Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 078 unique:
The Chicago 078 is a striking timepiece, featuring a pristine porcelain dial that has remained untouched by time for over a century. This dial’s elegant, flowing numerals contrast beautifully against the deep blue of the spade and whip-style hands, while the sub-seconds dial at six o’clock ensures precision. The smooth porcelain surface, preserved in such remarkable condition, is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of early American watchmaking.
At its heart is an Elgin movement with 17 jewels, a mechanical masterpiece adorned with gold-filled engraving, further elevating its already distinguished appearance. The “G.M. Wheeler” insignia on the movement signifies a premium-grade designation, reserved for Elgin’s high-end, well-adjusted timepieces of the era. Every component, from the finely polished gears to the heat-blued screws, reflects the artistry of American horology.
Encased in our machined steel case with a coin-edged bezel, this conversion seamlessly blends vintage elegance with modern durability. A knurled crown complements the design, ensuring easy winding, while the chocolate brown leather strap adds a refined finishing touch. The fusion of these elements makes the Chicago 078 a remarkable tribute to American ingenuity.
Manufactured in 1911, this watch dates back to a time of rapid innovation. That same year, the Indianapolis 500 was held for the first time, cementing itself as one of the most prestigious automotive races in history—a fitting parallel to the precision and endurance embodied in this timepiece.
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: Machined 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: 15496397
- Manufacture Year: 1911
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 078 unique:
The Chicago 078 is a striking timepiece, featuring a pristine porcelain dial that has remained untouched by time for over a century. This dial’s elegant, flowing numerals contrast beautifully against the deep blue of the spade and whip-style hands, while the sub-seconds dial at six o’clock ensures precision. The smooth porcelain surface, preserved in such remarkable condition, is a testament to the exquisite craftsmanship of early American watchmaking.
At its heart is an Elgin movement with 17 jewels, a mechanical masterpiece adorned with gold-filled engraving, further elevating its already distinguished appearance. The “G.M. Wheeler” insignia on the movement signifies a premium-grade designation, reserved for Elgin’s high-end, well-adjusted timepieces of the era. Every component, from the finely polished gears to the heat-blued screws, reflects the artistry of American horology.
Encased in our machined steel case with a coin-edged bezel, this conversion seamlessly blends vintage elegance with modern durability. A knurled crown complements the design, ensuring easy winding, while the chocolate brown leather strap adds a refined finishing touch. The fusion of these elements makes the Chicago 078 a remarkable tribute to American ingenuity.
Manufactured in 1911, this watch dates back to a time of rapid innovation. That same year, the Indianapolis 500 was held for the first time, cementing itself as one of the most prestigious automotive races in history—a fitting parallel to the precision and endurance embodied in this timepiece.
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.
