The Foundry - 4397

American history, made wearable.

This watch was never meant to disappear into a collection.

At its heart is an original American pocket-watch movement from Illinois—built during an era when American watchmaking stood among the finest in the world. Bernhardt’s in-house watchmakers have carefully restored and reimagined it as a modern wristwatch, preserving the character that made it worth saving in the first place.

The dial is the soul of this piece. Its warm ivory surface, bold Art Deco numerals, railroad minute track, heat blued hands, and honest patina are not manufactured nostalgia. They are the evidence of a life, a history. Impossible to duplicate.

Beneath the sapphire exhibition caseback is a beautifully decorated 21-jewel Illinois movement, alive with striped finishing, gold-toned hardware, polished wheels, and intricate mechanical architecture. No longer hidden behind a solid caseback, it deserves to be seen.

The movement is housed in a purpose-built 316L stainless-steel case with sapphire crystal and articulated, pivoting lugs. The case measures a commanding 45mm, while the lugs allow it to follow the wrist naturally, giving the watch exceptional comfort and a surprisingly compact fit. At only 12mm thick, it wears far slimmer and more elegantly than its pocket-watch origins would suggest.

Manifest is not a reproduction. It is not a tribute. It is American watchmaking history, thoughtfully transformed by Bernhardt and given a second life on the wrist.

The past is not gone. It has simply changed form.

Circa 1920s · Piece Unique

Specifications

• Collection: Bernhardt Manifest
• Origin: Historic American Illinois pocket watch
• Conversion: Completed by Bernhardt’s in-house watchmakers
• Movement: Decorated, manually wound Illinois mechanical movement
• Jewel count: 21 jewels
• Dial: Original aged ivory dial with Art Deco numerals and small seconds
• Hands: Blued steel-style hour, minute, and seconds hands
• Case: 316L stainless steel
• Case diameter: 45mm
• Case thickness: Approximately 12mm
• Lugs: Pivoting articulated lugs for a smaller, more comfortable fit
• Front crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
• Caseback: Sapphire exhibition caseback
• Strap: Leather-lined black textured strap, etched Bernhardt buckle
• Character: Each watch is inherently unique due to its historic components and preserved patina
• Assembly and finishing: Completed in-house by Bernhardt in the USA

Every Bernhardt watch is backed by a 2-year warranty and supported by our in-house service department. All repairs and regulation are handled internally to ensure consistency, quality, and long-term reliability. From routine maintenance to necessary repairs, your watch is cared for by the same team that stands behind every Bernhardt timepiece.