Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 233 unique:
The Springfield 233 is a striking blend of aged warmth and gothic elegance, anchored by a rare yellow dial that immediately commands attention. Its surface has developed a subtle, natural speckle over time, adding dimension and richness to the soft golden tone. Crisp black numerals in a tall, serif typeface arc evenly across the perimeter, while finely printed railroad-style minute markers bring balance and order. At center, a recessed sub-seconds dial mirrors the tone and finish of the main display, creating a unified aesthetic that feels both deliberate and refined. Floating above this vintage canvas are a pair of deep blued gothic-style hands—each one sharply tapered and cathedral-inspired—offering bold contrast and visual depth.
Powering this timepiece is a 21-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement, originally manufactured in 1922. The open caseback reveals a remarkable visual interplay: dramatic Geneva stripes sweeping across the bridges intersect beautifully with tightly packed concentric circle engravings. Gold-plated gears peek from beneath this polished architecture, further enhanced by bold, sharply cut jewel settings. The “Autocrat” designation—a nod to higher-end production standards within the Illinois Watch Company—has been crisply engraved onto one of the plates, adding a layer of historic prestige.
Encasing the movement is a 47mm machined bronze case with a smooth matching bronze bezel, delivering rich patina potential over time. The round nickel-plated crown offers just the right balance of vintage utility and bright contrast. We’ve paired it with a camel-toned leather strap for a clean, tonal finish that emphasizes the warmth of the dial and complements the bronze exterior.
This movement was originally produced in 1922—the same year Ford Motor Company introduced the first mass-produced car with a factory-installed radio. This milestone marked the beginning of in-car entertainment, fusing innovation, mobility, and modern communication—an era of transformation that mirrors the engineering ambition of American watchmakers like Illinois.
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: 2021
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Titanium
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4112049
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 21 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 233 unique:
The Springfield 233 is a striking blend of aged warmth and gothic elegance, anchored by a rare yellow dial that immediately commands attention. Its surface has developed a subtle, natural speckle over time, adding dimension and richness to the soft golden tone. Crisp black numerals in a tall, serif typeface arc evenly across the perimeter, while finely printed railroad-style minute markers bring balance and order. At center, a recessed sub-seconds dial mirrors the tone and finish of the main display, creating a unified aesthetic that feels both deliberate and refined. Floating above this vintage canvas are a pair of deep blued gothic-style hands—each one sharply tapered and cathedral-inspired—offering bold contrast and visual depth.
Powering this timepiece is a 21-jewel Illinois Autocrat movement, originally manufactured in 1922. The open caseback reveals a remarkable visual interplay: dramatic Geneva stripes sweeping across the bridges intersect beautifully with tightly packed concentric circle engravings. Gold-plated gears peek from beneath this polished architecture, further enhanced by bold, sharply cut jewel settings. The “Autocrat” designation—a nod to higher-end production standards within the Illinois Watch Company—has been crisply engraved onto one of the plates, adding a layer of historic prestige.
Encasing the movement is a 47mm machined bronze case with a smooth matching bronze bezel, delivering rich patina potential over time. The round nickel-plated crown offers just the right balance of vintage utility and bright contrast. We’ve paired it with a camel-toned leather strap for a clean, tonal finish that emphasizes the warmth of the dial and complements the bronze exterior.
This movement was originally produced in 1922—the same year Ford Motor Company introduced the first mass-produced car with a factory-installed radio. This milestone marked the beginning of in-car entertainment, fusing innovation, mobility, and modern communication—an era of transformation that mirrors the engineering ambition of American watchmakers like Illinois.
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.
