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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.
This dial features a guilloché center and a sunburst outer section, all finished in gilt. The intricate patterns reflect light differently depending on the angle, giving the dial a constantly changing appearance. The oversized subdial is particularly striking, adding both balance and presence to the design. Framing the dial are vivid heat-blued hands, whose rich blue tone provides exceptional contrast against the warm gilt finish. Beneath the dial is Illinois’ Grade 405, a 17-jewel in-house movement manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, in 1925. This example is especially uncommon because it features a two-tone finish. The movement was originally finished in nickel and then flash-gilt, a process that deposits a thin layer of gold over the surface. The result is a movement that displays both silver and golden tones, creating a visual effect unlike any other. Every component of the movement was carefully restored by hand. The screws and steel hardware were thermally blued using traditional watchmaking techniques to improve corrosion resistance while adding depth and contrast (read more here). The jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to restore their original golden tone. The hands were polished to a mirror finish to remove corrosion and then heat treated to an iridescent blue. Together, these details create a singular example of Illinois design and craftsmanship—thoughtfully restored and ready for a new century of wear.
This Illinois timepiece is housed in our precision-engineered 316L stainless steel conversion case, built for both durability and comfort. Adjustable lugs allow effortless winding and setting while tailoring the fit to a wide range of wrist sizes. Front, back, and crown gaskets provide water resistance up to 50 meters (though we recommend removing the watch before water activities). Fully serviced and tested, this piece is ready to be worn and enjoyed for years to come.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 295 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: Metal (guilloche)
Jewels: 17 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
Serial Number: 4555928
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.