Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 514 unique: We’re happy to present to you this stunning wristwatch that features an antique pocket watch initially released by the Elgin National Watch Company —the Chicago 514. This remarkable piece boasts a cream-colored, single-sunk dial with a simple yet eye-catching center design and dark brown numerals with transparent drop shadows. The front of this handsome pocket watch also features a useful subdial and blued steel solid diamond kite watch hands. We complimented the watch’s unforgettable dial with our powerful, Machined Titanium case and a nickel-plated crown. Our Machined Titanium case features an open back, allowing you to see the pocket watch’s original 345-grade open-face movement with 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels along with its sumptuous gold-plated gears. The movement also has a Going barrel, Quick train, Moseley regulator, Breguet hairspring, and ¾ plate. To top the piece off, we equipped it with our comfortable, hand-crafted Cordovan Oxblood leather watch strap, making this one-of-a-kind piece even more unforgettable.The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1924 — the same year that George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts. Long before becoming the 41st President of the United States in 1989, Bush Sr. served as naval aviator in the United States Navy. He enlisted on his 18th birthday in 1942, around seven months after the United States officially declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy. Bush Sr. first saw combat in 1944 when the United States bombed Wake Island. Later that year, Bush was part of an operation to attack Japanese forces in Chichijima, when his aircraft was shot down. Fortunately, Bush exited his aircraft in time and was saved by the USS Finback. Tragically, the other American airmen who were shot down during the conflict were executed — four of which were cannibalized by Japanese officers — in what’s now known as the Chichijima incident. The Japanese Lieutenant General who ordered the executions, Yoshio Tachibana, was executed for his war crimes in 1947.
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: 26133063
- Manufacture Year: 1924
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Elgin National Watch Company originally manufactured this watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1924 — the same year that George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts. Long before becoming the 41st President of the United States in 1989, Bush Sr. served as naval aviator in the United States Navy. He enlisted on his 18th birthday in 1942, around seven months after the United States officially declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy. Bush Sr. first saw combat in 1944 when the United States bombed Wake Island. Later that year, Bush was part of an operation to attack Japanese forces in Chichijima, when his aircraft was shot down. Fortunately, Bush exited his aircraft in time and was saved by the USS Finback. Tragically, the other American airmen who were shot down during the conflict were executed — four of which were cannibalized by Japanese officers — in what’s now known as the Chichijima incident. The Japanese Lieutenant General who ordered the executions, Yoshio Tachibana, was executed for his war crimes in 1947.
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.
