The brand: Glycine – always relevant thanks to the Airman
Glycine is neither among the largest nor the best known manufacturers of wristwatches. But it is an interesting manufacturer because, despite its small size, they have pulled off the feat of producing a model that for many is an icon over a long and unbroken period of time.
By: Thomas Denke
Glycine belongs to neither the biggest nor the best known makers of wristwatches. But it is an interesting maker because they, despite their small size, have managed the feat of producing a model that for many is an icon over a long and unbroken period of time. The model in question is the Glycine Airman and it has been produced in one form or another from its introduction in 1953 up until today. So let us take a look at the maker Glycine.
Glycine was founded by Eugene Meylan in Swiss Biel in 1914 and during the first decades was known for its ladies' wristwatches with very small movements. In 1931 they presented unusual and well-functioning self-winding movements and in 1953 they presented the model that would establish them as a brand for a long time to come, the Airman. The model was developed together with pilots and had a characterisctic 24-hour display, a format where the hour hand moves one revolution per day as opposed to the usual type of display where the hour hand turns two revolutions per day. In combination with an outer bezel with a further 24-hour scale, time display for two time zones at once was made possible. A typical pilot feature or for others who travel between several different time zones.
Modern variant of the Glycine Airman with time display in 12H format 
Older Airman advert 
Modern interpretation of the Glycine Airman with time display in 24h format
A fun function that was fairly unique to the brand was the peculiar hacking function for the seconds hand. This meant that on older Airman models a little pin folds up out of a hole in the dial at 12 o'clock (or rather 24 o'clock on a watch with 24-hour display) when you pull out the crown. The pin braked the seconds hand on which made it possible to synchronise the seconds of several wristwatches. This was a contributing reason that the model became a hit with among others American helicopter pilots during the Vietnam war.
Regardless of who has stood as owner of Glycine S/A, the Airman model in particular has always been made. Even if during periods it was only released as a quartz-driven worldtimer. And models of the Airman that are true to the original in looks and function are to this day the load-bearing part of Glycine's model programme.
For you who want to hear more about the brand we recommend Urbildningsradion's Glycine special!
