Watch Description
The American mechanism inside this watch is not a replica or an "inspired" piece. It was genuinely carried by an individual, 100 years ago, that depended on it. Each time you wear this watch, you will be transported through time, imagining who this individual was and the work they did to help build our country. Simply put, American Artisan Series watches make you feel something when you put them on. At Vortic, we tell customers that owning a watch isn't nearly as important as owning a story. And, this is an opportunity to be a part of a story that is bigger than yourself. You won't be the first to own this watch, and you certainly won't be the last, so make your chapter count.
The American Artisan Series is a line of fully American Made wristwatches powered by restored, U.S. made pocket watch movements. Individuals commonly scrap pocket watch cases for their precious metal, leaving the original mechanism orphaned. This watch contains the original movement (timepiece), dial (face), and hands from a vintage (1880's - 1950's) pocket watch made by Elgin Watch Company. We call this model "The Chicago" because of the company's proximity to the city.
What makes the Chicago 526 unique: Today we are incredibly excited to release this incredible watch originally built by the Elgin Watch Company, our Chicago 526. We knew right away when we saw this dial and unique hand combination, that a champagne titanium case and gold-plated crown would be the perfect look to compliment this watch. We continue to be stunned by the fine details of this watch as we turn it over, gold-plated gears shine through from beneath this large build plate, as well as the gold inlaid text of this "Lord Elgin" grade movement. The balance wheel is larger than we typically expect from a 12-size movement, and brings even more attention to itself with this gold-plated hairspring. Elgin didn't hold anything back when they built this beautiful watch and we wanted to do everything we could to continue their efforts.
This watch was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois in 1912 by the Elgin Watch Company. The sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 is one of the most famous historical events of the twentieth century. On April 14th, the Titanic, the largest passenger steamship of its time, collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. Despite the crew's attempts to save the ship, it eventually sank, resulting in the death of more than 1,500 passengers and crew members. The tragedy sparked a wave of public outrage, leading to improved safety regulations for ships and the establishment of the International Ice Patrol to monitor icebergs in the North Atlantic. The disaster also inspired numerous books, films, and songs, and continues to fascinate people to this day.
Case Style:This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. The case is intentionally left unpolished so the intricate tool marks made during the milling process remain visible. Titanium is the ultimate material for strength to weight ratio. Titanium has a darker look than steel, and due to its low thermal conductivity, feels warm to the touch. These characteristics create an enduring, highly wearable, distinctive piece.
Movement: The manually wound, antique, pocket watch movement inside this watch has been meticulously restored to as close to original condition as possible. Vortic has an exclusive group of highly experienced watchmakers that specialize in vintage watches. Before its use in a wristwatch, each movement is completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and calibrated. Each finished Vortic watch is tested for at least a week before completion.
This watch's movement is serial number 16311010 from the Elgin Watch Company. 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
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Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 46mm
- Height: 12mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
- Lugs: 22mm
- Case Finish: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Gold Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 16311010
- Manufacture Year: 1912
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17j
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 526 unique: Today we are incredibly excited to release this incredible watch originally built by the Elgin Watch Company, our Chicago 526. We knew right away when we saw this dial and unique hand combination, that a champagne titanium case and gold-plated crown would be the perfect look to compliment this watch. We continue to be stunned by the fine details of this watch as we turn it over, gold-plated gears shine through from beneath this large build plate, as well as the gold inlaid text of this "Lord Elgin" grade movement. The balance wheel is larger than we typically expect from a 12-size movement, and brings even more attention to itself with this gold-plated hairspring. Elgin didn't hold anything back when they built this beautiful watch and we wanted to do everything we could to continue their efforts.
This watch was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois in 1912 by the Elgin Watch Company. The sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 is one of the most famous historical events of the twentieth century. On April 14th, the Titanic, the largest passenger steamship of its time, collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. Despite the crew's attempts to save the ship, it eventually sank, resulting in the death of more than 1,500 passengers and crew members. The tragedy sparked a wave of public outrage, leading to improved safety regulations for ships and the establishment of the International Ice Patrol to monitor icebergs in the North Atlantic. The disaster also inspired numerous books, films, and songs, and continues to fascinate people to this day.
Quality Straps
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.
Mission
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the legacy of manufacturing excellence in America. We believe that this legacy is highly relevant in the world of watch manufacturing because our goal is to marry form and function in a way that makes something beautiful that will last forever. American made pocket watches were of such a high quality and decoration that they evolved into more than just a way to tell time. They became traditional heirlooms to be inherited by future generations as a wedding gift or a coming of age treasure. Each piece tells a lively tale of what U.S. manufacturing meant in the past using an intricate language of decorated bridges, plates, gears, and springs. Today, we are restoring these pieces to their former glory and making them relevant again using the best of modern technology.
American Made
We feel proud and blessed to live in the country, state, and city that we do. However, our motivation to build everything in the United States, and to deal locally whenever possible, is derived from a different source of inspiration. We believe that the close relationships, face-to-face interaction, and tight quality control we achieve while dealing domestically produces a truly superior product. Because of this, we are very transparent about where our components are made as we continue to build our in-house capabilities.
