Image 1 of 20
Image 2 of 20
Image 3 of 20
Image 4 of 20
Image 5 of 20
Image 6 of 20
Image 7 of 20
Image 8 of 20
Image 9 of 20
Image 10 of 20
Image 11 of 20
Image 12 of 20
Image 13 of 20
Image 14 of 20
Image 15 of 20
Image 16 of 20
Image 17 of 20
Image 18 of 20
Image 19 of 20
Image 20 of 20
The Burlington Watch Co. was a subsidiary of the Illinois Watch Co., which was in operation from 1869-1948 and produced some of the best railroad-grade movements ever manufactured. Burlington watches were produced by Illinois in their factory in Springfield, Illinois and the company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
At just 36 mm, this piece carries the styling and proportions of a modern dress watch while preserving the character of a vintage American movement. The original Burlington Special porcelain-enamel dial features elegant, curved Arabic numerals, a design element perfected by Burlington. Along the perimeter is a finely detailed railroad minute track with bold, inverted triangles at five-minute intervals and red numerals marking every five minutes from 5 to 60. The dial captures the classic styling of American railroad watches while incorporating subtle design elements, particularly the curved numerals, that make it unmistakably Burlington. The original hands retain their plum-colored finish applied by Burlington at the time of manufacture. Their rich color provides exceptional contrast against the white porcelain-enamel dial.
This 1914 Burlington is powered by the Grade 37, a movement produced by the Illinois Watch Company for Burlington between 1905 and 1916. Although manufactured by Illinois in Springfield, Burlington was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and the movement is stamped "Burlington Watch Co. Chicago USA," reflecting the company's Chicago heritage. The Grade 37 is known for its distinctive crosshatch damaskeening and micrometer regulator. Every movement component was carefully restored by hand. Screws and steel hardware were thermally blued by hand over an alcohol lamp to improve corrosion resistance while adding depth and contrast (read more here). The jewel chatons, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand polished to restore their original golden tone. This is a carefully restored example of early 1900s American watchmaking, bringing together Burlington's distinctive Chicago heritage, an original railroad-inspired dial, and the exceptional movement finishing of the Illinois Watch Company.
Housed in our 36 mm conversion case, this timepiece is designed to preserve the elegance of its vintage aesthetic while offering the refined proportions of a modern dress watch. Crafted from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, the case features both caseback and crown gaskets for enhanced durability and water resistance up to 50 meters (though we recommend removing the watch before water activities). At just 36 mm across with a slim profile, the case wears compact, elegant, and exceptionally comfortable on the wrist. Every piece is fully serviced, meticulously tested, and built for reliable everyday wear.
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: Burlington (Chicago, Illinois)
Location: Springfield, Illinois
Year Manufactured: 1914
Dial Material: Porcelain-enamel
Jewels: 17 jewels
Case Diameter: 36 mm
Front Crystal: Domed sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 20 mm
Lug to Lug: 44 mm
Height: 10 mm
Serial Number: 2613698
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.