Glycine Models Timeline

This little fella is from the year 1926 and is related with the next two pictures. It's in an 18k gold case and has the 'poincon de maitre ' hammer head with handle. Glycine manufacture movement Cal. 18 ticks inside the case. The bezel reads '1926 Bern Kantonal Schutzenfest ' - Bern Marksmen Festival. In the German speaking world shooting/marksmen festivals were annual events and precious prizes were given to the winners. This watch was the prize for the winner. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum.

This is the poster for the event on 1926 where this watch was given as a prize.

Here we have the winners, Shutzenkonig/in from 1926 Bern. This watch has crowned the wrists of one of these persons in the picture.  It wasn't just watches given away, many other objects were presented to the winners. Schuetzenfest items are a different sphere for collectors and I was fortunate to know several of them.

This elegant watchcase is Niello silver,a technique that was popular back then. Niello is made by fusing together silver, copper, lead and then mixing the molten alloy with sulfur. It is used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal. This one is LeCoultre watch where the movement is from Glycine. A. LeCoultre and Jaeger merged in 1928 to form Jaeger LeCoultre.

Glycine, specialized in small caliber movements in their early decades and has manufactured ring watches where time would tick elegantly on fingers.

Automatic EMSA, patent applied for Oct '30 and granted in '31. Many dial variations exist along with module markings. This particular model has Venus 60 base caliber with Automatic EMSA module and a 6mm thick see through mineral crystal back, obviously a show piece. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. 

Another automatic module, but this is from the time-frame after Meylan sold his patent to Glycine in 1935. This timepiece has also that elegant fold lever crown. It was patented by Glycine, which just adjusts the time. Glycine back then believed that self-winding watches didn't need a crown except for time setting. It's fitted with Glycine Cal 20 and the automatic module. Dial bears the name of the retailer ' Dietrich Bale ' - Bale is Basel in French. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum.

Small caliber tiny movements fitted into precious metal cases were the core activity of Glycine in its first 2 decades.

The Glycine Automatic has been developed further and fitted with shock-proof and water-proof capabilities and presented in 1939 World's Fair in New York. Along with many other comments a spec review was: Bracelet montre rond, acier automatique, seconde au centre, modèle hermétique, par Glycine. Glycine models presented in the fair have boosted the companies' presence and distribution in the world.

Same automatic module, this time 18 jewels movement, +1 jewel for the center seconds hand. There has been a period where center seconds were considered as a complication. This watch is fitted with FHF 125 base movement and the automatic module. Another such model's movement and automatic module I have donated to NAWCC Museum for the evolution of wristwatches timeline display.

Glycine has manufactured watches for the German Army. It's a set of pocket and wrist-watch. The case-back is marked with DH ( Deutsches Heer- German Army ) and 5 or 6 digits between the two letters. Both are manual winding movements, pocket-watch has Felsa 283 ticking inside and the wristwatch has A.Schild 1130 movement. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. 

These are the military issued watches of Glycine. The wristwatch is chrome but case-back is stainless steel with fixed lugs. It's marked waterproof in German 'wasserdicht' and D 90608 H markings. The pocket-watch case-back has only the military marking, D80250H. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum.   

Even though this model doesn't look that fancy, it was an aesthetic reflection of the '40s for dress watch case. It cases the premium Cal 29 movement.

Cal 23 Glycine from inter war era. The dial is full with radium. Radium has a half-life of 1600 years and decays into radon gas. Therefore don't open vintage watches case-back in living areas especially where infants exist. Radium dust from the case may spread, work on them in a well ventilated area and clean as you go.

FHF 125-3 movement ticking in this beautiful triple calendar Glycine. The internal bezel where the date disc is, is controlled by the crown at 10 o 'clock position. Within all Glycine models, I can say that,this is one of the most intriguing models I have seen. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum.

Classic '40s and '50s models were round  watches in chrome cases. This Bienne-Geneve model has the Glycine Cal 72 which is based on Felsa 465. The Bienne-Geneve dial marks start in 1924 and continues till late '40s, It's an invention from the Engel family I believe who extended Glycine offices to Geneve also. 

Elegant pendant watch to be worn on the neck. I have seen two examples like this. Initially they come as a set, the necklace & pendant along with earrings. Very elegant motives and engravings on this miniature timepiece case, gold plated. Some Glycine models speak to ladies and are very elegant.

FHF 59-21 movement, which is just 20 * 9 mm. in size, powers this elegant piece. One of the smaller calibers within Glycine models. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. 

Glycine Airman era starts in 1953, the first Airman manufacture party is on 2nd of Dec 1953. Early Airman watches have various hand and dial configurations. Now and then a new old Airman surfaces and pleasantly surprises us. Pictured here is one from 1954 with pencil hands, no date window magnifier, no hacking mechanism. Powered by Felsa 692/N movement. The dial is marked with 'million elephants and wings' logo. I have been told that this was a French Helicopter unit logo which operated in Laos, French Indo-China times. If you know something else, please let me know.

The famous vintage Glycine Airman AM / PM which has been commemorated in its 60th year in 2013 with a modern version. Elegant dauphine hands, dial has AM, PM and Noon markings. Movement is Felsa 692/N. Fashion back then was small crown because the watch is self-winding. Only a handful examples of this model is known to exist currently.

