Glycine Airman Collection: A Legacy of Aviation Timepieces

Since 1953, Glycine has been producing some of the finest aviation watches in the world. This Swiss watchmaker has earned a reputation for its quality, precision, and durability. Among the most iconic of Glycine’s pilot watches is the Airman Collection.

The Airman Collection comprises a range of watches that are designed to meet the specific needs of pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Talking about the Airman collection, Glycine has never stopped producing watches under this collection since 1953.

That said, there are dozens of models and versions with the Airman label from the most basic design to the unique one. However, the revival of the first Glycine Airman from the 1950s has brought a huge surprise to the watch community.

In 2014, Glycine decided to reproduce its phenomenal model which is the first Airman ever released. It comes with a new title, the Glycine Airman No. 1 Black GMT 36 Ref. GL0370. Staying faithful to the original design, the watch screams for the truest resemblance.

Along with the growing popularity of vintage-reissue watches, this Glycine Airman No. 1 makes a great comeback. Therefore, in this article, we’re going to delve deeper into the features and how the watch would excite you.

A Brief About the Glycine Airman Collection

The Glycine Airman is a series of pilot watches designed for aviation professionals and enthusiasts. The collection features a variety of models with different sizes, styles, and functions, but all share the same distinct characteristics that make them suitable for pilots.

One of the standout features of the Airman Collection is the use of multiple time zones. The watches are equipped with a 24-hour dial and a rotating bezel that allows for the tracking of up to three time zones simultaneously, making them ideal for frequent travelers and pilots who operate across different time zones.

Another notable feature of the Airman is the use of high-quality materials and Swiss-made movements. The watches are crafted with durable stainless steel cases, scratch-resistant, and sapphire crystals.

The watches have a classic and timeless look with a modern touch, featuring bold Arabic numerals, luminous hands and markers, and a variety of dial colors and strap options to choose from.

Overall, the Glycine Airman collection is a popular choice for aviation enthusiasts and pilots who are looking for a reliable, functional, and stylish timepiece that can keep up with their demanding lifestyle.

The Airman No. 1 Black GMT 36 at a Glance

The Glycine Airman No. 1 Cream GMT 36 Ref. GL0372 is a beautiful timepiece that perfectly embodies the brand’s iconic pilot watch heritage. With its vintage-inspired cream dial, this watch exudes a classic charm that is hard to resist.

Looking back to the past, Glycine was the first brand to produce a watch with a 24-hour rotating bezel, the Glycine Airman, in 1953. The production was started in a conversation between a pilot, one of Glycine’s employees, and Samuel Glur.

The pilot expressed that having a watch with a 24-hour bezel feature would be a great thing for a pilot as it helped them track multiple time zones. This was a feature that became well-known around the watch world with the release of Rolex’s GMT-Master a year later in 1954.

These days, Glycine brings back a modern interpretation of their first-ever Airman carrying its distinct features and iconic design as an impressive Glycine Airman GMT. The watch is well-made and reliable, with a Swiss automatic movement that will keep accurate time for years to come.

Whether you’re a frequent traveler or simply love the vintage look of pilot watches, the Glycine Airman No. 1 Cream GMT 36 Ref. GL0372 is definitely worth considering.

Glycine Airman No. 1 Black GMT 36 Review

The Glycine Airman No. 1 is a faithful recreation of the original Airman design, with a 24-hour dial and rotating bezel. As for this article, we’re going to look closer at Airman No. 1 Cream GMT 36 Ref. GL0372. Let’s dive in!

Case

Trying to stay faithful to the original design, the Glycine Airman No. 1 Cream GMT 36 holds a retrograde charm with its slim 11.6mm case and slender lugs. The watch is housed in a 316L stainless steel case. As for the details, you can how immaculate the watch finishing is as it is done entirely by hand.

The top of the lugs is skillfully finished with fine satin brushing, contrasting with the high polish at the side of the case. Coming in a tasteful 36mm in diameter, the size remains faithful to the exact case diameter of the original Airman back in 1953.

Although it might seem small with a 36mm diameter, the watch still looks bigger thanks to the lug-to-lug size. It measures 44mm for the lug-to-lug size, allowing the watch radiates bigger dimensions.

Bezel

The bezel in the Glycine Airman No. 1 is the hallmark of the watch. The reason because Glycine was the first to produce a watch with a 24-hour rotating bezel in 1953 – no wonder it has No. 1 on its name.

The birth of that invention marks the beginning of other meticulous pilot timepieces. The bezel also comes with a locking mechanism. Placed at the 4 o’clock position, it holds the bezel in place, preventing accidental movements that may move the bezel out of place.

Who would have thought this simple and useful function was invented in the 50s? It even still works flawlessly today.

Watch Dial

As for the dial, this Glycine Airman watch showcases a delightful cream dial that focuses on functionality while also staying faithful to the original version. A slender needle GMT hand appears as the watch iteration with the hand reaching out to the outer 24-hour markers to track the additional timezone.

The dial flaunts a vintage appearance, the watch is equipped with modern elements. Protecting the dial is a modern domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. It radiates a warm vintage look of an acrylic crystal while offering superior scratch resistance.

Movement

Moving on to the performance, this Glycine Airman watch runs on GL293 Swiss automatic movement which is based on the ETA 2893-2/SW330. When it comes to reliability, this workhorse movement has been known as one of the best.

It works with a 4Hz beat rate of 28,800 BPH and a healthy power reserve of 42 hours. Without a doubt, the watch could be the one you rely on for your next travel, whether you are up in the sky as a pilot or rocking this piece to the office.

Strap

While this might be a mere thing about a timepiece, the choice of straps also plays an important role to make a stylish look.

This Glycine Airman No. 1 comes with a stunning 20mm black-grained leather strap. That makes the strap further complements the overall vintage style.

A stunning 20mm black-grained leather strap of Glycine Airman 1

Final Thought

Overall, the Glycine Airman No. 1 Cream GMT 36 is an excellent watch that is perfect for those who appreciate classic, understated style. Not to mention the long history of the Glycine brand with the aviation industry makes this watch more valuable than ever.

To further enhance the exclusivity of wearing this watch, Glycine also ensured the watch runs smoothly as a tool watch. The combination of the purpose-built design and its exceptional value puts this watch high on the list when it comes to selecting an aviation timepiece at this price point.

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