Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 470 unique: Today, we’re pleased to showcase this distinct and sophisticated watch initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1912 — the Chicago 470. The watch’s dial features vivid details atop its pristine white background. It sports blue hour and minute hands and greenish-brown numerals with a distinct font style, and the dial also displays a subtle center design and a helpful subdial. We encased Elgin’s original pocket watch in our protective and stylish Machined Titanium case, drawing further attention to the dial’s unique details. This robust case also features an open back, revealing the pocket watch’s breathtaking inner workings. You can view the watch’s 345-grade open-face movement with a double roller, ¾ plate, Moseley regulator, and Breguet hairspring. The back of the watch also boasts a small floral engraving near its sumptuous-looking gold-plated gears. Finally, 17 dazzling ruby and sapphire jewels power this one-of-a-kind piece. To top it all off, we made this historic item wearable with our premium, artisan-designed Cordovan Black leather watch strap, making the final piece even more stylish. The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1912 — the same year in which New Mexico became the 47 U.S. state. The United States gained control over New Mexico — as well as areas that are now part or all of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming — from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, which concluded the Mexican-American War. For years, the U.S. government debated whether to make the area an official state. Finally, on January 6, 1912, President Taft pressured members of Congress to approve New Mexico’s statehood.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: Copper
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 16521275
- 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.
