Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 451 unique: Today we are happy to bring you this fantastic watch from the Elgin National Watch Company, our Chicago 451. We love the look of this iridescent case and how it brings your attention in for a closer look at the dial. Very intricate machining of this double-sunk dial leaves us with this fantastic pattern in the center, as well as a nice amount of design work around the edges of the numerals. Nickel-plated hardware stands out against this black cordovan strap and brings a nice touch to this beautiful antique movement. As we peer inside the back of this watch we are immediately drawn to the many different patterns that cover the entire surface of the build plate. Gold-plated gears hide beneath, paired with a brass balance wheel and jewel settings as well. A light flower design on the Moseley regulator is the sort of extra touch that we really love to see on these antique Elgin movements from this era. Originally manufactured all the way back in 1912, the same year that the Titanic encountered an iceberg and sunk in the ocean. The wreck took more than 1500 lives, and the ship was not found until 1985.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: Sandblasted Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 16363723
- Manufacture Year: 1912
- 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.
