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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 checkerboard center with intricate patterns radiating outward. A minute track with bold indices every five minutes frames the perimeter, with bold Arabic numerals held within. The combination of the checkerboard center, the silver backdrop, and the restored heat blued hands creates a look that immediately draws you in. Inside is the Illinois Grade 406, a 19 jewel movement produced in Springfield, Illinois from 1913 to 1926. This example retains its original striped damaskeening, with wave like patterns that shift beautifully in the light. In our Little Rock, Arkansas workshop, every plate, jewel setting, gear train, balance, and balance weight was individually hand polished to restore the movement’s original golden brilliance while carefully preserving the factory applied striping. The gold tone hardware remains exactly as Illinois finished it more than a century ago, maintaining a true period correct appearance. The blued steel hands were polished to a mirror finish and thermally colored by hand over an alcohol lamp, producing a deep, vibrant blue that contrasts perfectly against the dial.
The timepiece is cased 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 (guilloche)
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: 3977288
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.