1 retains all of the vintage design details that make this watch so incredibly charming. Beyond these minor changes, the Airman No. Additionally, the archaic hacking system which utilized a protruding wire at 12 o’clock has been replaced with a much more robust module within the movement itself. Gone is the square magnifier over the date, and the high polished bezel has been brushed to better suit the tool watch vibe (unlike the 2014 model, which was high polish all around). The Glycine Airman GL0159 is a faithful reproduction of this iconic design with a few small modern changes. Presented at Basel Watch Fair along with the Rolex GMT-Master, this version of the watch would become the classic that defined the first generation of the Airman (1953 – 1978), and the watch for which this re-issue is based. It wasn’t until a few months later that the design of the Airman changed and solidified, with its signature broad arrow hour hand, thinner bezel, and cleaner black dial. It featured the signature 24 hour dial, but had dauphine hands, and markings for “AM”, “PM”, and “noon” on the dial. The first design of the Airman was created in 1953, and known by collectors as the “AM/PM”. 1”, this re-issue from Glycine is not actually based on the first iteration of the watch. helicopter pilots in Vietnam to commercial and recreational pilots, the Glycine Airman proved to be a perennial best seller, despite its niche appeal.ĭespite being branded as the “Airman No. With it’s innovate 24-hour dial and dual time-zone tracking capability, it became the watch that set the benchmark for a reference that would enjoy continuous production for the next 60 years. After touching down in India, Samuel immediately penned a letter to the owner of Glycine, Charles Hertig, describing the opportunity he saw for what would soon become an instant classic.Ĭharles himself must have been convinced, because just a few months later, a prototype for the Glycine Airman was born. What the pilot reported to Samuel seemed simple: an automatic, waterproof watch with a calendar and a 24-hour dial, with a rotating 24-hour bezel to track a separate time-zone – a watch that did not currently exist on the market. Upon striking up a conversation with the pilot in the cockpit, Samuel was able to ascertain the requirements for a watch built specifically for commercial airline pilots. Glur, a sales director for Glycine-Altus, boarded a flight on Thai Airways from Bangkok to Calcutta. As the story goes: It was in 1953 when Samuel W.

Casio prototype