Glycine Airman

When talking about watches worn during the Vietnam War, there are a few standouts. Many aspiring watch enthusiasts often start their collections with a Benrus or Hamilton GI. These watches were constructed under the GG-W-113 or MIL-W-3818B specifications, and issued to servicemen who found themselves in the jungles of Southeast Asia.

But for those servicemen who desired something a little more off-beat, they could head to any Post Exchange and pick up a robust dive watch like the Seiko 6105.

These no-nonsense watches were fine for the boots on the ground, but chopper and airplane pilots needed something that better suited their needs.

Many of them found exactly that in this watch, the Glycine Airman.

First released in 1953, the Glycine was tailor-made for pilots. It was born from a conversation that Samuel L. Glur, sales director for Altus S.A., had with a pilot on a flight from Bangkok to Calcutta. Though this may hard to imagine happening today, Glur was actually able to go into the cockpit of the plane and talk to the pilot about—what else—watches.

What he needed, the pilot said, was a watch that was automatic, waterproof, and had a calendar function. The dial should show the time in a 24-hour layout, rather than 12. A rotating bezel that also featured 24-hour time.

The conversation galvanized Glur, who reached out to his friend, Charles Hertig, the head of Glycine.

Hertig embraced the challenge, and designers at Glycine sketched a watch to Glur’s exact specifications. The 24-hour dial and bezel were housed in a case with gently sloping lugs. A thoughtful touch, a locking mechanism for the bezel, drove home the fact that here was a watch for pilots.

It debuted a few months later, and became a runaway—or should we say, flyaway—hit. As one can imagine, it became beloved by pilots during the Vietnam War. Although still in production today, vintage versions from the 1960s remain the most desirable.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.