Watch Description
What makes The Chicago 084 unique:
The Chicago 084 features a clean and character-filled antique dial from Elgin, whose off-white surface has gracefully aged over the past century. A full set of bold, black numerals surrounds the dial—each one styled with charming flourishes that distinguish this piece from more standardized designs. At the center, a gold-toned circular track adds warmth and depth, subtly contrasting the silver backdrop. Solid diamond-style hands in blued steel and a recessed sub-seconds dial—with concentric rings and sharp Arabic numerals—complete the aesthetic with symmetry and vintage precision.
At the heart of this piece beats a 17-jewel Elgin movement originally manufactured in 1924. Visible through the open caseback, the bridge plates are adorned with intricate geometric engraving and a brushed finish that catches the light with every turn of the wrist. Gold-plated gears and polished steel components add both elegance and technical appeal, while the visible mechanism offers a rare window into the ingenuity and mechanical artistry of early American watchmaking.
We’ve preserved this movement in a 45mm machined stainless steel case paired with a matching coin-edge bezel and a knurled crown. The case has a clean, brushed finish that lets the historic dial and ornate movement take center stage. A hand-stitched black Horween leather strap brings the whole design together with durability and contrast, making this watch equally suitable for everyday wear or special occasions.
In 1924, the United States Army Air Service completed the first-ever aerial circumnavigation of the globe—an engineering and navigational feat that demonstrated the power of American innovation. This watch, made in that same year, reflects the same spirit of adventure and mechanical excellence.
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 Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 26879948
- Manufacture Year: 1924
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes The Chicago 084 unique:
The Chicago 084 features a clean and character-filled antique dial from Elgin, whose off-white surface has gracefully aged over the past century. A full set of bold, black numerals surrounds the dial—each one styled with charming flourishes that distinguish this piece from more standardized designs. At the center, a gold-toned circular track adds warmth and depth, subtly contrasting the silver backdrop. Solid diamond-style hands in blued steel and a recessed sub-seconds dial—with concentric rings and sharp Arabic numerals—complete the aesthetic with symmetry and vintage precision.
At the heart of this piece beats a 17-jewel Elgin movement originally manufactured in 1924. Visible through the open caseback, the bridge plates are adorned with intricate geometric engraving and a brushed finish that catches the light with every turn of the wrist. Gold-plated gears and polished steel components add both elegance and technical appeal, while the visible mechanism offers a rare window into the ingenuity and mechanical artistry of early American watchmaking.
We’ve preserved this movement in a 45mm machined stainless steel case paired with a matching coin-edge bezel and a knurled crown. The case has a clean, brushed finish that lets the historic dial and ornate movement take center stage. A hand-stitched black Horween leather strap brings the whole design together with durability and contrast, making this watch equally suitable for everyday wear or special occasions.
In 1924, the United States Army Air Service completed the first-ever aerial circumnavigation of the globe—an engineering and navigational feat that demonstrated the power of American innovation. This watch, made in that same year, reflects the same spirit of adventure and mechanical excellence.
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.
