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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. It is powered by the renowned Grade 274, a 21 jewel in house movement produced by Illinois from 1911 to 1926, making this example one of the final pieces ever made. The movement was fully restored and serviced in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. The plates were hand polished to remove surface oxidation, with special care taken to preserve 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. The movement features radiant damaskeening that flows across the plates in crisp, wave like patterns and presents with striking visual depth. The original kite hands were polished to a mirror finish to remove corrosion, then heated by hand over an alcohol lamp to impart a deep iridescent blue hue (read more here). This traditional process is the same method Illinois used at the factory to thermally color hands and steel movement components. The original Illinois dial is porcelain enamel in an exceptionally rare double sunk configuration, a style seldom seen in this dial size. Double sunk dials are constructed in three separate parts and assembled at the end, a labor intensive process typically reserved for higher grade pieces. The deep blue hands contrast beautifully against the dial, giving the watch a clean, balanced, and highly legible presence.
The timepiece is encased in a 316L stainless steel watch 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: 1926
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 21 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: 4527609
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.