Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 075 unique:
The Chicago 075 is a striking tribute to American watchmaking, blending bold design with deep history. The dial, originally manufactured by Elgin in 1922, features a distinctive aged patina and ornate detailing, giving it a timeless character. Its stylized numerals and intricate inner ring pattern contrast beautifully with the DLC-Black stainless steel case, making this watch a true conversation starter. Paired with a coin-edge bezel and knurled crown, this piece embodies both heritage and craftsmanship.
Powering this watch is a 17-jewel Elgin movement, a testament to the precision engineering that defined early 20th-century American watchmaking. This movement was produced the same year that the Elgin National Watch Company reached its peak as one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world.
To complete the look, we paired this watch with a deep navy leather strap, enhancing the contrast between the black case and the delicate, timeworn dial. The result? A watch that feels both rugged and refined, perfect for those who appreciate history with a modern edge.
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
- Model Year: 2025
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 45mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: DLC-Black Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 24364141
- Manufacture Year: 1922
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 075 unique:
The Chicago 075 is a striking tribute to American watchmaking, blending bold design with deep history. The dial, originally manufactured by Elgin in 1922, features a distinctive aged patina and ornate detailing, giving it a timeless character. Its stylized numerals and intricate inner ring pattern contrast beautifully with the DLC-Black stainless steel case, making this watch a true conversation starter. Paired with a coin-edge bezel and knurled crown, this piece embodies both heritage and craftsmanship.
Powering this watch is a 17-jewel Elgin movement, a testament to the precision engineering that defined early 20th-century American watchmaking. This movement was produced the same year that the Elgin National Watch Company reached its peak as one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world.
To complete the look, we paired this watch with a deep navy leather strap, enhancing the contrast between the black case and the delicate, timeworn dial. The result? A watch that feels both rugged and refined, perfect for those who appreciate history with a modern edge.
Let customers speak for us
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.
