Watch Description
What Makes The Chicago 116 Unique:
The Chicago 116 combines a remarkably clean enamel dial with darker modern accents that give the watch a distinctly architectural presence. The dial itself is highly minimal, featuring bold black Arabic numerals and a finely printed outer minute track that reinforces the watch’s clean, balanced layout. At 6 o’clock, the recessed sub-seconds register adds depth without disrupting the symmetry, while the blued-steel hands retain the elegant proportions typical of early 20th-century American pocket watches.
What immediately distinguishes this watch visually is the contrast between the bright enamel dial and the black DLC-coated bezel. The darker bezel frames the dial with unusual sharpness, creating a more contemporary profile while still preserving the original character of the antique components. Paired with the pre-patinated bronze crown, the overall composition introduces warmth and age against the otherwise monochromatic case design. Collectors tend to appreciate these kinds of material choices when they feel intentional rather than decorative, and here the balance works exceptionally well.
The dial itself remains impressively crisp for a piece from this era, with clean printing and excellent preservation across the enamel surface. The restrained typography and uncluttered layout place greater emphasis on proportion and spacing, giving the watch a refined, almost instrument-like quality.
Inside, the watch is powered by a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1918, during one of the strongest periods of American industrial watchmaking. The movement features striking geometric damaskeening across the bridges, creating an Art Deco-inspired visual rhythm that collectors will immediately recognize. Gold-plated gears and polished steel components add contrast beneath the exhibition caseback, while the engraved Elgin signature remains sharp and legible throughout the movement.
The bridge architecture on this particular movement is especially attractive, with sweeping lines that naturally guide the eye across the gear train and balance assembly. The combination of decorative finishing and visible mechanical depth gives the movement an unusually sculptural appearance, particularly when viewed alongside the darker tones of the DLC bezel.
The watch is housed in Vortic’s machined 316L stainless steel V3 case, preserving the original crown-at-12 orientation of the pocket watch while maintaining a highly wearable wrist presence. The black leather strap reinforces the watch’s darker visual identity and complements the DLC bezel without overwhelming the antique dial.
The Chicago 116 succeeds because of restraint. Rather than competing with the antique movement, the modern materials frame and sharpen it. Between the pristine enamel dial, the geometric Elgin movement finishing, and the interplay of black DLC steel with bronze accents, this watch carries a distinctly more industrial and contemporary personality while remaining unmistakably rooted in early American watchmaking.
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 Diameter: 45mm
- Case Material: Machined Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Stainless Steel
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Front: Domed Sapphire Back: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Black Leather Strap with Bronze Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 20993216
- Manufacture Year: 1918
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Chicago 116 Unique:
The Chicago 116 combines a remarkably clean enamel dial with darker modern accents that give the watch a distinctly architectural presence. The dial itself is highly minimal, featuring bold black Arabic numerals and a finely printed outer minute track that reinforces the watch’s clean, balanced layout. At 6 o’clock, the recessed sub-seconds register adds depth without disrupting the symmetry, while the blued-steel hands retain the elegant proportions typical of early 20th-century American pocket watches.
What immediately distinguishes this watch visually is the contrast between the bright enamel dial and the black DLC-coated bezel. The darker bezel frames the dial with unusual sharpness, creating a more contemporary profile while still preserving the original character of the antique components. Paired with the pre-patinated bronze crown, the overall composition introduces warmth and age against the otherwise monochromatic case design. Collectors tend to appreciate these kinds of material choices when they feel intentional rather than decorative, and here the balance works exceptionally well.
The dial itself remains impressively crisp for a piece from this era, with clean printing and excellent preservation across the enamel surface. The restrained typography and uncluttered layout place greater emphasis on proportion and spacing, giving the watch a refined, almost instrument-like quality.
Inside, the watch is powered by a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1918, during one of the strongest periods of American industrial watchmaking. The movement features striking geometric damaskeening across the bridges, creating an Art Deco-inspired visual rhythm that collectors will immediately recognize. Gold-plated gears and polished steel components add contrast beneath the exhibition caseback, while the engraved Elgin signature remains sharp and legible throughout the movement.
The bridge architecture on this particular movement is especially attractive, with sweeping lines that naturally guide the eye across the gear train and balance assembly. The combination of decorative finishing and visible mechanical depth gives the movement an unusually sculptural appearance, particularly when viewed alongside the darker tones of the DLC bezel.
The watch is housed in Vortic’s machined 316L stainless steel V3 case, preserving the original crown-at-12 orientation of the pocket watch while maintaining a highly wearable wrist presence. The black leather strap reinforces the watch’s darker visual identity and complements the DLC bezel without overwhelming the antique dial.
The Chicago 116 succeeds because of restraint. Rather than competing with the antique movement, the modern materials frame and sharpen it. Between the pristine enamel dial, the geometric Elgin movement finishing, and the interplay of black DLC steel with bronze accents, this watch carries a distinctly more industrial and contemporary personality while remaining unmistakably rooted in early American watchmaking.
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.
