Watch Description
The American mechanism inside this watch is not a replica or an "inspired" piece. It was genuinely carried by an individual, 100 years ago, that depended on it. Each time you wear this watch, you will be transported through time, imagining who this individual was and the work they did to help build our country. Simply put, American Artisan Series watches make you feel something when you put them on. At Vortic, we tell customers that owning a watch isn't nearly as important as owning a story. And, this is an opportunity to be a part of a story that is bigger than yourself. You won't be the first to own this watch, and you certainly won't be the last, so make your chapter count.
The American Artisan Series is a line of fully American Made wristwatches powered by restored, U.S. made pocket watch movements. Individuals commonly scrap pocket watch cases for their precious metal, leaving the original mechanism orphaned. This watch contains the original movement (timepiece), dial (face), and hands from a vintage (1880's - 1950's) pocket watch made by Elgin Watch Company. We call this model "The Chicago" because of the company's proximity to the city.
What makes the Chicago 512 unique: Today, we’re delighted to present to you this incredibly rare piece that was initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company and commissioned by Tiffany — the Chicago 512. The front of this splendid watch has a single-sunk white dial with unforgettably-stylish black hour numerals and blood-red minute numerals. It features distinct and sophisticated markings that read “The Tiffany Watch,” boasting its recherché and luxurious creation. The Tiffany Watch Company which may or may not have been associated with modern-day "Tiffany," contracted Elgin to produce a small run of these watches. The front of the watch displays light-blue extra-heavy spade & whip watch hands which are also a rare pairing for a 12-size movement. We encased this breathtaking pocket watch within our stylish Machined Titanium case and matched it with a side-mounted nickel-plated crown. Our Machined Titanium case comes with a transparent back, allowing you to see its stunning 344-grade hunting movement with notable details, such as its Breguet hairspring, Moseley Regulator, Quick train, and Going Barrel. You can also see the movement’s 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels as well as its gold-plated gears. To top the piece off, we paired it with our Cordovan Black leather watch, complementing the watch’s hands and adding even more style to the final product.
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this remarkable piece commissioned by the Tiffany Company in Elgin, Illinois, in 1920 — the same year that the United States census counted over 100,000,000 residents for the first time. The previous census of 1910 reported 92,228,496 people, and with the exact enumeration being 106,021,537 in 1920, the United States’ population saw a 15% increase. The city with the highest population was New York, with 5,620,058, and Chicago came in second with 2,701,705 people. Today, New York City has around 8.5 million, while Chicago only has 2,746,388.
Case Style:This case has been CNC milled from a solid block of aerospace grade titanium. The case is intentionally left unpolished so the intricate tool marks made during the milling process remain visible. Titanium is the ultimate material for strength to weight ratio. Titanium has a darker look than steel, and due to its low thermal conductivity, feels warm to the touch. These characteristics create an enduring, highly wearable, distinctive piece.
Movement: The manually wound, antique, pocket watch movement inside this watch has been meticulously restored to as close to original condition as possible. Vortic has an exclusive group of highly experienced watchmakers that specialize in vintage watches. Before its use in a wristwatch, each movement is completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and calibrated. Each finished Vortic watch is tested for at least a week before completion.
This watch's movement is serial number 22141288 from the Elgin Watch Company. 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
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Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 46mm
- Height: 12mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 55mm
- Lugs: 22mm
- Case Finish: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Gorilla Glass
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 22141288
- Manufacture Year: 1920
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17j
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
What makes the Chicago 512 unique: Today, we’re delighted to present to you this incredibly rare piece that was initially produced by the Elgin National Watch Company and commissioned by Tiffany — the Chicago 512. The front of this splendid watch has a single-sunk white dial with unforgettably-stylish black hour numerals and blood-red minute numerals. It features distinct and sophisticated markings that read “The Tiffany Watch,” boasting its recherché and luxurious creation. The Tiffany Watch Company which may or may not have been associated with modern-day "Tiffany," contracted Elgin to produce a small run of these watches. The front of the watch displays light-blue extra-heavy spade & whip watch hands which are also a rare pairing for a 12-size movement. We encased this breathtaking pocket watch within our stylish Machined Titanium case and matched it with a side-mounted nickel-plated crown. Our Machined Titanium case comes with a transparent back, allowing you to see its stunning 344-grade hunting movement with notable details, such as its Breguet hairspring, Moseley Regulator, Quick train, and Going Barrel. You can also see the movement’s 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels as well as its gold-plated gears. To top the piece off, we paired it with our Cordovan Black leather watch, complementing the watch’s hands and adding even more style to the final product.
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this remarkable piece commissioned by the Tiffany Company in Elgin, Illinois, in 1920 — the same year that the United States census counted over 100,000,000 residents for the first time. The previous census of 1910 reported 92,228,496 people, and with the exact enumeration being 106,021,537 in 1920, the United States’ population saw a 15% increase. The city with the highest population was New York, with 5,620,058, and Chicago came in second with 2,701,705 people. Today, New York City has around 8.5 million, while Chicago only has 2,746,388.
Quality Straps
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.
Mission
Our mission is to preserve and enhance the legacy of manufacturing excellence in America. We believe that this legacy is highly relevant in the world of watch manufacturing because our goal is to marry form and function in a way that makes something beautiful that will last forever. American made pocket watches were of such a high quality and decoration that they evolved into more than just a way to tell time. They became traditional heirlooms to be inherited by future generations as a wedding gift or a coming of age treasure. Each piece tells a lively tale of what U.S. manufacturing meant in the past using an intricate language of decorated bridges, plates, gears, and springs. Today, we are restoring these pieces to their former glory and making them relevant again using the best of modern technology.
American Made
We feel proud and blessed to live in the country, state, and city that we do. However, our motivation to build everything in the United States, and to deal locally whenever possible, is derived from a different source of inspiration. We believe that the close relationships, face-to-face interaction, and tight quality control we achieve while dealing domestically produces a truly superior product. Because of this, we are very transparent about where our components are made as we continue to build our in-house capabilities.
