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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.
This Illinois timepiece was completed in Springfield, Illinois in 1926 and is one of only 1,000 ever produced. We paired this ultra-rare movement with our Heritage Bronze case, creating a piece that feels both historically significant and unmistakably modern. The movement belongs to Illinois’ exceptionally rare Grade 270, a caliber produced for just a single year in 1926 in a limited run of only 1,000 examples. The movement was fully restored and serviced in our workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas. The plates were hand polished to remove surface oxidation while carefully preserving the original golden movement accents applied by Illinois at the time of manufacture. The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to restore their original golden tone. Crisp striped damaskeening flows across the plates in clean linear patterns, creating remarkable visual depth across the movement. The hands remain unrestored and retain their original heat-blued finish from 1926. The Illinois metal dial features a guilloché floral motif at the center, paired with golden numerals and a perimeter minute track with golden markers at every minute. The rich blue hands contrast beautifully against the patterned surface, giving the watch a clean, balanced, and highly legible presence.
The timepiece is housed in our Heritage Bronze conversion case. Built for collectors who value the depth and character that only time can create, this case is machined from solid bronze composed of 93 percent copper, which gives it its warm golden tone from the start. As it is worn, the metal slowly oxidizes and develops a rich natural patina, creating a finish that becomes more personal day by day. The lugs, coined-edge case, bezel, screws, and crown are all solid bronze, so nearly every surface of the watch will evolve with wear. No two cases will ever age the same, which makes each piece uniquely your own.
The case is designed with adjustable lugs for easy winding and setting, while ensuring a comfortable fit across various wrist sizes. The case includes front, back, and crown gaskets for water resistance up to 50 meters; however, we recommend removing the watch before engaging in water activities. The timepiece comes fully serviced and ready for your next adventure.
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: 1926
Dial Material: Metal
Jewels: 21 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: Heritage bronze (will patina)
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 4847395
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.