finished in a matching warm tone, move across the surface with a quiet presence that reinforces the watch’s cohesive, understated palette.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1923. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals a richly layered composition of striped bridges, polished steel components, and gold-toned gears that catch the light as the watch runs. Subtle decorative engraving adds visual texture across the bridges, while the exposed gear train and balance assembly create a clear sense of mechanical depth and motion. Illinois movements from this period were built with a focus on dependable performance and thoughtful finishing, reflecting a mature stage of American watchmaking where both function and form were carefully considered.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 titanium case, finished with a soft tumbled texture that gives the surface a muted, almost stone-like appearance. This lighter-toned case provides a quiet contrast to the warmth of the dial, allowing the patina and gold-toned elements to remain the focal point. A machined bronze bezel introduces a richer, more saturated warmth, complementing the dial’s aged tones while adding a subtle visual weight to the front of the watch. The matching bronze crown reinforces this warmth and offers a tactile, secure grip when winding. The movement has been reoriented within the case, placing the crown at 3 o’clock for a natural wristwatch experience compared to its original pocket watch configuration. The watch is paired with a tan leather strap, whose soft, natural tone ties together the bronze accents and the dial’s patina into a cohesive and balanced palette.
In 1923, American watchmakers like Illinois were operating in a period of refinement, producing movements that balanced reliable performance with increasingly thoughtful finishing. The industry had moved beyond experimentation into consistency, where precision and durability were expected rather than exceptional. The Springfield 167 reflects that moment—preserving a movement from an era when American watchmaking had fully come into its own, delivering both function and quiet craftsmanship in equal measure.
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: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Flat Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: 22mm Tan Leather Strap with Bronze Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4205097
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 167 Unique:
The Springfield 167 carries a warm, timeworn character, defined by a dial that shows its age in a way that feels natural rather than exaggerated. The surface has developed a soft, uneven patina over the past century, with subtle spotting and tonal variation that give the dial a lived-in texture. Applied gold-toned Arabic numerals rise gently from the surface, their softened edges and warm coloration blending seamlessly into the dial’s aged backdrop. At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds register introduces depth, with its crisp inner track providing a point of contrast against the more organic wear of the surrounding dial. The original hands, finished in a matching warm tone, move across the surface with a quiet presence that reinforces the watch’s cohesive, understated palette.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1923. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals a richly layered composition of striped bridges, polished steel components, and gold-toned gears that catch the light as the watch runs. Subtle decorative engraving adds visual texture across the bridges, while the exposed gear train and balance assembly create a clear sense of mechanical depth and motion. Illinois movements from this period were built with a focus on dependable performance and thoughtful finishing, reflecting a mature stage of American watchmaking where both function and form were carefully considered.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 titanium case, finished with a soft tumbled texture that gives the surface a muted, almost stone-like appearance. This lighter-toned case provides a quiet contrast to the warmth of the dial, allowing the patina and gold-toned elements to remain the focal point. A machined bronze bezel introduces a richer, more saturated warmth, complementing the dial’s aged tones while adding a subtle visual weight to the front of the watch. The matching bronze crown reinforces this warmth and offers a tactile, secure grip when winding. The movement has been reoriented within the case, placing the crown at 3 o’clock for a natural wristwatch experience compared to its original pocket watch configuration. The watch is paired with a tan leather strap, whose soft, natural tone ties together the bronze accents and the dial’s patina into a cohesive and balanced palette.
In 1923, American watchmakers like Illinois were operating in a period of refinement, producing movements that balanced reliable performance with increasingly thoughtful finishing. The industry had moved beyond experimentation into consistency, where precision and durability were expected rather than exceptional. The Springfield 167 reflects that moment—preserving a movement from an era when American watchmaking had fully come into its own, delivering both function and quiet craftsmanship in equal measure.
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.
