Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 171 Unique:
The Springfield 171 is defined by restraint, with a dial that leans heavily into clarity while quietly carrying the character of its age. The surface presents a soft, even patina, with fine speckling distributed across the dial that adds warmth without distracting from legibility. Bold black Arabic numerals are sharply printed and evenly spaced, offering strong contrast against the lightly aged background. Surrounding the dial, a precise railroad minute track reinforces the watch’s utilitarian origins, keeping the layout grounded in function.
At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds register introduces depth, its circular graining and tighter scale providing a subtle visual break from the main dial. The handset features a more stylized profile, with delicate shaping that adds a hint of ornamentation to an otherwise straightforward design. Blued-steel hands catch the light just enough to stand apart from the dial without overpowering it, maintaining a balanced and highly readable display.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1922. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals broad Geneva striping across the bridges, paired with polished steel components and gold-toned gears that bring contrast and motion to the layout. The finishing is clean and purposeful, reflecting Illinois Watch Company’s reputation for producing reliable, well-executed movements during this period. The 12-size configuration offers a compact, symmetrical architecture, allowing a clear view of the gear train and balance assembly in operation.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 stainless steel case, finished with a crisp machined surface that frames the dial with modern precision. A matching stainless steel bezel provides a clean edge, while the machined crown—positioned at 12 o’clock—preserves the original pocket watch orientation. This crown placement remains a defining characteristic of these conversions, maintaining a direct link to how the movement was originally designed to be wound and set. The watch is paired with a tan leather strap, whose warmer tone complements the dial’s natural aging and reinforces the overall vintage feel.
By 1922, Illinois Watch Company had firmly established itself as a leader in American watchmaking, producing movements known for their durability and thoughtful finishing. The Springfield 171 reflects that legacy through its balance of simplicity and detail, offering a piece that rewards closer inspection while remaining effortlessly wearable.
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 Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4147482
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 171 Unique:
The Springfield 171 is defined by restraint, with a dial that leans heavily into clarity while quietly carrying the character of its age. The surface presents a soft, even patina, with fine speckling distributed across the dial that adds warmth without distracting from legibility. Bold black Arabic numerals are sharply printed and evenly spaced, offering strong contrast against the lightly aged background. Surrounding the dial, a precise railroad minute track reinforces the watch’s utilitarian origins, keeping the layout grounded in function.
At 6 o’clock, a recessed sub-seconds register introduces depth, its circular graining and tighter scale providing a subtle visual break from the main dial. The handset features a more stylized profile, with delicate shaping that adds a hint of ornamentation to an otherwise straightforward design. Blued-steel hands catch the light just enough to stand apart from the dial without overpowering it, maintaining a balanced and highly readable display.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1922. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals broad Geneva striping across the bridges, paired with polished steel components and gold-toned gears that bring contrast and motion to the layout. The finishing is clean and purposeful, reflecting Illinois Watch Company’s reputation for producing reliable, well-executed movements during this period. The 12-size configuration offers a compact, symmetrical architecture, allowing a clear view of the gear train and balance assembly in operation.
The watch is housed in our Version 3 stainless steel case, finished with a crisp machined surface that frames the dial with modern precision. A matching stainless steel bezel provides a clean edge, while the machined crown—positioned at 12 o’clock—preserves the original pocket watch orientation. This crown placement remains a defining characteristic of these conversions, maintaining a direct link to how the movement was originally designed to be wound and set. The watch is paired with a tan leather strap, whose warmer tone complements the dial’s natural aging and reinforces the overall vintage feel.
By 1922, Illinois Watch Company had firmly established itself as a leader in American watchmaking, producing movements known for their durability and thoughtful finishing. The Springfield 171 reflects that legacy through its balance of simplicity and detail, offering a piece that rewards closer inspection while remaining effortlessly wearable.
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.
