{"product_id":"the-chicago-099-45mm","title":"The Chicago 099 (45mm)","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes The Chicago 099 unique:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Chicago 099 embodies a bold, timeworn aesthetic that highlights the quiet dignity of age. Its dial presents a richly weathered parchment surface—each mark, stain, and patina a visual testament to its nearly 100-year journey. A full set of bold black Gothic numerals arcs around the dial, their stylized forms adding dramatic vintage presence. At the center, a set of sharp, heat-blued diamond-kite hands hover with striking contrast, delivering precision and flair. The recessed sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock balances the composition, etched with concentric rings and crisp markings that echo the dial’s character with confident symmetry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside this piece beats a 17-jewel Elgin movement originally crafted in 1925. Visible through the open caseback, the movement is a showcase of early American craftsmanship—decorated with swirling engravings, gold-plated gears, and intricately etched bridgework. Each visual element reinforces the watch’s one-of-a-kind nature, connecting the engineering of the past with the artistry of today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe encased this movement in a 45mm machined titanium case with a tumbled finish, pairing it with a smooth tumbled titanium bezel for a cohesive industrial tone. The vertically grooved bronze crown adds contrast and warmth, while the black Horween leather strap with white stitching grounds the entire watch in American-made durability and elegance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1925, the year this movement was made, Charles Francis Jenkins successfully broadcast the first synchronized sound-and-picture television transmission in the United States—an innovation that helped spark the American television era. Like Jenkins’ work, this watch is a product of American ingenuity, designed to preserve and showcase our country’s mechanical heritage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vortic Watch Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50874153795885,"sku":null,"price":2600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1710\/0345\/files\/CHICAGO-WOTD2025-05-099_0024.jpg?v=1750958829","url":"https:\/\/vorticwatches.mom\/products\/the-chicago-099-45mm","provider":"Vortic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}