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The Burlington Watch Co. was a subsidiary of the Illinois Watch Co., which was in operation from 1869-1948 and produced some of the best railroad-grade movements ever manufactured. Burlington watches were produced by Illinois in their factory in Springfield, Illinois and the company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
The porcelain enamel dial is the highlight of this piece and it is truly one of a kind. This Burlington features a Montgomery style dial with bold Roman numerals, an uncommon combination that creates a striking and memorable layout. Every minute is individually numbered around the perimeter, with each five minute interval rendered in red for instant clarity. It is a dial designed for precision, and its symmetry and readability are exactly why Montgomery dials became iconic in American railroad timekeeping. Completed in Springfield, Illinois in 1916 during WWI, this timepiece houses a 21 jewel movement produced between 1913 and 1929 in collaboration with the Illinois Watch Company. The movement has been fully refinished in our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop. All screws and hardware were thermally colored using slow, controlled heat to achieve deep blue accents (read more here). The jewel settings, balance, balance weights, and gear train were restored to their original golden tone, while the plates were brought back to a crisp silver finish without disturbing the factory patterns. The moon hands remain original and untouched, adding even more authenticity to this 1916 example. A rare Roman numeral Montgomery dial paired with a pristine Burlington movement makes this a special piece on the wrist.
The timepiece is cased in our custom cut 316L stainless steel conversion case, crafted with adjustable lugs for effortless winding and setting while ensuring a comfortable fit across a range of wrist sizes. The case features front, back, and crown gaskets to provide water resistance up to 50 meters, though we recommend removing the watch before water activities. Fully serviced and meticulously inspected, this watch is ready for years of reliable wear and your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 275 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Frequency: 18,000 (5 beats per second)
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hands
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Burlington (Chicago, Illinois)
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1916
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (excellent)
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, adjusts to wrist size
Height: 13 mm
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: 3975400
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.