The Springfield 503 (47mm)

What makes the Springfield 503 unique: Today, we're pleased to present this remarkable piece originally manufactured by the Illinois Watch Company almost a century ago — the Springfield 503. The Springfield features an antique dial with dark, stylized numerals and rustic hour and minute hands. We encased the original pocket watch within our gleaming, scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case, drawing further attention to the piece's historic, cream-colored background. We also equipped the watch with an eye-catching copper crown. The back of the watch has a 405-grade open-face movement with a going barrel, nickel finish, and pendant setting. Additionally, you can view the timepiece's robust bronze-plated gears powered by 17 luxurious jewels throughout the movement's center bridge plate. To tie the piece together, we matched it with our hand-crafted Cordovan Black leather watch strap, adding even more style to the final product. The Illinois Watch Company initially produced the historic pocket watch in Springfield, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that the iconic musician Louis Armstrong made his first studio recordings. Armstrong's first studio session was with his mentor Joe "King" Oliver, an experienced cornet player and band leader. Electrical recording wasn't invented until 1926, so Armstrong and Oliver's band made their early recordings by playing acoustically into a funnel that was connected to the needle of a phonograph. Armstrong played so loudly during the session that he had to stand fifteen feet away from the rest of the band. Otherwise, he completely hid the sound of Oliver's cornet.