The Chicago 118 (45mm)

What Makes The Chicago 118 Unique: The Chicago 118 is the kind of watch that immediately stands apart from most antique pocket watch conversions. Built around a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1923, it combines the mechanical heritage collectors expect from Elgin with a dial configuration that feels surprisingly fresh more than a century later. While many watches from this era lean heavily on patina or ornate decoration, the Chicago 118 achieves its character through contrast, precision, and restraint. The first detail most collectors will notice is the striking white enamel-style dial paired with vivid cobalt-blue numerals and markings. The typography itself is distinctive, featuring elegant elongated Arabic numerals that give the watch a graceful, almost Art Nouveau appearance. Against the bright white background, the blue printing creates a level of visual contrast rarely seen on surviving dials from this period, making the watch feel both vintage and unexpectedly modern. The dial’s layout rewards closer inspection. The outer minute track is finely executed and balanced by a recessed sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock, preserving the proportions of the original pocket watch. The blued-steel cathedral-style hands add another layer of visual depth, shifting in appearance as light moves across their polished surfaces. Together, the blue numerals, matching sub-seconds scale, and dark hands create a cohesive design that feels unusually deliberate for a watch produced in the early 1920s. Turning the watch over reveals an Elgin movement that showcases many of the qualities that helped establish the company as one of America’s great watchmakers. The movement features elaborate damaskeening across the bridges, a decorative finishing technique that collectors often seek out because it reflects an era when even hidden mechanical components received significant aesthetic attention. The intricate geometric patterns catch light from different angles, creating a level of visual complexity that photographs never fully capture. The movement’s exposed balance assembly, gold-toned gearing, and engraved regulator components provide additional evidence of the craftsmanship that defined Elgin’s better-grade production during this period. At 17 jewels, the movement was designed to reduce friction at critical points, improving both durability and long-term performance. The modern interpretation complements the historic movement beautifully. Vortic’s sandblasted stainless steel case introduces a subtle matte texture that contrasts with the polished bezel and crisp dial, while the navy leather strap echoes the blue dial details and creates a uniquely cohesive color palette. The result is a watch that feels distinctive without becoming flashy, elegant without becoming formal. Some antique watches tell their story through age and wear. The Chicago 118 tells its story through preservation. The bright dial, uncommon blue printing, intricate movement finishing, and carefully balanced design combine to create a watch that feels remarkably fresh despite being built around a movement that has been measuring time for more than a century.