Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 471 unique:
The Springfield 471 is a radiant showcase of craftsmanship and refinement, built around a warm ivory dial that has gently softened with time. Applied gold-toned numerals and minute markers reflect the light with elegance, lending a rich dimensionality to the clean, balanced layout. At the center, a pair of matching gold diamond kite hands sweeps gracefully across the dial, their sculptural form adding visual strength and symmetry. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock is detailed with concentric rings and crisp markings, enhancing both legibility and visual rhythm.
Inside, this watch houses a 21-jewel Illinois movement originally manufactured in 1926. A view through the open caseback reveals a beautifully preserved engine, complete with circular graining across the bridgework and highly polished components throughout. The engraving “The Master” signifies this as one of Illinois Watch Company’s top-tier offerings, known for its elevated finish and performance standards.
The movement is housed in our Version 2 case, machined from PVD-Zircon Gold finished steel. It features a smooth bezel and matching copper-toned round crown. We’ve paired it with an ebony leather strap that provides deep contrast to the warmth of the case and hands. Altogether, this is a timepiece that blends elegance, engineering, and originality—preserving a chapter of American watchmaking while making a bold statement on the wrist.
In 1926, the same year this movement was produced, Dr. Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. Though the flight lasted just over two seconds, it marked the beginning of modern rocketry and embodied the same spirit of American innovation that we celebrate with every Vortic build.
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.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2022
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: PVD-Zircon Gold Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4740074
- Manufacture Year: 1926
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 21 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Springfield 471 unique:
The Springfield 471 is a radiant showcase of craftsmanship and refinement, built around a warm ivory dial that has gently softened with time. Applied gold-toned numerals and minute markers reflect the light with elegance, lending a rich dimensionality to the clean, balanced layout. At the center, a pair of matching gold diamond kite hands sweeps gracefully across the dial, their sculptural form adding visual strength and symmetry. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock is detailed with concentric rings and crisp markings, enhancing both legibility and visual rhythm.
Inside, this watch houses a 21-jewel Illinois movement originally manufactured in 1926. A view through the open caseback reveals a beautifully preserved engine, complete with circular graining across the bridgework and highly polished components throughout. The engraving “The Master” signifies this as one of Illinois Watch Company’s top-tier offerings, known for its elevated finish and performance standards.
The movement is housed in our Version 2 case, machined from PVD-Zircon Gold finished steel. It features a smooth bezel and matching copper-toned round crown. We’ve paired it with an ebony leather strap that provides deep contrast to the warmth of the case and hands. Altogether, this is a timepiece that blends elegance, engineering, and originality—preserving a chapter of American watchmaking while making a bold statement on the wrist.
In 1926, the same year this movement was produced, Dr. Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. Though the flight lasted just over two seconds, it marked the beginning of modern rocketry and embodied the same spirit of American innovation that we celebrate with every Vortic build.
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.
