Watch Description
What Makes The Chicago 122 Unique:
The Chicago 122 showcases the understated precision that made Elgin one of America's most respected watchmakers during the early twentieth century. Built around a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1920, this piece reflects a period when dependable performance and restrained design went hand in hand. While the movement embodies the reliability collectors have long associated with Elgin, it is the beautifully preserved matte silver dial and its refined simplicity that immediately distinguish this watch.
The first thing collectors will notice is the exceptionally clean matte silver dial, whose soft finish has developed a gentle warmth over more than a century without sacrificing its original character. Crisp black Arabic numerals provide outstanding legibility while maintaining a balanced, uncluttered layout. Slender blued steel spade hands offer a subtle flash of color as they move across the dial, creating an elegant contrast against the silver background. At six o'clock, the recessed sub-seconds register features a bold double-track scale that reinforces the watch's precision-focused heritage while adding welcome depth to the otherwise minimalist design. Small signs of honest aging around the dial only enhance its authenticity, reminding the wearer that this is a genuine piece of American horological history rather than a modern reproduction.
Turning the watch over reveals the original 17-jewel Elgin movement beneath the sapphire exhibition caseback. Broad striped damaskeening flows gracefully across the bridges, while polished and snailed winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and the exposed balance assembly showcase the practical yet refined finishing standards that defined Elgin's higher-grade production. Every component reflects the company's commitment to producing accurate, serviceable movements that earned the trust of generations of railroad workers, professionals, and everyday Americans alike.
Vortic has carefully preserved this historic movement within its 45mm Chicago case, crafted from sandblasted 316L stainless steel. The matte finish complements the dial's restrained aesthetic while providing modern durability for daily wear. A machined bronze crown introduces a subtle touch of warmth that pairs naturally with the cognac American-made leather strap, creating a balanced combination of vintage character and contemporary craftsmanship.
The Chicago 122 is a celebration of purposeful American watchmaking. Its remarkably clean matte silver dial, blued steel spade hands, crisp Arabic numerals, and beautifully preserved Elgin movement combine to create a watch whose quiet elegance becomes more compelling with every closer look.
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: Sandblasted Stainless Steel
- Crown/Hardware: Bronze
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: 22mm Cognac Leather Strap with Steel Buckle
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 22935777
- Manufacture Year: 1920
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What Makes The Chicago 122 Unique:
The Chicago 122 showcases the understated precision that made Elgin one of America's most respected watchmakers during the early twentieth century. Built around a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1920, this piece reflects a period when dependable performance and restrained design went hand in hand. While the movement embodies the reliability collectors have long associated with Elgin, it is the beautifully preserved matte silver dial and its refined simplicity that immediately distinguish this watch.
The first thing collectors will notice is the exceptionally clean matte silver dial, whose soft finish has developed a gentle warmth over more than a century without sacrificing its original character. Crisp black Arabic numerals provide outstanding legibility while maintaining a balanced, uncluttered layout. Slender blued steel spade hands offer a subtle flash of color as they move across the dial, creating an elegant contrast against the silver background. At six o'clock, the recessed sub-seconds register features a bold double-track scale that reinforces the watch's precision-focused heritage while adding welcome depth to the otherwise minimalist design. Small signs of honest aging around the dial only enhance its authenticity, reminding the wearer that this is a genuine piece of American horological history rather than a modern reproduction.
Turning the watch over reveals the original 17-jewel Elgin movement beneath the sapphire exhibition caseback. Broad striped damaskeening flows gracefully across the bridges, while polished and snailed winding wheels, gold jewel settings, and the exposed balance assembly showcase the practical yet refined finishing standards that defined Elgin's higher-grade production. Every component reflects the company's commitment to producing accurate, serviceable movements that earned the trust of generations of railroad workers, professionals, and everyday Americans alike.
Vortic has carefully preserved this historic movement within its 45mm Chicago case, crafted from sandblasted 316L stainless steel. The matte finish complements the dial's restrained aesthetic while providing modern durability for daily wear. A machined bronze crown introduces a subtle touch of warmth that pairs naturally with the cognac American-made leather strap, creating a balanced combination of vintage character and contemporary craftsmanship.
The Chicago 122 is a celebration of purposeful American watchmaking. Its remarkably clean matte silver dial, blued steel spade hands, crisp Arabic numerals, and beautifully preserved Elgin movement combine to create a watch whose quiet elegance becomes more compelling with every closer look.
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.
