The Ultimate Gmt Glycine Airman dc-4 review

In 1953, Samuel W. Glur, a sales director for Montres Altus S.A., was on-board a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Calcutta. Samuel struck up a conversation with the captain about his wristwatch needs.

What the Captain said he wanted was an automatic, waterproof watch with calendar function and a 24 hour dial with centralized hour, minute and second hands with a rotating 24 hour bezel. After touching down in India, Samuel Glur wrote to his friend Charles Hertig (Glycine owner) about the potential market for a dedicated pilots watch. These specifications would be turned into a real watch just a few months later, the Glycine Airman.

Okay, that was a story about the original airman 1 purist. Now its 2022 and im in need to buy my first gmt, at that time there are a few option that i reconsidered which is seiko 5 gmt, squale 30 atmos gmt, and a glycine airman dc-4 (gl0071). seiko 5 is off the list since most of my collection are japanese watch and i want something different this time, squale is nice but it is lack of character since its a clomage of rolex gmt master, so i pull the trigger on this glycine airman dc4 gmt.

The dc-4 named is from the type of the plane Douglas dc-4 which take Samuel W. Glur when the converstation about the airman happen. from my perspective the dc4 its a reimagination of the original glycine airman no 1 with a few changes which is:

1. gmt hands (total track 3 different timezone)
2. 12 hours on the main dial, 24 hours on the second indices, and 24 hours on the bezel
3. cyclops on the date window
4. new movement gl293 (either sw330-1or eta 2893-2) with 28800 bph
5. saphirre crystal on dial and caseback
6. see through caseback
7. different size which is 42mm
8. wr200m with screw down crown

im so happy with my decision, when i wait for the watch to came i even watch almost every single glycine airman review on youtube, what a nerd right😂. as the watch came i feel very happy since it is my first swiss watch. i dont know this is subjective or not since i have only experience with japanese watch but the finishing on this glycine are awesome. and to tell you the truth from the rendering i feel this watch is not the most beautifully design (its a tool watch) but when you see it in person i feel different.

as the specs goes it is definitely spec beast in my opinion swiss movement, wr200m in gmt what a nice feature, saphire crystal, nicely decorated movement. not to mention i only pay 800$ for this. i read somewhere you can get cheaper price since glycine price isnt too good after invicta own it, but its a win for us right?

but it is not a perfect watch with some negative point which i need to mention:

1. the dc4 equipped with nato strap which made the watch feel cheap (im not a fan of nato strap btw) so i changed it to black leather strap from hnmd leatherwerks and suddenly it feels right
2. there is a misallign on the bezel, the mark didnt all match up with the dial from my experience

3. bidirectional bezel doesnt feel nice, its like a metal scratch with another metal when you unscrew and rotate it. but if it works for pilot at vietnam war i guess im okay with it

4. this one is rather subjective but after i watch peter kosta on youtube, he painted the gmt hands to red and now im wanted to be that way😂

in conclussion i think if you are in need on gmt watch you might consider this one. eventhough glycine as a brand isnt too popular but it got a rich history, made a big contribution on gmt development, nice specs and quality, also affordable too.

thx for reading my review, cheers🍺