{"product_id":"the-chicago-108-45mm","title":"The Chicago 108 (45mm)","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes The Chicago 108 unique:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Chicago 108 stands out with a softly aged, green-tinted dial that has developed a natural patina over the past century. A full ring of minute markers frames the layout, while bold Art Deco numerals—with a distinct drop shadow that adds depth and dimension—give the dial a confident personality. We preserved the original heat-blued moon hands, which sweep cleanly across the surface and offer excellent contrast against the pale green tone. At 6 o’clock, a crisp and uncluttered sub-seconds dial adds balance, its thin numerals and smooth texture tying the entire design together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside, this watch is powered by a 17-jewel Elgin movement manufactured in 1925. Through the open caseback, you’ll see beautifully executed decorative engraving across the bridges, paired with polished steel elements and gold-toned gears that catch the light. These components showcase the meticulous detail Elgin was known for, and after nearly a century, the movement remains both visually compelling and mechanically reliable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe housed this movement in a sandblasted stainless-steel case that creates a muted, stone-like finish, paired with a smooth sandblasted bezel that keeps the design understated and cohesive. The vertically knurled sandblasted-steel crown adds functional grip and complements the rest of the case texture. Completing the watch is an oxblood leather strap with contrasting stitching, a warm tone that enhances the green dial and ties together the watch’s vintage-meets-modern character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1925, when this movement was originally produced, the American railroad system reached a major modernization milestone: the widespread adoption of standardized automatic block-signal systems dramatically increased both safety and efficiency across major routes. It was a defining moment in U.S. transportation history—and a fitting parallel to the precision timekeeping that companies like Elgin were engineering at the same time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vortic Watch Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51679658672429,"sku":null,"price":3700.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1710\/0345\/files\/Chicago108-2025-11-26-0557_82b0a385-978f-43ac-ba39-2e29078aa32e.jpg?v=1764736041","url":"https:\/\/vorticwatches.mom\/products\/the-chicago-108-45mm","provider":"Vortic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}