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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.
The original Illinois porcelain-enamel railroad dial creates striking contrast against our black PVD-coated case, giving this classic American railroad watch a distinctly sportier character. We have come to think of railroad watches as the sport watches of their era. Like modern dive watches, they were purpose-built tool watches designed for maximum legibility, durability, and precision. The deep black case allows the bold Arabic numerals, crisp minute track, and thermally blued Breguet hands to stand out with exceptional contrast, creating a fresh interpretation of an American classic. Completed in Springfield, Illinois, in 1925, this timepiece is powered by the rare Aristocrat variant of the Grade 406 movement. The movement features web-like damaskeening with circular wave patterns that create a mesmerizing interplay of light and motion, resembling the geometry of a spider's web. Every component of the movement was meticulously restored in our workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas. Each plate, jewel setting, gear, balance, and balance weight was individually hand polished to restore its original golden brilliance. Great care was taken to preserve the factory-applied finishing, allowing the golden hardware and jewel settings to stand out against the nickel surface. All gold-tone movement accents remain exactly as Illinois applied them over a century ago, preserving the authentic appearance of the piece. The result is a timepiece that captures both the technical precision and artistic craftsmanship that defined Illinois watchmaking at its peak during the 1920s. While the black PVD case gives this railroad watch a distinctly sportier character, it never loses sight of what we believe vintage American watchmaking has always been about: elegance and beauty.
The timepiece is housed in our black PVD coated surgical grade 316L stainless steel case. Every component of the case is PVD coated, including the mid case, bezel, caseback, lugs, screws, crown, and clasp, resulting in a deep, uniform finish with exceptional durability and corrosion resistance. The rich dark tone delivers a bold, high contrast aesthetic that allows the dial and movement to stand forward with striking clarity.
The conversion case is 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: 1925
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 19 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless (PVD coated black)
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: 4614805
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.