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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 slate metal dial on this Burlington timepiece is one of the best-preserved metal dials we have come across at over a century old. Bold Roman numerals, a crisp minute track, and a clean BURLINGTON signature create a highly legible layout that is a joy to check the time on. The original Breguet hands were mirror polished to remove corrosion, then individually thermally colored using the same traditional method originally used by Burlington, imparting an iridescent blue hue that pairs exceptionally well with the slate tone. Taken together, the dial side is effortlessly engaging for time telling. Beneath the dial sits Burlington’s Grade 275, 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 steel 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 damakseening. A rare Roman numeral dial paired with a pristine Burlington movement makes this a standout 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: 315 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: 1921
Dial Material: Metal (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
Serial Number: 3875505
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.