Watch Description
What makes The Chicago 090 unique:
Introducing the Chicago 090, a remarkable piece from our American Artisan Series that perfectly fuses historical significance with modern craftsmanship. At the heart of this timepiece is an original 17-jewel Elgin movement, produced in 1923—the same year the iconic Hollywood sign was first erected in Los Angeles, originally reading “Hollywoodland.” That same sense of American ambition and artistry is alive in this one-of-a-kind wristwatch.
The watch features a 12-size Elgin movement housed in our rugged yet refined 45mm sandblasted steel case, enhanced with a striking coin edge bezel. The knurled bronze crown offers not only visual contrast but a tactile experience that will naturally patina over time, creating a personal, ever-evolving character unique to each wearer.
One of the most captivating aspects of the Chicago 090 is its vintage gold dial, showcasing a variety of textures that play beautifully with the light—from a radial engine-turned center to smooth outer fields and an engraved Elgin emblem. Complementing this visual richness are the solid diamond-kite style blued steel hands, a rare and elegant design that brings depth and clarity to the time display.
At 6 o’clock, the sub-seconds dial adds balance to the composition, blending functionality with vintage charm. Flip the watch over and you’ll be treated to the awe-inspiring ornate engraving on the movement plates, visible through our exhibition caseback. The intricate detailing and fine machining reflect the pinnacle of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
We’ve paired the Chicago 090 with a chocolate Hadley-Roma leather strap to emphasize its warm tones and classic feel, secured with a sturdy steel buckle.
From its finely milled textures and artistic dial layout to its antique movement engraved with historical beauty, the Chicago 090 is more than a watch—it’s a tribute to the craftsmanship of a century ago and a testament to timeless American innovation.
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: Sandblasted Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 25404509
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes The Chicago 090 unique:
Introducing the Chicago 090, a remarkable piece from our American Artisan Series that perfectly fuses historical significance with modern craftsmanship. At the heart of this timepiece is an original 17-jewel Elgin movement, produced in 1923—the same year the iconic Hollywood sign was first erected in Los Angeles, originally reading “Hollywoodland.” That same sense of American ambition and artistry is alive in this one-of-a-kind wristwatch.
The watch features a 12-size Elgin movement housed in our rugged yet refined 45mm sandblasted steel case, enhanced with a striking coin edge bezel. The knurled bronze crown offers not only visual contrast but a tactile experience that will naturally patina over time, creating a personal, ever-evolving character unique to each wearer.
One of the most captivating aspects of the Chicago 090 is its vintage gold dial, showcasing a variety of textures that play beautifully with the light—from a radial engine-turned center to smooth outer fields and an engraved Elgin emblem. Complementing this visual richness are the solid diamond-kite style blued steel hands, a rare and elegant design that brings depth and clarity to the time display.
At 6 o’clock, the sub-seconds dial adds balance to the composition, blending functionality with vintage charm. Flip the watch over and you’ll be treated to the awe-inspiring ornate engraving on the movement plates, visible through our exhibition caseback. The intricate detailing and fine machining reflect the pinnacle of early 20th-century American watchmaking.
We’ve paired the Chicago 090 with a chocolate Hadley-Roma leather strap to emphasize its warm tones and classic feel, secured with a sturdy steel buckle.
From its finely milled textures and artistic dial layout to its antique movement engraved with historical beauty, the Chicago 090 is more than a watch—it’s a tribute to the craftsmanship of a century ago and a testament to timeless American innovation.
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.
