Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 374 unique: Today we are incredibly excited to present this absolutely breathtaking watch from the Elgin National Watch Company. This watch is special in so many ways, but the first thing that jumped out to us was this incredible dial on this movement that hails from 1899. We get a lot of requests for pre-1900 watches and are usually only able to release around 10 or so per year based on scarcity. The gold-colored accents on the dial immediately pull you in to investigate all of the small details and work perfectly with this solid bronze case. We love working with bronze because of how the look and feel of the material will change over time to give the watch a lovely aged appearance. Bronze changes and darkens when exposed to oxygen, oils from our skin, and other natural elements over time. This particular case has already started to age slowly even since the time we finished building it. We love the look and wanted to emphasize the uniqueness of this look, which will eventually darken even more over time just from wearing the watch. Our moss strap pairs well with the tone of the case and we topped it off with our nickel-plated crown and hardware. As if the age alone isn't enough to get you excited about this movement, the 23 jewels and incredible design work will definitely pique your interest. The gears that turn beneath the build plate have been plated with rose gold, adding to the precious metals that make up this gorgeous watch. One of the signature design elements that we are happy to see as well is the intricate floral patterns that decorate this Moseley regulator. This watch was originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in Elgin, Illinois in 1899 over 123 years ago. This was also a big year for the up-and-coming automobile industry, with the very first known use of the word "automobile" in an article in the New York Times. This was also the year that German manufacturer "Opel" completed its very first vehicle. Originally started in 1862 as a sewing machine company, and later as a bicycle company, eventually they completely shifted and settled on automobiles. They remain the 3rd oldest automobile manufacturer in the world, still in production to this day.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 Bronze
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 7499971
- Manufacture Year: 1899
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 23 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.
