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Illinois Watch Co. was in operation from 1869-1948 and produced some of the most renowned railroad-grade movements ever manufactured. Watches were produced in their factory in Springfield, Illinois.
Completed in Springfield, Illinois in 1922, this Illinois piece stands out immediately for its dial. The metal dial features a striking moire center that almost resembles patterned animal hide, something we have never encountered on an Illinois before. A golden ring circles the perimeter, framing clean silver fields where the numerals and Illinois signature sit in perfect balance. The combination of the gold tones, the silver backdrop, and the restored heat blued hands creates a look that draws your eye. It is one of the most distinctive dials we have come across. Inside is the rare Time King variant of the 406 grade movement, produced in a limited run that makes it far less common than the general 406. This example retains its striped damaskeening with wave like patterns that shift beautifully in the light. In our Little Rock workshop, every plate, jewel setting, gear, balance, and balance weight was individually hand polished to restore its original golden brilliance while preserving the factory applied striping. The gold tone hardware remains exactly as Illinois finished it more than a century ago, maintaining a true period look. The blued steel hands were polished to a mirror finish and thermally colored over an alcohol lamp for a deep, vibrant blue that plays perfectly off the dial.
The timepiece is encased in our 316L stainless steel conversion case, designed with adjustable lugs for easy winding and setting, ensuring a comfortable fit across various wrist sizes. The case includes front, back, and crown gaskets, providing water resistance up to 50 meters, though it is recommended to remove the watch before engaging in water activities. The timepiece comes fully serviced and ready for your future adventures.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 300 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hand
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Illinois
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1922
Dial Material: Metal (moire)
Jewels: 19 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: 4114650
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.