Illinois Grade 404 from 1919 with New Heritage Bronze Case

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 crafted in Springfield, Illinois, in 1919. It features the grade 404 movement, a 17-jewel in-house caliber produced by Illinois from 1911 to 1923. The movement has been fully restored and carefully refinished with blue accents on the screws and hardware, applied by hand using thermal coloring—a traditional technique used by early 20th-century watchmakers to enhance both corrosion resistance and visual appeal (read more here). The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand-polished to restore their original golden luster and sheen. The watch hands were brought back to their original near-flawless heat-blued condition—a process that required multiple heating, cooling, and polishing steps to achieve the perfect deep blue hue. The porcelain-enamel dial is in excellent condition, with bold, legible numerals epitomizing the railroad-grade era. The heat-blued hands look incredible against the white dial.

The timepiece is housed in our new heritage bronze conversion case. Designed for those who appreciate the character that only age and wear can create, this case is made from solid bronze. Each case begins its journey with warm, golden tones. But the true beauty emerges with time. As you wear it, the metal naturally oxidizes, forming a rich patina. The lugs, coined-finish case, bezels, screws, and crown are all solid bronze, which means nearly every surface will age beautifully and develop a character all its own. No two cases will ever age the same.

The case is designed with adjustable lugs for easy winding and setting, while ensuring a comfortable fit across various wrist sizes. The case includes front, back, and crown gaskets for water resistance up to 50 meters; however, we recommend removing the watch before engaging in water activities. The timepiece comes fully serviced and ready for your next adventure.

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: 1919

• Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel (excellent)

• Jewels: 17 jewels

• Case Diameter: 44 mm

• Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire

• Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire

• Case Material: Bronze (will patina)

• Lug width: 22 mm

• Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)

• Height: 13 mm

• Original Case Included: No

• Serial Number: 3558247

• Water Resistance: 50 meters

• Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty

All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.