Since there's been some talk about some best value GMT's recently..
If you know where to shop, Glycine makes a great GMT watch in their Airman series. Classic, original, rarely if even ever made 1000's of homages of, it beat Rolex to be first commercially available GMT watch with rotating bezel and also made to specifications asked of professional pilots. And, they're one of the thinnest automatic GMT watches available. They can be had for relatively not all that much more $ than a new Seiko 5 Sports GMT.
Never fails each time I put this back on the wrist, I'm reminded why I enjoy this particular model so much and why I have to have an Airman in my collection. The Haveston Service Series Roundel 43 is one of my favorites on my Glycine Airman Chief GL0412 "Purist".
I couldn't seem to reply or add a comment to the Welcome post. So, I'll just do it here. Name is Wing. Just a simple watch enthusiast just like the rest of you here, I imagine. Figure I'd drop first w...
You are making it very difficult to not buy one of these, sir...
I've been a Glycine fan for years and the Airman 18 "purist " is a favorite. Perfectly sized at 38 mm and W/R to 200 meter.
I've been a Glycine fan for years and the Airman 18 "purist " is a favorite. Perfectly sized at 38 mm and W/R to 200 meter.
I had one also. My next favorite variant. Pretty sure it's actually 39mm, though.
I love my Airman DC-4:
It probably gets more wrist time than any other watch I own since acquiring it in December 2020.
You are making it very difficult to not buy one of these, sir...
Just fyi, you totally should…they’re phenomenal.
👀 my eyes have been opened…
There are so many variants, just about anyone can find one that will work.
Just fyi, you totally should…they’re phenomenal.
Yeah, gonna buy one eventually. Just gotta save up first
My Airman No 1. is perhaps the most comfortable watch that I own, mostly due to its thinness and incredibly supple leather strap. It's also the only watch that ever get noticed.
I just wish its WR was a tad more effective (it's basically 0 like no WR at all) and that the GMT hand had a different color to to make it easier to distinct from the minutes hand.
I love my Airman DC-4:
It probably gets more wrist time than any other watch I own since acquiring it in December 2020.
I also had a DC-4 GMT.
There are so many variants, just about anyone can find one that will work.
Absolutely. From 36mm to 42mm and higher, I believe. Vintage style to more modern variations. And, several variants within and in-between.
Definitely on my bucket list of watches. This watch historically is as important as the Rolex GMT.
My Airman No 1. is perhaps the most comfortable watch that I own, mostly due to its thinness and incredibly supple leather strap. It's also the only watch that ever get noticed.
I just wish its WR was a tad more effective (it's basically 0 like no WR at all) and that the GMT hand had a different color to to make it easier to distinct from the minutes hand.
I had a cream dial No. 1 in 36mm. The latest No. 1's, much like my latest Airman Chief, have been upgraded with sapphire (I personally see no characteristic differences from the acrylic of old) and a more worry relieving 30m of WR from 10m WR.not a hell of a lot, but I've done a lot with 30m WR watches before with no water intrusion issues.
If you've watched Peter Kotsa's YouTube channel, he has a No. 1 and made the effort to custom paint the GMT hand so it reads better. As it is, the very simple GMT hand is near identical in length and visual presence to both the minute and running seconds hand which does make it tricky to spot the time at a glance. At least you have black dial to contrast better. With my much lighter cream dial with silver hands it was even more challenging.. sadly, part of reason why I ended up selling it and going back to The Chief as you see here (though, I did have a 4 handed GMT version before also just prior to this one).
I had a cream dial No. 1 in 36mm. The latest No. 1's, much like my latest Airman Chief, have been upgraded with sapphire (I personally see no characteristic differences from the acrylic of old) and a more worry relieving 30m of WR from 10m WR.not a hell of a lot, but I've done a lot with 30m WR watches before with no water intrusion issues.
If you've watched Peter Kotsa's YouTube channel, he has a No. 1 and made the effort to custom paint the GMT hand so it reads better. As it is, the very simple GMT hand is near identical in length and visual presence to both the minute and running seconds hand which does make it tricky to spot the time at a glance. At least you have black dial to contrast better. With my much lighter cream dial with silver hands it was even more challenging.. sadly, part of reason why I ended up selling it and going back to The Chief as you see here (though, I did have a 4 handed GMT version before also just prior to this one).
I saw Peter Kotsa video on his Airman with the painted GMT hand. Personally I think it looks great.
Definitely on my bucket list of watches. This watch historically is as important as the Rolex GMT.
Yeah, typical Rolex overshadows a lot of other worthy brands. But, another great fact are both were some of the favorite non-military issued watches favored by the military during the Vietnam War era and personally purchased through their PX during those times.
That is so nice. Another one added to my ever growing list haha
who's agree @Max do comparisson between glycine (any airman type) vs seiko 5 gmt? 🍺
I always understood the operation of the purist version to essentially be just the hour hand bolted onto the 24 hour GMT pinion and the traditional 12 hour pinion left absent. Maybe I’m wrong?
Yes, you are correct. I made a video explaining what the differences are and why one might actually want to go with the Purist version if you're looking to maintain the main hour hands as your main reading hands for both home new local time zones. Otherwise, the traditional way with the 4 handed GMT using a caller or office GMT movement is a bit complicated in setting it up the way you might want to as you would with a true or travelers GMT.
I had one also. My next favorite variant. Pretty sure it's actually 39mm, though.
You are correct!!
I believe that Ming did something similar when they adapted a GMT movement. I think it was explained by wanting to offer a separate hour hand setting. The problem was that the GMT hand had a lot of problems tracking correctly 12 hours and maintain its alignment. It's obviously not exactly what was done on the Purist thought.
Agree, best bang for the buck value was Glycine. They changed their movements so not caught up on latest offerings, but i love em. Eugene Maylan took years to find as a NSOS, and found the Airman 7 beast of a watch on a bidding site.
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I always understood the operation of the purist version to essentially be just the hour hand bolted onto the 24 hour GMT pinion and the traditional 12 hour pinion left absent. Maybe I’m wrong?
Essentially correct. And, the forward hour advance that would be on the GMT hand is removed.. too bad as it could be a quick resolution to a jumping hour and be almost like a true or travelers GMT.
I think why they didn't leave that feature in is because you'd easily lose your reference point for when the actual date change is at.. remember it is probably still working off the double revolution of a 12-hr format to do the date change. As thr 24 hr on a standard caller/office GMT hand, for which this movement is based on, normally won't do a date change over by itself. Makes sense?
Also, to quickly put it, I prefer to read the time wherever I'm at, home or new local, with the main hour hand and not a more obscure pointer GMT hand.. It feels like a background feature and IF and when I'm in a new time zone, I want to read my watch and time as I normally would at home with the main hour hand. All you have to do with the Purist is rotate the bezel to new local time and you simultaneously read both your home and new local time with the main hour hand.
And, the Purist is the original way the Airman was design and sold before they added the 4th GMT hand for a different time reading method.