What makes the Springfield 522 unique: Today, we’re pleased to share a wearable piece of history with you — the Springfield 522. Initially produced in 1921 by the Illinois Watch Company in Springfield, Illinois, this watch features a simple yet elegant design highlighted by its cream-colored face and bronze-colored numerals. The dark, arrow-shaped hands stand out remarkably against the face’s subtle hue. We’ve also paired this antique movement with our gunmetal titanium case and nickel-plated crown to complement the dark features of the face. The back of the watch features a nickel-finished bridge plate, which you can view through our unique clear-backed case design. In addition to the stunning bridge plate, this watch features 21 sumptuous jewels, bronze and gold-plated gears, and a going barrel. To finish this remarkable watch, we have paired it with our moss leather watch strap, which perfectly complements the bronze numerals on the face.

We typically expect most of the watches that we work with to have the subdial seconds hand near the bottom of the face, or with a hunting dial off at the 3 position. At first, when we encountered this watch, we assumed that it must have been some type of conversion dial that was originally a hunting-style watch. A lot of companies offered conversion dials that would allow you to rotate the watch and move the crown up to the 12 position on a hunting watch, bringing the seconds hand over to the 3 position. However, after further examination of this watch, it turns out that it was never intended to have a seconds hand at all. This is truly unique and not something we see very often from these older watches, and we absolutely love how it opens up the face in a nice way.

During the same year this watch was manufactured, the New York Yankees purchased 20 acres in The Bronx, New York, to build the original Yankee Stadium. The stadium was completed in 1923 and remained the Yankees’ home until 2008 when construction on the new Yankee Stadium was completed. During their residence at the first stadium, the New York Yankees won 26 of their 27 World Championships.