FIVE WAYS HI-FIDELITY LTD

GLYCINE
Founded 1914. Heritage includes military and diving watches. Today Glycine is mainly associated with two groups of watches. The one consists of mainly oversized functional watches which are easy to read and fashionable. Many of these models use pocket watch movements with manual winding. The other is the Airman range. The Airman models are multiple time zone watches for which Glycine has been famous since the 1950s. Most models are available with see through backs.

Glycine has a very comprehensive web site on: www.glycine-watch.ch and all models may be ordered from us. A selection is given below but the Glycine range is now huge so we recommend a visit to the very good Glycine site. We can supply prices for models of interest.

GLYCINE NEWS:There were two important new models from Glycine introduced in 2002. They were both in the "Airman" (multiple time zone) range which goes back to 1953 and for which Glycine is well known. The first was AIRMAN 7 (3829.19-LB9). This is a very unusual watch in that it has three completely separate movements in one case giving four time zones. The case is necessarily large at 53mm. On a strap at £1857. The second was AIRMAN 8 (36mm.) (3831.19-LB9). This had the usual three time zones of the Airman range but what was new was the smaller diameter of 36mm. Unfortunately this model is no longer available although similar but larger models remain. 2003 saw another new model - the EUGENE MEYLAN AUTOMATIC - commemorating the founder of the company (not shown below but well covered on the Glycine site). 2004 has brought the AIRMAN 9. This is the new flagship model and is described below.Since 2004 Glycine has introduced many extra models - too many to cover on our site- including some limited editions. Several new models have been introduced in 2007 including AIRMAN 17 and AIRMAN 18 as well as some new INCURSORE models.

AIRMAN 9. New for 2004. This is a chronograph with three time zones - two on the main dial plus another on the bezel. Satin/polished stainless steel case. Screw-down crown. Sapphire crystals front and back. Special hours counter at 6 featuring 24hr. scale. Dial black with either silver or red sub dial - or blue with silver sub dial - or all white. All executions come with a diver's strap and tool and otherwise have an appropriately coloured leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet. Illustrated is 3840.191-LBT9. Water resistant to 200m. D= 44mm. H= 15mm. Base movement: Valjoux 7754. This is a recently developed movement which is only available from a handful of manufacturers. In this case it is very highly decorated - gold and rhodium plating, "Geneva finish", blued screws, engraving of an aircraft, etc.

With leather strap £1943

With bracelet £2143

This is the Airman 7 (3829.19-LB9). It has three completely independent self-winding movements. The largest gives local time with central seconds and date plus a second time zone.The other two movements give two further time zones and these may be half hour ones if necessary. As far as we know this watch is unique. This is horological exhibitionism with usefulness. It is more wearable than might be expected. With a long strap it may be worn on the outside of garments. Comes in a wooden presentation box with a second strap and a spring bar tool. Astronomers can set one of the movements to siderial time.
Automatic winding, polished stainless steel case, sapphire crystals front and back, luminous, water resistant to 50m. D= 53mm. H= 12.3mm. Base movements: 1 x ETA 2893-2 & 2 x ETA 2671-2.

£1857

Shown with black dial. Other executions are now available.

Airman 8. This is a modern version of the original 1953 classic and is the same size. It gives date plus hour, minute and second of local time (12 hour scale) and using an extra hand gives a second time zone on the 24 hour scale. The revolving, lockable, 24 hour bezel gives a third time zone. This is a popular model available with several different executions. Comes in a wooden presentation box.
Automatic winding, matt/polished stainless steel case, sapphire crystal front (hard mineral glass rear optional), dial: black, blue, copper, white or champagne, luminous, water resistant to 200m. D= 36mm. H= 10.7mm. Base movement: ETA 2893-2. This is one of the few 3 zone UTC/GMT watches available and should appeal to serious users of these facilities.

Shown with black dial and strap. 3831.19T-LB9. £671 (or £695 with glass back)
Bracelet version £715 (or £739 with glass back)

A"purist's" execution (3831.19T/66-LB9) is available to special order - details on request. The pricing is the same. This watch is 24 hour only and has only two time zones - one on the dial and one on the bezel.

NEWS: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE AIRMAN 8 RANGE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

There are some new Airman models, larger than Airman 8. These are well covered on the Glycine site: www.glycine-watch.ch

In the "Incursore" series, the much loved hand winding 3804 models have been discontinued in favour of the new 3873 series which incorporates some improvements.These watches are very attractive and embody the essence of Glycine - bold large watches which are easy to read. Shown here is 3873.15-LB9 which has a light yellow dial. Other versions are available with black dials.
Manual winding; brushed stainless steel case; sapphire crystal; glass back; water resistant to 200m. D= 46mm. H= 12mm. Base movement: Unitas 6497.

Strap versions £514.

We like the Incursore models which use case filling hand winding pocket watch movements. The 3873 models are all 46mm. in diameter and the 3762 models are 44mm. in diameter.

Followers of this type of watch might also be interested in Airspeed Retro on our Revue Thommen page.

Glycine's COMBAT models are rugged watches which provide excellent value for money:

Combat Automatic 40mm. Shown right is 3815.19ATS-LB7. Satin/polished stainless steel case. Automatic. Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 40mm. H= 9.5mm. (10mm. with glass back). Glassback included. Base movement: ETA 2824-2. This watch is exceptionally good value for money - especially the strap version.

£300 with strap

£395 with bracelet

Combat Automatic 40mm. As above but with alternative dial and hands. Shown right is 3815.ATSp-1

£395 with bracelet

£300 with strap

Combat Automatic 43mm. This model is available with in several different executions - fully described on the Glycine site. Shown right is 3842.19AT-LB7. Stainless steel case. Automatic. Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 43mm. H=10.0mm. (10.5mm. with glass back). Glass back included. Base movement: ETA 2824-2

£300 with strap

£395 with bracelet

Combat Chronograph. Several executions available (see Glycine site). Shown here is 3838.19AT-LB9. Stainless steel case. Automatic. Luminous. Water resistant to 100m. D= 43mm. H=14.5mm. Glass back included. Base movement: Valjoux 7750

£686 with strap

£762 with bracelet

Combat Automatik 44mm. (Iguana). Several executions available (see Glycine site). Shown here is 3846.19-TB9. Stainless steel case. Automatic Luminous. Water resistant to 50m. D= 44mm. H= 10.5mm. Glass back standard and included. Base movement ETA 2842-2

£429 with strap (rubber or leather)

COMMENT
All Glycine watches are well made and very good value for money. The range is very large. We find the Incursore range of bold large watches and the Combat range the most popular, followed by the Airman models. There are more than sixty basic models in the Glycine range. Most of them are available in more than one execution and most of them have several strap/bracelet options so bespoke orders are not unusual!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -