Watch Description
What makes the Springfield 591 unique: We are happy to present to you today this amazing watch from the Illinois Watch Company, our Springfield 591. This watch presents such a classic iconic style that has lasted the test of time. This stark white dial and bold dark numerals will immediately grab your attention and bring you in to further examine the finer details of this watch. Blued steel open kite hands stand out nicely, while our copper crown on top brings a touch of color to the overall look. We cased this watch in our lightweight machined titanium case, and finished it off with an American-made black leather cordovan strap. As we turn this watch over, we are pleasantly admiring this carefully crafted 405 grade movement. All of the different build plates have been carefully machined in a cohesive pattern to give your eye a sense of movement as you examine all the many details. This watch has been decorated by 17 screw-set jewels as well as gold-plated gears and a brass balance wheel. This watch is definitely destined to be a true head-turner wherever it goes.Originally manufactured in 1920 in Springfield, Illinois by the Illinois Watch Company in a run of only 500 total pieces. 1920 was an incredibly exciting year for the world of science and technology. On May 6th, 1920, the first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went on the air. This was a major milestone in the development of modern communication technology, allowing people to communicate with each other over long distances. Just a few months later, on August 18th, 1920, the first successful commercial transatlantic flight took place. This flight, piloted by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown, was a major breakthrough in the field of aviation and opened up the possibility of global travel.
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: 3739301
- Manufacture Year: 1920
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
Originally manufactured in 1920 in Springfield, Illinois by the Illinois Watch Company in a run of only 500 total pieces. 1920 was an incredibly exciting year for the world of science and technology. On May 6th, 1920, the first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went on the air. This was a major milestone in the development of modern communication technology, allowing people to communicate with each other over long distances. Just a few months later, on August 18th, 1920, the first successful commercial transatlantic flight took place. This flight, piloted by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown, was a major breakthrough in the field of aviation and opened up the possibility of global travel.
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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.
