Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 489 unique: Today, we’re pleased to present this elegant piece initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company over a century ago — the Chicago 489. This stunning watch features a pristine white dial with black stylized numerals, and it boasts blue-tinted spade and whip hands. The front of the watch also comes with a helpful matching subdial. We encased this highly sophisticated pocket watch within our Machined Titanium case and paired it with a matching nickel-plated crown, drawing further attention to the watch’s remarkable style. On the back of the watch, you can view the timepiece’s 384-grade open-face movement with a nickel finish and pendant setting. The watch’s movement showcases a Mosley regulator, Breguet hairspring, and gold-plated gears powered by 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels. Finally, we matched this luxurious watch with our comfortable, artisan-designed Natural leather watch strap, making this one-of-a-kind piece even more special.The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured the Chicago 498’s pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1921 — the same year Lucius Smith Lowe founded Lowe’s Companies, Inc. in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Although the company now primarily supplies customers with home improvement tools and supplies, it initially provided various unrelated products, such as groceries, produce, dry goods, and even horse tack. After World War II, co-owner Carl Buchan anticipated that the United States would have a spike in construction needs, so the company began specializing in hardware tools and building materials. The retail company was the largest hardware chain in the United States until Home Depot surpassed it in 1989.
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: 23866763
- Manufacture Year: 1921
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured the Chicago 498’s pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1921 — the same year Lucius Smith Lowe founded Lowe’s Companies, Inc. in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Although the company now primarily supplies customers with home improvement tools and supplies, it initially provided various unrelated products, such as groceries, produce, dry goods, and even horse tack. After World War II, co-owner Carl Buchan anticipated that the United States would have a spike in construction needs, so the company began specializing in hardware tools and building materials. The retail company was the largest hardware chain in the United States until Home Depot surpassed it in 1989.
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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.
