Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 522 unique: Today, we’re happy to feature this eye-catching watch that was originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company almost a century ago — the Chicago 522. This remarkable piece of American watch history features sumptuous gold-colored details along its single-sunk dial including dark-gold numerals and striking solid diamond kite watch hands that look especially breathtaking against its pale gold background. The front of this watch also displays a helpful subdial with a golden hand. We matched this charming watch with our Machined Titanium case and topped it off with a complementing gold-plated crown. In addition to style, our Machined Titanium case displays an open back, allowing you to view its 345-grade open-face movement with a Mosley regulator, Breguet hairspring, Quick train, and Going barrel. The movement also boasts 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels throughout its ¾ plate and breathtaking gold-plated gears. Finally, we equipped this one-of-a-kind watch with our comfortable, hand-crafted Merlot leather watch strap, making the final product even more unforgettable.The Elgin National Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1924 — the same year that the Chicago mobster Dean O’Banion was killed by Al Capone’s subordinate Frankie Yale and partnered assassins John Scalise and Albert Anselmi. O’Banion rose to power as a prominent bootlegger during prohibition and founded the North Side Gang, an Irish-Polish criminal organization that had ongoing conflict with the Italian-American South Side Gang led by “Papa” Johnny Torrio, who was succeeded by Al Capone.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Elgin Watch Company. We call this model "The Chicago" because of the company's proximity to the city.
Also known as Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin wasn't only the largest watch manufacturer in the United States, but the largest watch manufacturer in the world for almost 100 years, operating from 1864-1964. The company often used a depiction of father time on advertisements. At one point, the company was making 7,500 watch movements per week and had 2,300 employees. The factory was demolished in 1966 and replaced with a shopping center.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 26777396
- Manufacture Year: 1924
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Elgin National Watch Company initially produced the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1924 — the same year that the Chicago mobster Dean O’Banion was killed by Al Capone’s subordinate Frankie Yale and partnered assassins John Scalise and Albert Anselmi. O’Banion rose to power as a prominent bootlegger during prohibition and founded the North Side Gang, an Irish-Polish criminal organization that had ongoing conflict with the Italian-American South Side Gang led by “Papa” Johnny Torrio, who was succeeded by Al Capone.
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The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
