Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 556 unique: We’re pleased to present to you this handsome piece originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company nearly a century ago — the Springfield 556. The front of this splendid watch displays a cream-colored dial with blued steel diamond kite watch hands and a glimmering subdial. The dial also features stylish black numerals, and a circular outline underneath that matches the subdial. We encased this stunning antique pocket watch within our Blued Titanium case and matched it with a nickel-plated crown. On the back of the watch, you can see its Duquesne private run movement, which is 405-grade and has an open-face configuration. The movement features eye-catching engravings, including “Duquesne” and “Illinois Watch Co Springfield,” and it also boasts a Going barrel, nickel finish, and pendant setting. Finally, you can see its gold-plated gears and 17 jewels throughout its center bridge plate. We paired this unforgettable watch with our comfortable, artisan-designed Tan leather watch strap, making the final piece all the more special.The Illinois Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that US Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty officially made it legal for women to wear trousers wherever they pleased. Although the idea of it being illegal for women to wear pants is unthinkable today, some states in America and many European countries forbade women from wearing these clothing items as it was seen as cross-dressing. In fact, it wasn’t until 2013 that women were technically allowed to wear pants in Paris, and US female senators didn’t gain the right to wear pants on the senate floor until 1993.
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: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 4263507
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Illinois Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that US Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty officially made it legal for women to wear trousers wherever they pleased. Although the idea of it being illegal for women to wear pants is unthinkable today, some states in America and many European countries forbade women from wearing these clothing items as it was seen as cross-dressing. In fact, it wasn’t until 2013 that women were technically allowed to wear pants in Paris, and US female senators didn’t gain the right to wear pants on the senate floor until 1993.
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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.
