Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 519 unique: We’re happy to present to you this highly unusual and eye-catching watch that was originally manufactured by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1925 — the Chicago 519. This watch’s single-sunk dial is truly unforgettable with its distinct dark brass Masonic symbols that serve as the watch’s numerals. Some of these intriguing symbols include a skull and crossbones as the “3” numeral, a crescent moon that serves as the “10” numeral, and the Eye of Providence as the “12” numeral. The front of the watch also features the Freemasons symbol at its center. You can also see the dial’s blued-steel solid diamond kite watch hands and a glinting subdial. We encased this remarkable pocket watch within our powerful Gilded Titanium case, complementing the watch’s breathtaking symbols, and topped it off with a nickel-plated crown. On the watch’s rear side, you can see its 343-grade open-face movement with a Moseley regulator, Quick train, Going barrel, and Breguet hairspring. The movement also boasts sumptuous gold-plated gears and 17 screw-set ruby and sapphire jewels throughout its ¾ plate. To tie this one-of-a-kind watch together, we matched it with our comfortable, hand-crafted Moss leather watch strap, making the final product even more extraordinary.The Elgin National Watch Company initially released the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1925 — the same year that Mount Pleasant Library opened in Washington D.C., the third oldest public library in Washington that’s still open today. The building was designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton, who used an Italian Renaissance style. The building was funded by the Carnegie Corporation, which financed a total of 1,689 American libraries.
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: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 27760239
- Manufacture Year: 1925
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
The Elgin National Watch Company initially released the pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1925 — the same year that Mount Pleasant Library opened in Washington D.C., the third oldest public library in Washington that’s still open today. The building was designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton, who used an Italian Renaissance style. The building was funded by the Carnegie Corporation, which financed a total of 1,689 American libraries.
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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.
