Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 182 Unique:
The Springfield 182 immediately stands apart through a dial that feels both refined and exuberant, showcasing the kind of decorative craftsmanship that defined Illinois during the early 1920s. Built around a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1922, this watch comes from a period when the company was producing some of its most visually distinctive movements and dials. While its movement delivers the dependable precision collectors expect from Illinois, it is the remarkable dial that gives this piece its unmistakable identity.
The centerpiece is an ornate gilt medallion that dominates the upper half of the dial. A finely engraved floral border surrounds a vertically striped engine-turned center, creating an extraordinary level of depth and texture rarely encountered on surviving examples. Framing this intricate centerpiece are oversized black Arabic numerals with graceful Art Deco styling that remain crisp against the softly aged silver dial. Original blued open-circle hands sweep elegantly across the face, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o'clock completes the balanced, classically American layout.
Turning the watch over reveals the beautifully preserved 17-jewel Illinois movement beneath the sapphire crystal. Wide Geneva stripes stretch across the bridges, complemented by polished winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and a blued regulator assembly that immediately capture the eye. The open bridge architecture provides an unobstructed view of the exposed gear train and balance, allowing the mechanical artistry of this century-old movement to remain fully visible.
The Springfield 182 is housed in Vortic's 45mm machined 316L stainless steel Springfield case, paired with a sandblasted stainless steel bezel that introduces a subtle matte contrast to the polished surfaces. A machined stainless steel crown reinforces the industrial character of the case, while the American-made Black Cordovan leather strap adds understated elegance that allows the dial to remain the unquestioned focal point.
The Springfield 182 is a celebration of decorative American watchmaking. Its uncommon engraved gilt centerpiece, distinctive Art Deco numerals, and beautifully finished Illinois movement create a watch that offers collectors something increasingly difficult to find: an original dial whose artistry is every bit as compelling as the mechanics beneath it.
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: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Black Cordovan Leather Strap by Horween with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4002494
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 182 Unique:
The Springfield 182 immediately stands apart through a dial that feels both refined and exuberant, showcasing the kind of decorative craftsmanship that defined Illinois during the early 1920s. Built around a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1922, this watch comes from a period when the company was producing some of its most visually distinctive movements and dials. While its movement delivers the dependable precision collectors expect from Illinois, it is the remarkable dial that gives this piece its unmistakable identity.
The centerpiece is an ornate gilt medallion that dominates the upper half of the dial. A finely engraved floral border surrounds a vertically striped engine-turned center, creating an extraordinary level of depth and texture rarely encountered on surviving examples. Framing this intricate centerpiece are oversized black Arabic numerals with graceful Art Deco styling that remain crisp against the softly aged silver dial. Original blued open-circle hands sweep elegantly across the face, while the recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o'clock completes the balanced, classically American layout.
Turning the watch over reveals the beautifully preserved 17-jewel Illinois movement beneath the sapphire crystal. Wide Geneva stripes stretch across the bridges, complemented by polished winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and a blued regulator assembly that immediately capture the eye. The open bridge architecture provides an unobstructed view of the exposed gear train and balance, allowing the mechanical artistry of this century-old movement to remain fully visible.
The Springfield 182 is housed in Vortic's 45mm machined 316L stainless steel Springfield case, paired with a sandblasted stainless steel bezel that introduces a subtle matte contrast to the polished surfaces. A machined stainless steel crown reinforces the industrial character of the case, while the American-made Black Cordovan leather strap adds understated elegance that allows the dial to remain the unquestioned focal point.
The Springfield 182 is a celebration of decorative American watchmaking. Its uncommon engraved gilt centerpiece, distinctive Art Deco numerals, and beautifully finished Illinois movement create a watch that offers collectors something increasingly difficult to find: an original dial whose artistry is every bit as compelling as the mechanics beneath it.
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.
