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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.
If this dial doesn’t stop you in your tracks, nothing will. This Illinois guilloché dial is a true one-of-a-kind find. At the center is a concentric circular motif with an elegant floral pattern that resembles a vase blooming upward toward the Illinois logo. The Arabic numerals are highly legible and complemented by a clean minute track around the perimeter. Beneath the dial is an Illinois Grade 405 movement, a 17-jewel in-house workhorse manufactured in Springfield, Illinois, in 1925. Every component was carefully hand restored, with screws and steel hardware 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 enamel lettering on the movement was restored in blue, providing elegant contrast and tying together the heat blued movement hardware. The hands themselves remain untouched, retaining the original heat-blued finish applied by Illinois at the time of manufacture. Together, these details make this a singular example of Illinois design and craftsmanship—thoughtfully restored and ready for a new century of wear.
This rare 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: 280 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: 4608743
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.