Vortic Watch: The Springfield 601

Vortic Watch Company's mission is to salvage, restore, and preserve an important part of United States history. Today, beautiful antique pocket watch mechanisms are often cast aside when their original case is scrapped for precious metal value. American pocket watches were made with an incredible level of quality. So, after 100 years, many simply need a little patience from a skilled individual to make them run like new. Vortic fully restores these mechanisms and builds them into wristwatches to make them functional again and to preserve them for another 100+ years.

Watch - An incredible piece of history, this watch was initially manufactured in 1927 by Illinois Watch Company — the Springfield 601. We love the unique look of this dial, with wonderfully bold numerals that stand out nicely. This watch comes from a small run within this particular model and is indicated on the front with the word "VICTOR," as well as on the movement itself as well. We don't see this type of branding on the sub-second dial very often and really love these special details. This remarkable timepiece is crafted from an antique pocket watch, expertly restored, and converted with precision into a modern wristwatch. The new machined titanium case gives it a sleek, contemporary look while still paying homage to its classic origins. The nickel-plated crown adds a luxurious touch to this stunning piece, while the black leather strap ensures that it will remain comfortable on your wrist all day long. The gold-plated gears add an extra element of sophistication and elegance, making this watch truly stand out from the crowd.

Case - This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. The case is intentionally left unpolished so the intricate tool marks made during the milling process remain visible. Titanium is the ultimate material for strength to weight ratio. Titanium has a darker look than steel, and due to its low thermal conductivity, feels warm to the touch. These characteristics create an enduring, highly wearable, distinctive piece.

Movement: The manually wound, antique, pocket watch movement inside this watch has been meticulously restored to as close to original condition as possible. Vortic has an exclusive group of highly experienced watchmakers that specialize in vintage watches. Before its use in a wristwatch, each movement is completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and calibrated. Each finished Vortic watch is tested for at least a week before completion.

This watch's movement is serial number 4926002 from the Illinois Watch Company

Watchmaker History: Originally called the Springfield Watch Company, the Illinois Watch Company came to Springfield, Illinois in 1869 while the "modern" industry was fairly new but highly promising. City officials felt that the addition of a watch 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 eventually sold to Hamilton in 1927. Hamilton continued producing watches under the Illinois name for some time, but the original Springfield factory no longer stands.

Watch Specs:

• Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
• Warranty: Vortic's Full 1-Year Warranty
• Case Dimensions: 
• Diameter: 47mm
• Height: 12mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
• Lugs: 22mm
• Case Finish: Machined Titanium
• Crown/Hardware: Nickel-Plated
• Water Resistance: 1 ATM
• Crystals: Sapphire
• Case Back: Stainless Steel
• Strap: Leather

Movement Specs:

• Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
• Serial Number:  4926002
• Manufacture Year:  1927
• Function: Manual Wind
• Jewels: 21 Jewels
• Hands: Original
• Size: 12s
• Power Reserve: ~36 Hours