Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 485 unique: Today we are happy to present this gorgeous timepiece from the Illinois Watch Company, our Springfield 485. We love how the bright machined titanium case stands out from the soft feel of this aged dial with gold-colored numerals and hands. The subtle minute indicators that surround the outer edges of the dial are the sort of details that make this watch unique and draw you in to explore it further. We chose our copper crown and hardware to match the tone of this natural strap, tying the whole thing together nicely. As we turn this watch over to reveal the movement within, we find more copper in the form of inlaid text, including this fantastic Autocrat insignia on the center of the bridge. We love the addition of the two smaller finger bridges that hold the third and fourth gold-plated escapement wheels. A wonderful spiral pattern has been carefully machined across the many surfaces of the build plates to create visual movement that keeps your eye following the curvature of the design throughout. Stainless steel hardware holds in these 17 screw-set jewels nicely, adding to the stunning display. This watch was originally manufactured in 1922 in Springfield, Illinois by the Illinois Watch Company. In May of this year, the Lincoln Memorial dedication was held in Washington D.C. The building was designed by Henry Bacon and constructed with 19-foot-tall columns, intended to resemble a Grecian-style temple.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: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4101073
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- 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.
