Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 114 unique: For today’s release, we are very excited to showcase this incredibly unique timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company, our Chicago 114. This dial is truly one-of-a-kind with wonderfully detailed birds of paradise in the center of the dial. The level of craftsmanship displayed in the manufacturing of this watch is awe-inspiring and is part of why we love what we do, bringing new life to these old watches. The shadow numerals jump off of the face, bringing contrast to the shimmer of the case and dial that is sure to grab the attention of an entire room. A simple black band and nickel crown are the smaller details that let the rest of the watch show off nicely. As we turn this watch over to discover the movement within, we are amazed by the natural patina that has begun to show the age of this watch over time. Adorned with 17 screw set jewels and stainless steel hardware throughout. Gold-plated gears and a brass balance wheel show from beneath the build plate, adding to the visual appeal of this beautiful movement that was originally manufactured in Elgin, Illinois in 1923. As we approach Fall we find ourselves celebrating all of the wonderful accomplishments of this summer. The Autumn Equinox marks the date and time of when the sun crosses the equator from the Northern Hemisphere into the Southern Hemisphere, as we begin the transition into Fall here in Colorado. Many different cultures around the world celebrate this time in a number of different ways and traditions throughout the centuries. For us, we enjoy the celebration of time and transition, taking the old and making it new again. We see this as a time to reflect on the good things that came before, and the great things still to come.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
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 25874581
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
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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.
