Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 469 unique:Today, we're pleased to bring you this sophisticated piece originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1923 — the Chicago 469. This stunning watch boasts an immaculately designed dial with a pristine white background and dark, stylized numerals. It also sports a matching subdial as well as glimmering hour and minute hands. We equipped the pocket watch with a nickel-plated crown that pairs perfectly with the dial, and we encased the watch in our strong and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case. The case further emphasizes the watch's elegant design while offering excellent protection. The back of the watch has a 384-grade open-face movement with a going barrel, Moseley regulator, and Breguet hairspring. It also features luxurious and breath-taking gold-plated gears powered by 17 sapphire and ruby jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched the watch with our comfortable Natural leather watch strap, making this gorgeous piece of history conveniently wearable. The Elgin National Watch Company manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year in which Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner founded the Warner Bros. In the 1920s, the studio was known for championing sound in moving as they released the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, the first feature film to use recorded speech and singing. In 1956 — long after Sam Warner's death — Jack Warner secretly purchased a controlling interest in the company after convincing Harry and Albert to sell their stocks. After learning of his deception, Harry and Albert cut all ties with Jack and never spoke to him again.
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
- 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: 25246296
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
Today, we're pleased to bring you this sophisticated piece originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1923 — the Chicago 469. This stunning watch boasts an immaculately designed dial with a pristine white background and dark, stylized numerals. It also sports a matching subdial as well as glimmering hour and minute hands. We equipped the pocket watch with a nickel-plated crown that pairs perfectly with the dial, and we encased the watch in our strong and scratch-resistant Machined Titanium case. The case further emphasizes the watch's elegant design while offering excellent protection. The back of the watch has a 384-grade open-face movement with a going barrel, Moseley regulator, and Breguet hairspring. It also features luxurious and breath-taking gold-plated gears powered by 17 sapphire and ruby jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched the watch with our comfortable Natural leather watch strap, making this gorgeous piece of history conveniently wearable. The Elgin National Watch Company manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year in which Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner founded the Warner Bros. In the 1920s, the studio was known for championing sound in moving as they released the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, the first feature film to use recorded speech and singing. In 1956 — long after Sam Warner's death — Jack Warner secretly purchased a controlling interest in the company after convincing Harry and Albert to sell their stocks. After learning of his deception, Harry and Albert cut all ties with Jack and never spoke to him again.
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.
