Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 459 unique: Today, we are proud to present this historical masterpiece from the Illinois Watch Company — the Springfield 459. Originally manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, in 1931, this watch features a single-sunk dial with gold, gothic numbers and a classic silver design in the center. The cobalt blue watch hands contrast beautifully against the white and gold of the dial, and the subtle aging reminds you you’re wearing a piece of history. When you turn the watch over, you can peer through the open back and see the nickel gears hard at work. Powered by 17 jewels, this 127-grade watch stands out from the rest in its eye-catching design and seamless efficiency. The entire piece is held together by our beautiful PVD Zicron Gold case. The finish on this case is extremely durable and scratch-resistant, due to the process of vaporizing Zirconium Nitride and attaching it to the case through an electric current. Paired with our Moss leather strap, the Springfield 459 is a watch with the perfect mix of antique and poise. In 1931, the same year this watch was originally built, the Empire State Building was finally completed in New York, earning the title as the tallest building in the world until 1970. When you look at the Springfield 459, you can see a similar Art Deco style, which was hugely popular at the time.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
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 5413551
- Manufacture Year: 1931
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
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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.
