Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 480 Unique:
The dial of The Springfield 480 carries a warm, antique patina that immediately signals its age and authenticity. Time has softened the surface into a parchment-toned field, while an engraved central medallion adds depth and visual complexity, catching light differently as the watch moves. Classic Roman numerals which we don’t see as often in these antiques, ring the outer edge, their slightly irregular wear reinforcing the dial’s honest history. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock grounds the layout, preserving the original pocket watch architecture and offering a balanced, purposeful design. We preserved the original heat-blued steel hands, whose deep blue tone provides crisp contrast against the aged dial and reinforces the watch’s early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1912. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals elegant damaskeened striping across the bridges, punctuated by polished steel components and warm gold-toned gears. The layout is confident and orderly, showcasing the precision engineering Illinois was known for during its peak years of American watchmaking. Every element reflects an era when finishing, durability, and accuracy were treated as inseparable goals.
The watch is housed in our Version 2 titanium case, finished in a deep black DLC coating that creates a dramatic contrast with the light-toned dial. The smooth DLC-coated bezel frames the dial cleanly, allowing its intricate details to remain the focus. A round copper crown introduces a subtle warmth at the case edge, echoing the golden hues found within the movement and dial. The watch is paired with a camel-toned leather strap that complements both the dark case and aged dial, creating a cohesive and grounded overall aesthetic.
In 1912, the Illinois Watch Company was operating at the height of American industrial confidence, producing precision timepieces for a nation rapidly modernizing through rail expansion, manufacturing growth, and technological progress. That same year, Illinois continued refining movements that met the demanding standards of professionals who relied on accurate timekeeping every day. The Springfield 480 stands as a direct artifact of that moment—where craftsmanship, function, and design converged at the peak of American watchmaking.
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: 2024
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 47mm
- Case Material: DLC Black Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Titanium
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: DLC Titanium
- Strap: 22mm Camel Leather by Hadley Roma with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 2494767
- Manufacture Year: 1912
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original Blued-Steel
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 480 Unique:
The dial of The Springfield 480 carries a warm, antique patina that immediately signals its age and authenticity. Time has softened the surface into a parchment-toned field, while an engraved central medallion adds depth and visual complexity, catching light differently as the watch moves. Classic Roman numerals which we don’t see as often in these antiques, ring the outer edge, their slightly irregular wear reinforcing the dial’s honest history. A recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock grounds the layout, preserving the original pocket watch architecture and offering a balanced, purposeful design. We preserved the original heat-blued steel hands, whose deep blue tone provides crisp contrast against the aged dial and reinforces the watch’s early-20th-century character.
Inside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1912. Through the open caseback, the movement reveals elegant damaskeened striping across the bridges, punctuated by polished steel components and warm gold-toned gears. The layout is confident and orderly, showcasing the precision engineering Illinois was known for during its peak years of American watchmaking. Every element reflects an era when finishing, durability, and accuracy were treated as inseparable goals.
The watch is housed in our Version 2 titanium case, finished in a deep black DLC coating that creates a dramatic contrast with the light-toned dial. The smooth DLC-coated bezel frames the dial cleanly, allowing its intricate details to remain the focus. A round copper crown introduces a subtle warmth at the case edge, echoing the golden hues found within the movement and dial. The watch is paired with a camel-toned leather strap that complements both the dark case and aged dial, creating a cohesive and grounded overall aesthetic.
In 1912, the Illinois Watch Company was operating at the height of American industrial confidence, producing precision timepieces for a nation rapidly modernizing through rail expansion, manufacturing growth, and technological progress. That same year, Illinois continued refining movements that met the demanding standards of professionals who relied on accurate timekeeping every day. The Springfield 480 stands as a direct artifact of that moment—where craftsmanship, function, and design converged at the peak of American watchmaking.
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.
