Still one of my favorite original GMT and Pilot design watches - the Glycine Airman
A Glycine has been absent in my watch rotation for a while and I've been missing having one in my collection. And, I can't imagine my watch collection without one.
For me, if I had to own at least one, an Airman of some sort would be it. As such, one of my favorites is back in the form of an Airman Vintage "The Chief" GL0475 "Purist".
Also, for me, an Airman should be in "Purist" form. It was the way it was originally designed to function back in 1953. And, I find it refreshing to have a different visual experience in reading the time of day on the 24-hr dial with the 24-hr movement (hour hand makes 1 complete revolution per day). It's a nice departure to the standard 12-hr format the other watches in my collection utilize and display.
I would really appreciate it if Glycine would bring back their Airman 18 series. But, until they do, I have this one now. If I am recollecting correctly, this would technically make this my 9th Airman.
I was really attracted to this specific reference with the pure white dial.contrasting with the pure black handset on the fabric NATO-style strap in olive green with a tan center stripe... Overall it gives the watch an almost military vibe. And, the center stripe matches the tan colored lume very close and overall the watch and strap are a complimentary combination.
I used to have the radiant anthracite grey dial with blued handset (which is an excellent color scheme). But, this time around I wanted something that gave me a bit of Rolex Polar Explorer 2 vibe, but, be a completely original design. Additionally, the white date disk blends into the white dial and is less noticeable than on any other darker dial color.
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...
Looks incredible! 😍❤️
It’s great watch!
Dude this is nice !
I can't express enough how much i love this watch👌👌👌
true classic
Always wanted one. I love the 24 hour dial.
Dope watch. And perfectly color matched.
I can't express enough how much i love this watch👌👌👌
It's a watch design I greatly admire. Technically a military watch.. at least it was one of the popular ones military personnel personally purchased during the Vietnam War era through their PX... amongst other popular choices from Zodiac, Seiko 6105, and Rolex, for examples.
Agree 100% with your thoughts on the purist models. I love "the Chief".
And since you mentioned the Airman 18 here is a 39mm , 200 meter WR model I got a couple years back.
Agree 100% with your thoughts on the purist models. I love "the Chief".
And since you mentioned the Airman 18 here is a 39mm , 200 meter WR model I got a couple years back.
Yeah. I had that same Airman 18.. shouldn't have sold it. It's a great size at 39mm (most perfect size as it's not too big or too small), it's a strap monster that takes 20mm straps, 200m wr, screwdown crowns, sapphire front and back display case, still relatively thin, as most Airmans throughout the range are, and I like the bezel is bidirectional with the clicks. Was looking to get one back but missed the boat on a decent used example a little while back. Hopefully, Glycine wises up and brings the Airmam 18 back to production.
I can't wait to get my hands on one of those especially the dc-4 or the purist version!!!
I can't wait to get my hands on one of those especially the dc-4 or the purist version!!!
I had a DC-4, was my 2nd Airman I'd owned. And most Airman's come in both Purist and more traditional 4-hand GMT movement/display versions
I had a DC-4, was my 2nd Airman I'd owned. And most Airman's come in both Purist and more traditional 4-hand GMT movement/display versions
I want the purist... I want to relearn how to tell time 😂
I want the purist... I want to relearn how to tell time 😂
If you already know how to read a regular GMT watch, it's no different. You just lose the 12 hour hand. Additionally, the tail end of the hour hand is extended for a reason (at least with most models)... It points to the corresponding 12-hr equivalent for a quick conversion if anything between 13-24 is somehow confusing.
Excellent watch and a great choice for the strap.
Excellent watch and a great choice for the strap.
Thanks. I'm glad the strap came as a factory option. It was a main selling point for this particular model for me. I prefer it to the other two strap options which u can get, a black leather and mesh bracelet.
I would let those with wrist size smaller than 7" that it may not work as well. It can be sized and worn. But, the tail end on my 7" wrist is at the limit of what may look good. Smaller wrists will have that tail end stick up too high and won't look good. And, it's not the type of NATO-style strap that can be folded back over and back through the hardwate keepers.
