Watch Description
What Makes The Springfield 184 Unique:
The Springfield 184 showcases the understated elegance that made Illinois one of America's most respected watch manufacturers during the early twentieth century. Built around a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1916, this piece represents a period when the company focused on producing highly reliable movements paired with clean, timeless dial designs. While the movement delivers the dependable performance collectors have long associated with Illinois, it is the remarkable simplicity and near-pristine condition of the dial that immediately sets this watch apart.
The first thing collectors will notice is the flawless white enamel dial, whose crisp surface has survived more than a century with exceptional clarity. Bold black Arabic numerals provide excellent legibility while maintaining perfect visual balance, and the sharply printed railroad-style minute track reinforces the watch's precision-focused heritage. Original blued spade-and-whip hands glide elegantly across the dial, creating a striking contrast against the bright enamel background. At 6 o'clock, the recessed sub-seconds register is framed by finely printed numerals and minute graduations, completing a layout that feels both restrained and sophisticated. Unlike many dials from this era that exhibit crazing, hairlines, or discoloration, this example remains remarkably clean, making it especially desirable to collectors who appreciate original enamel in outstanding condition.
Turning the watch over reveals the beautifully finished 17-jewel Illinois movement beneath the sapphire exhibition crystal. Wide Geneva stripes sweep across the bridges, while polished winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and the exposed balance assembly showcase the mechanical craftsmanship that defined Illinois during its golden years. Every detail reflects the company's reputation for producing dependable American movements with thoughtful finishing that remains captivating more than a century later.
Vortic pairs this historic movement with its 45mm DLC-coated stainless steel Springfield case. The matte black finish creates a dramatic contrast against the brilliant white dial, giving the watch a distinctly modern presence while allowing the antique enamel face to remain the centerpiece. The matching DLC-coated bezel and crown complete the monochromatic aesthetic, while the American-made black leather strap ties the entire design together with understated refinement.
The Springfield 184 is a beautiful study in contrast, combining one of the cleanest original Illinois enamel dials with a contemporary black case that highlights every detail. Its exceptional dial preservation, classic blued hands, precision-inspired layout, and beautifully finished movement make this a piece that will appeal equally to seasoned collectors and those discovering American pocket watch history for the first time.
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.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: DLC Black Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Black Leather Strap with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Illinois Watch Company
- Serial Number: 2916110
- Manufacture Year: 1916
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Springfield 184 Unique:
The Springfield 184 showcases the understated elegance that made Illinois one of America's most respected watch manufacturers during the early twentieth century. Built around a 17-jewel Illinois movement manufactured in 1916, this piece represents a period when the company focused on producing highly reliable movements paired with clean, timeless dial designs. While the movement delivers the dependable performance collectors have long associated with Illinois, it is the remarkable simplicity and near-pristine condition of the dial that immediately sets this watch apart.
The first thing collectors will notice is the flawless white enamel dial, whose crisp surface has survived more than a century with exceptional clarity. Bold black Arabic numerals provide excellent legibility while maintaining perfect visual balance, and the sharply printed railroad-style minute track reinforces the watch's precision-focused heritage. Original blued spade-and-whip hands glide elegantly across the dial, creating a striking contrast against the bright enamel background. At 6 o'clock, the recessed sub-seconds register is framed by finely printed numerals and minute graduations, completing a layout that feels both restrained and sophisticated. Unlike many dials from this era that exhibit crazing, hairlines, or discoloration, this example remains remarkably clean, making it especially desirable to collectors who appreciate original enamel in outstanding condition.
Turning the watch over reveals the beautifully finished 17-jewel Illinois movement beneath the sapphire exhibition crystal. Wide Geneva stripes sweep across the bridges, while polished winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and the exposed balance assembly showcase the mechanical craftsmanship that defined Illinois during its golden years. Every detail reflects the company's reputation for producing dependable American movements with thoughtful finishing that remains captivating more than a century later.
Vortic pairs this historic movement with its 45mm DLC-coated stainless steel Springfield case. The matte black finish creates a dramatic contrast against the brilliant white dial, giving the watch a distinctly modern presence while allowing the antique enamel face to remain the centerpiece. The matching DLC-coated bezel and crown complete the monochromatic aesthetic, while the American-made black leather strap ties the entire design together with understated refinement.
The Springfield 184 is a beautiful study in contrast, combining one of the cleanest original Illinois enamel dials with a contemporary black case that highlights every detail. Its exceptional dial preservation, classic blued hands, precision-inspired layout, and beautifully finished movement make this a piece that will appeal equally to seasoned collectors and those discovering American pocket watch history for the first time.
Let customers speak for us
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.
