The Chicago 438 is the 438th one-of-a-kind piece in Vortic's "Chicago" line of the American Artisan Series. This watch contains the original movement (timepiece), dial (face), and hands from a vintage (1880’s – 1950’s) pocket watch. The American Artisan Series is a line of fully American Made wristwatches powered by restored, U.S. made pocket watch movements.

What makes the Chicago 438 Unique: We are proud to release this incredible timepiece from the Elgin National Watch Company, the Chicago 438. We are immediately drawn in by the rustic feel and aged dial within this watch, beautifully accompanied by our moss green strap. The darker gunmetal case blends perfectly with the tones of the numerals and rough wear around the edge of the dial. Our copper crown and hardware stand out and accent all the wonderful features of this watch nicely. Once the movement inside is revealed, we find an absolutely pristine timepiece manufactured in Elgin, Illinois in 1927. The bridge plate has been intricately machined to show off the skills and craftsmanship of the time, adorned with 17 screw-set jewels throughout. The gold-plated gears and brass balance wheel shine through from beneath and add some nice elements of specialty metal and flare to the earth tones of this watch. This was also the same year as the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927, the largest river flood in American history. The flood affected over 16 million acres of land and displaced over 640,000 people.

1927

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