Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 484 unique: Today, we’re excited to present you this piece initially manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company in 1923 — the Springfield 484. The Springfield features a breathtaking light gold-colored center design that looks gorgeous against the dial’s cream-colored background. The dial also features distinct dark numerals and attractive dark spots against the light background that convey the watch’s antique qualities. We encased the pocket watch in our robust and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case and gave it a gold crown, which pairs excellently with the center design. The back of the watch boasts a 405-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. It also comes with three adjustable positions as well as a center bridge plate. The bridge plate sports 17 jewels and a stunning engraving that reads “The Autocrat,” perfectly describing this wearable piece of luxury. Finally, we matched this watch with our comfortable and unique Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap and nickel-plated buckle. The Illinois Watch Company produced this pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that American inventors Lee de Forest and Theodore Case showcased their optical sound-on-film invention Phonofilm, which laid the foundation for film studios using original sound in movies. They used their creation to film live performances, such as vaudeville acts, operas, and musical performances. Theodore Case went on to create Movietone in 1925, which the Fox Film Corporation then used to create the first feature film that utilized an optical soundtrack, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, in 1927.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 Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4194610
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- 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.