Such a winner. Have always appreciated this watch’s aesthetic and it’s history. Respect!🫡
Love you watch and strap combo dude! 👌🏻🔥
Such a winner. Have always appreciated this watch’s aesthetic and it’s history. Respect!🫡
Me too!
Love you watch and strap combo dude! 👌🏻🔥
Thanks. Just the way it came from the factory.
My own Airman No. 1 is one of the few watches that get noticed by non watch people.
My own Airman No. 1 is one of the few watches that get noticed by non watch people.
I had similar experience with one of my previous Airman Chiefs a few years ago.
V nice. I do like the look of the 24 hour Airman watches but I have tried and the dial isn’t intuitive to read at a glance.
So - heresy I know! - I prefer the 12 hours dials to actually wear though of course I admire the original most.
I've been considering another one for a while too - the DC-4 or The Chief for me.
Cracking watch - I think that we forget that for the rest of the world the Airman is a bit of a deep cut.
☻
Beautiful! I love my my similar No1 Purist with a cream dial.
I've been considering another one for a while too - the DC-4 or The Chief for me.
Cracking watch - I think that we forget that for the rest of the world the Airman is a bit of a deep cut.
☻
I also owned a DC-4 before. Was my 2nd Airman. The only thing I might say is I didn't care for the handset. I felt the hour and minute hands were a bit too similar in size and shape which made it sometimes a little hard to discern which was which at a glance... Although likely less often observed, they may be even slightly more difficult to distinguish in the dark as their lume signatures may be even closer. Otherwise , the DC-4 is a cool vintage design, also.
Beautiful! I love my my similar No1 Purist with a cream dial.
I owned that one, too. My 4th Airman. I might have kept it longer. But, I did wish the handset were black instead of silver.. I found it made it less contrasty and a little harder to read at times. Otherwise, it is the most authentic to the actual vintage Airmans of the past and wears well for a 36mm watch.. a bit larger than dimensions as Airman lugs sit rather broad or wide apart for its design.
I also owned a DC-4 before. Was my 2nd Airman. The only thing I might say is I didn't care for the handset. I felt the hour and minute hands were a bit too similar in size and shape which made it sometimes a little hard to discern which was which at a glance... Although likely less often observed, they may be even slightly more difficult to distinguish in the dark as their lume signatures may be even closer. Otherwise , the DC-4 is a cool vintage design, also.
That's why I like the Chief - the blue hands over the grey dial, domed crystal and 40mm is good on my wrist - the DC-4 was 42mm, a little large for liking, particularly when it's traditionally been pretty modestly sized.
☻
I owned that one, too. My 4th Airman. I might have kept it longer. But, I did wish the handset were black instead of silver.. I found it made it less contrasty and a little harder to read at times. Otherwise, it is the most authentic to the actual vintage Airmans of the past and wears well for a 36mm watch.. a bit larger than dimensions as Airman lugs sit rather broad or wide apart for its design.
Agreed. It wears big. I bought it because it was the most faithful to the first airman release. I couldn't get hold of the one with acrylic rather than sapphire unfortunately.
That's why I like the Chief - the blue hands over the grey dial, domed crystal and 40mm is good on my wrist - the DC-4 was 42mm, a little large for liking, particularly when it's traditionally been pretty modestly sized.
☻
Yeah, Airmans have that wide lug stance.. bordering on making the watch wear almost like a rectangular watch and so they do tend to wear larger than base case measurements may suggest.
The Airman's at 42mm are doable.. besides the DC-4, I had an Airman 42 as my first Airman. Airman watches are thin and the lugs all curve and angle downwards very well. They basically cradle over the wrist. But, a bit too much presence for say at least a 7" wrist and smaller.
I had the grey dial with blued hands before. Handsome piece and my favorite for a long time. Owned 3 of them. First was a Purist when they still had acrylic crystal and 10m WR. Then later when they upgraded to sapphire crystal and 30m WR, I had the GMT version 2nd, then when they eventually made a Purist of that color again, I bought that for a 3rd time. It was going to be a keeper, but, at a certain time I had to make some cuts as I wanted to both reduce and get something else in my collection.
But, as you can see here, I had to return and get another Airman as it's one of my favorite watch designs.