Glycine was founded in 1914 by Eugene Meylan and has specialised predominantly in military watches, particularly those that are aviation orientated. These remarkably reliable timekeeping tools have assisted military personnel in many an airborne mission. The company has specialised in materials like titanium, gold and stainless steel, the latter of which is widely used within the watchmaking industry, particularly for its corrosion resistant and weather hardy properties. Glycine survived the effects of the Second World War and continued to innovate in its Bienne based facilities. Towards the end of the war, the watchmaking company was ready to release a new and exciting range of automatic watches and in 1952 created the Vacuum Chronometer, notable for its water resistant, robust design.
Glycine’s shock resistant watches were able to survive extreme external conditions, particularly those experienced thousands of feet up in the sky. In 1953 Glycine launched the Airman watch. It answered the needs of the pilot with an additional 24 hour track and a rotating bezel. Ever since the first Airman, Glycine has continued to refine this much loved classic which is now widely collected by professional pilots and luxury pilot watch collectors alike.
When the value of the Swiss franc increased and a worldwide recession forced companies to close their doors for good, Glycine survived the crushing effects of the quartz crisis which was also fully underway during this time. For 6 years Glycine fought on, continuing to manufacture automatic watches despite the huge demand for a more affordable and accurate quartz movement, which many rival companies had succumbed to in order to save them from complete collapse. The company was later sold to Hans Brechbühler in 1984 who began building on the brand’s reputation by branching out to other European countries. Glycine watches were met with resounding success in Belgium, Holland, Scandinavia and Italy.
Glycine released the Airman watch in 1953 having worked closely with civil and military pilots to establish its design. It was equipped with distinct hands to enhance legibility and still remains a highly sought after model in the company’s entire portfolio. Two concentric 24 hour scales enabled the pilot to keep track of home time and local time. The outer scale of which was engraved on a rotating bezel that was lockable and activated via the crown. Over the years the size of the Airman has grown but has retained all its original features.
In addition to the company’ flagship pilot’s watch, Glycine also launched the Combat, wildly utilized in military and sporting industries. The Combat Sub and Combat Classic Vintage watches are among this range, the latter of which boasts a retro styling powered by a precise mechanical movement. Known for their bulky dials and broad diameters, enhanced by a distinctly masculine aesthetic, Glycine Combat watches, like many other timepieces from the band’s catalogue, are still loved for their striking designs and appealing price points, despite being some of the higher priced timepieces from the Bienne brand’s collection.
