1916 Illinois WWI Offset Trench Watch - 17 Jewel Solid Silverode Case, Rare Early Military Timepiece

1916 Illinois WW1 Trench Watch – Rare 17 Jewel “Driver’s Watch”

Offered here is a remarkable piece of horological and military history: a genuine 1916 Illinois Trench Watch, crafted during the First World War. This is not a common example — it features a 3/0 size Illinois Grade 24 movement with 17 jewels, one of just 700 produced in 1916 (total lifetime production only 9,180).

The dial is set in the distinctive offset “Driver’s Watch” orientation, a rare and practical design created for quick legibility while driving or in combat. It is a feature highly prized by collectors, adding both charm and historical significance.

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Details & Features

• Year: 1916 (WW1 era)

• Maker: Illinois Watch Company, Springfield, Illinois

• Movement: Grade 24, 17 jewels, 3/0 size, nickel finish, pendant set

• Case: Stamped Silverode (a durable nickel alloy, likely by Philadelphia Watch Case Co.), gently polished, retains excellent shine

• Size: 31.7mm x 31.5mm (excluding crown)

• Crown: Oversized 6.2mm

• Dial: Professionally refinished with period-correct luminous material, restored hands, using original-era templates

• Lugs: Heavy wire lugs, 16mm spacing

• Band: Custom 12mm black alligator calf strap with red leather lining and polished stainless buckle

• Condition: Fully serviced by a trench watch specialist, new crystal, new strap, complete case restoration; light age marks consistent with its 107-year history

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Why This Watch Matters

Illinois was celebrated as one of America’s finest watchmakers, renowned for precision engineering and elegant design. Their production of wristwatches was relatively short-lived, ending when Hamilton acquired the firm in 1928. Surviving Illinois trench watches — especially low-production 3/0 size 17-jewel examples from 1916 — are now scarce and highly sought after.

This watch combines rarity, craftsmanship, and history in a way few pieces can. To hold it is to touch the ingenuity of American watchmaking and the resilience of the soldiers who first wore these on the battlefield.

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A Collector’s Treasure
• Exceptionally low production run (700 in 1916)

• Offset “Driver’s” dial – rarely encountered and highly collectible

• Original movement, expertly serviced and restored for continued use

• A true century-old artifact, ready to wear or display

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This Illinois trench watch is more than a timepiece — it is a living relic of WW1, preserved with care, restored with respect, and offered here for the discerning collector.

📸 Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.