What makes The Chicago 108 unique:
The 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.
Inside, 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.
We 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.
In 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.
