Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 098 unique:
The Chicago 098 is a bold expression of early 20th-century design, brought back to life in our American Artisan Series. Its dial is remarkably preserved and richly toned, reminiscent of aged newsprint—what we like to call “newspaper patina.” This soft, speckled gradient across the surface gives the watch a warm, archival feel. Framing the inner dial is a detailed ornamental ring of scrollwork flourishes, an elegant contrast to the utilitarian style of the Arabic numerals that encircle the chapter ring. The stylized numerals themselves feel almost handwritten—slightly narrow and slightly quirky—adding a layer of personality to the already rich aesthetic. Completing the design are a pair of ornate cathedral-style hands in heat-blued steel, with wide arrow-like tips that give the watch a strong, expressive presence. A deeply recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock provides symmetry and visual grounding with classic railroad-style markings.
At the heart of this piece is a 17-jewel Elgin movement with smooth, unembellished bridges and gold-plated gears, made with the kind of utilitarian elegance that defined Elgin’s reputation. The absence of decorative flourishes allows the mechanical beauty to shine through, visible in full through the open caseback. This particular movement was originally manufactured in 1921, at the height of Elgin’s production excellence.
The case is crafted from sandblasted stainless steel and paired with a matching smooth bezel for a uniform matte finish that enhances the visual depth of the dial. A vertically grooved crown in tumbled titanium adds both texture and tonal variation, while the ebony leather strap completes the look with timeless simplicity. Every element of The Chicago 098 reflects a commitment to balance, functionality, and aesthetic harmony.
That same year—1921—the U.S. Bureau of Standards began broadcasting the nation’s first radio time signals, allowing railroads, factories, and citizens to synchronize their clocks to a national standard. It was a pivotal moment in American horology, and watches like this one helped bring precision timekeeping into everyday life.
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: Sandblasted Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 24194592
- Manufacture Year: 1921
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 098 unique:
The Chicago 098 is a bold expression of early 20th-century design, brought back to life in our American Artisan Series. Its dial is remarkably preserved and richly toned, reminiscent of aged newsprint—what we like to call “newspaper patina.” This soft, speckled gradient across the surface gives the watch a warm, archival feel. Framing the inner dial is a detailed ornamental ring of scrollwork flourishes, an elegant contrast to the utilitarian style of the Arabic numerals that encircle the chapter ring. The stylized numerals themselves feel almost handwritten—slightly narrow and slightly quirky—adding a layer of personality to the already rich aesthetic. Completing the design are a pair of ornate cathedral-style hands in heat-blued steel, with wide arrow-like tips that give the watch a strong, expressive presence. A deeply recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock provides symmetry and visual grounding with classic railroad-style markings.
At the heart of this piece is a 17-jewel Elgin movement with smooth, unembellished bridges and gold-plated gears, made with the kind of utilitarian elegance that defined Elgin’s reputation. The absence of decorative flourishes allows the mechanical beauty to shine through, visible in full through the open caseback. This particular movement was originally manufactured in 1921, at the height of Elgin’s production excellence.
The case is crafted from sandblasted stainless steel and paired with a matching smooth bezel for a uniform matte finish that enhances the visual depth of the dial. A vertically grooved crown in tumbled titanium adds both texture and tonal variation, while the ebony leather strap completes the look with timeless simplicity. Every element of The Chicago 098 reflects a commitment to balance, functionality, and aesthetic harmony.
That same year—1921—the U.S. Bureau of Standards began broadcasting the nation’s first radio time signals, allowing railroads, factories, and citizens to synchronize their clocks to a national standard. It was a pivotal moment in American horology, and watches like this one helped bring precision timekeeping into everyday life.
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.
