Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 146 unique: Today we are pleased to bring you this beautiful timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company, our Chicago 146. This stunning watch stands out with this clean and classic dial that pairs so nicely with our machined titanium case and nickel-plated crown. These ornate kite-shaped hands stand out from the face to bring attention to the finer details of the dial. If you look closely, you will notice these subtle vertical accents that run all across the face. As we turn this watch over to reveal the movement inside, we are drawn to the unique shape of the build plate that leads the eye down to the regulator. Gold-plated gears and a brass balance wheel bring some precious metal accents as well as 17 screw-set jewels throughout. The subtle damaskeened pattern all across the different build plates adds to the visual movement that was a true testament to the craftsmanship of the time. This watch was originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in Elgin, Illinois, in 1920. This is the same year that the League of Nations was established. The inauguration took place in Paris, France, and was focused on bringing peace among nations following WWI.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
- 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: 22683258
- Manufacture Year: 1920
- 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.
