Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 086 unique:
The Chicago 086 showcases a warm, parchment-toned dial that has developed a lovely patina over time, emphasizing the vintage charm of this nearly century-old piece. Raised gold numerals in a bold art deco font surround the dial, drawing attention with their crisp form and subtle shine. Each numeral adds depth and dimension, while the blued steel kite-style hands create a refined contrast and shift hues with the light. At 6 o’clock, a sunk sub-seconds dial offers symmetry and functionality, accented with concentric rings that give it a delicate texture and hint at the dial’s original craftsmanship.
At its heart is a beautifully restored Elgin movement from 1924, visible through the open caseback. The movement features elaborate damaskeening—swirling decorative patterns across the bridges—and gold-plated gears that peek through the polished interior. This fine mechanical detail reflects the pinnacle of American watchmaking during the early 20th century. Each piece like this is not only functional but also a preserved work of art, carrying with it a story of American innovation and precision engineering.
We encased this historic movement in a machined stainless steel case with a polished bezel that frames the domed crystal and gives the watch a clean, elegant profile. The knurled crown offers both tactile grip and visual texture, complementing the industrial aesthetic of the movement itself. Paired with a camel-toned American-made leather strap, this combination highlights the warm tones of the numerals and patina while offering everyday wearability with a refined, vintage flair.
This watch’s movement was manufactured in 1924—the same year Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, granting full U.S. citizenship to Native Americans born in the United States. Just as that act recognized deep-rooted heritage and progress, The Chicago 086 celebrates our country’s craftsmanship legacy by preserving and honoring what came before.
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.
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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: 26401214
- Manufacture Year: 1924
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 086 unique:
The Chicago 086 showcases a warm, parchment-toned dial that has developed a lovely patina over time, emphasizing the vintage charm of this nearly century-old piece. Raised gold numerals in a bold art deco font surround the dial, drawing attention with their crisp form and subtle shine. Each numeral adds depth and dimension, while the blued steel kite-style hands create a refined contrast and shift hues with the light. At 6 o’clock, a sunk sub-seconds dial offers symmetry and functionality, accented with concentric rings that give it a delicate texture and hint at the dial’s original craftsmanship.
At its heart is a beautifully restored Elgin movement from 1924, visible through the open caseback. The movement features elaborate damaskeening—swirling decorative patterns across the bridges—and gold-plated gears that peek through the polished interior. This fine mechanical detail reflects the pinnacle of American watchmaking during the early 20th century. Each piece like this is not only functional but also a preserved work of art, carrying with it a story of American innovation and precision engineering.
We encased this historic movement in a machined stainless steel case with a polished bezel that frames the domed crystal and gives the watch a clean, elegant profile. The knurled crown offers both tactile grip and visual texture, complementing the industrial aesthetic of the movement itself. Paired with a camel-toned American-made leather strap, this combination highlights the warm tones of the numerals and patina while offering everyday wearability with a refined, vintage flair.
This watch’s movement was manufactured in 1924—the same year Congress passed the Indian Citizenship Act, granting full U.S. citizenship to Native Americans born in the United States. Just as that act recognized deep-rooted heritage and progress, The Chicago 086 celebrates our country’s craftsmanship legacy by preserving and honoring what came before.
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.
