Watch Description
The Chicago 100 is a study in contrasts—where rugged imperfection meets refined craftsmanship. Its parchment-toned dial bears a scatter of authentic scratches and patina, worn evenly by time and history. The numerals are especially unique: each one subtly misaligned or differently shaped, giving the dial a charming, almost hand-rendered character that’s rarely seen. At the center of the dial, a set of heat-blued diamond kite hands adds visual sharpness and vintage symmetry, floating above a non-recessed sub-seconds dial that features a clean circular design and crisp railroad-style numerals.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Elgin movement originally manufactured in 1927. The open caseback reveals an impressive blend of function and form, with circular damaskeening on the main plate and contrasting linear graining on the bridges. A splash of rose-gold gears and polished steel screws further elevate the visual texture of the movement, while the precision of its layout reflects the best of American watchmaking.
We paired this piece with a stonewashed titanium case for strength, durability, and a rugged matte finish that complements the dial’s natural wear. Its smooth bezel keeps the silhouette clean, while the vertically grooved crown offers tactile grip. A deep blue leather strap with visible grain and light stitching introduces a cool tone that contrasts beautifully with the warm movement within.
In 1927, the same year this movement was made, Elgin National Watch Company was one of the largest producers of timepieces in the world—supplying railroad workers, military officers, and everyday Americans. Their legacy lives on in this handcrafted restoration, preserving the spirit of American innovation for the next generation.
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: Tumbled Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 29542319
- Manufacture Year: 1927
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Chicago 100 is a study in contrasts—where rugged imperfection meets refined craftsmanship. Its parchment-toned dial bears a scatter of authentic scratches and patina, worn evenly by time and history. The numerals are especially unique: each one subtly misaligned or differently shaped, giving the dial a charming, almost hand-rendered character that’s rarely seen. At the center of the dial, a set of heat-blued diamond kite hands adds visual sharpness and vintage symmetry, floating above a non-recessed sub-seconds dial that features a clean circular design and crisp railroad-style numerals.
Inside, this watch houses a 17-jewel Elgin movement originally manufactured in 1927. The open caseback reveals an impressive blend of function and form, with circular damaskeening on the main plate and contrasting linear graining on the bridges. A splash of rose-gold gears and polished steel screws further elevate the visual texture of the movement, while the precision of its layout reflects the best of American watchmaking.
We paired this piece with a stonewashed titanium case for strength, durability, and a rugged matte finish that complements the dial’s natural wear. Its smooth bezel keeps the silhouette clean, while the vertically grooved crown offers tactile grip. A deep blue leather strap with visible grain and light stitching introduces a cool tone that contrasts beautifully with the warm movement within.
In 1927, the same year this movement was made, Elgin National Watch Company was one of the largest producers of timepieces in the world—supplying railroad workers, military officers, and everyday Americans. Their legacy lives on in this handcrafted restoration, preserving the spirit of American innovation for the next generation.
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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.