Glycine The Chief. Only one example of this watch is known and its with the retailers name ' Tuerler ' on the dial. Tuerler is like the Tiffany in the US, a famous jeweler.  Glycine Airman was meant to be for airman and The Chief for seagoing people, for the Navy. That's what the manual says. The manual is actually a combo with Airman and The Chief. Current tribute models of Glycine The Chief are all based on this single find, making it the godfather of all current ones.It's as rare as hen's teeth.

The minute tail-end was implemented along with a date magnifier and hacking mechanism in March 1955. The hacking mechanism was invented by Georges Godat, who wasn't related with Glycine, but obviously has sold his right to Glycine. His patent dates to Mar 1955 and a second one for fine tuning the same on Dec '55 ( original patents can be seen in 'Glycine Patents 'Page ). So all these minute-hand tailend Airman models are after March '55. The radium burn on dial and hands in this model are visible and adds a charm to it. Obviously the hands stood still for a long time and burned the dial.

Glycine Airman Special was manufactured for the US market in order to pay less import taxes. The US implemented a tax system in order to protect its own manufacturers back in 1924 and it demanded more tax for more jewel count in movements. Some Glycine models, even earlier ones from 1924 and onward have lesser jewel count. Glycine not willing to change its price point due to this regulation, dropped the jewel count from 23 jewel Felsa 692N to 17 jewels and called it 'Special '.

This particular watch has a provenance from a helicopter pilot shot and held POW in Vietnam. Casing still the F 692N movement. The tail-end has moved to hour hand somewhere in 1956-57. We don't know the exact date, yet. I have had the rust cleaned up but didn't want to touch the hands since they add charm to it.  More details at Glycine Airman page: https://glycintennial.com/glycine-airman 

This vintage Glycine Airman is from mid-60s where the 'Special' mark has moved up and became italic. The movement has also changed from F692 and is powered by an A.Schild movement 1700/01. This is a transition year Airman where the case is still not an EPSA Compressor case and has the screw-in case-back.

1967 was a very productive year for Glycine watch company. The Airman SST models have been introduced along with Glycine Combat timepieces. The Glycine crown logo we know now has been printed on all models even though the design was registered in 1965. More details at Glycine Airman page: https://glycintennial.com/glycine-airman 

Glycine Airman SST with its stainless steel bracelet was costing 98 USD when introduced.It has a larger wrist presence than the classic Glycine Airman with it's 42 mm case size. Pretty big for its time. It cases A.Schild 1902/03 movement and has still the hacking mechanism. Dial configuration is similar except the internal turning bezel and the lack of date window magnifier. The dial is two tone black for AM and PM.

In 1969 Glycine manufactured a limited run of Airman SST Chronographs. The pity about these chronographs were that, they have been manufactured to support the American SST project but due to cancellation of the Boeing 2707 project, have been presented to Concorde pilots and first Concorde clients.It is one of the most desired Glycine models and the highest prize within vintage Glycine Airman watches.

The vintage Glycine Airman SST Chronograph came in different dial and case configurations. Some had 3 some 4 buttons/crowns. If there is a rotating internal bezel, than it would be 4, if bezel is external and manual rotation than 3 buttons were enough to operate the chronographs.

Bezel variations are also different, so as this Pepsi bezel. All these SST chronographs have Valjoux 724 movements, it basically R72 + 4th hand or 24h modification.

Didn't want to spread these models within the whole Airman herd above so going back to '50s with these beautiful and noteworthy models. This one is from 1956 and is a mechanical alarm watch with A. Schild 1475 movement. The underline with arrow heads logo can be seen in some Glycines till 1964, kind of transitional logo. In 1976 Glycine has another manufacture party for alarm watches, this time with AS 5008 movement. Magnusson signed AS 1475 is donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. 

This Glycine Skin Diver Vacuum is an ideal watch within Glycine models, perfect time keeping abilities thanks to Klingenberg who invented the Vacuum casing. It is said that Glycine would obtain chronometer grade movements for these timepieces. There are several Vacuum watch models in different shapes and cases, but this one is my favourite with its snowflake minute hand. The watch cases ETA 2472 movement

First and only time I have seen a COSC certified Glycine. It's actually from 1964 and with a weird looking crown logo which is different than what Glycine has, it resembles Marvin logo. It may be a COSC addition on the watch or a trial crown before the Glycine models have adopted the crown logo design which is still in use. ETA 2472 is ticking inside the case.

Altus and Glycine officially merged in Aug 1963, Hertig decided to mark the dial with both brand names. There are several different models having this combo dial.

In 1967 Glycine models have been enriched with the introduction of the Combat, which is the second oldest model line of Glycine after Airman. Well, the Eugene Meylan Automatic is the oldest one as pedigree but wasn't manufactured until 70 years later. Glycine Combat has also the mechanical hacking mechanism at 12 o'clock like in Airman. It's a 12h watch with ETA 2472 movement cased in compressor case. Inner case-back of EPSA Compressor cases have always a month and year code.

Divers style watches were booming in the '70s with their chunky cases. Here we have a Glycine diver style watch with screw down crown powered by AS 1903. This watch has started it all for me when I couldn't find information about it and I went through a joyful learning journey since then.

Compressor models can be found in various case shapes. These models were cased by Ervin Piquerez and were called EPSA. The cross hatched crown was also a signature of EPSA so all compressor watches had crossed hatch crowns. Glycine has introduced their high-beat models within EPSA cases also. The watch featured here is not high frequency ( beat ) but a beautiful '70s colorful watch powered by ETA 2472 .

Things started to change in the '70s, so it did with Glycine models. Quartz watches hit the market forcing Swiss companies to cope with the new trend in order to survive. Ditronic manufactured this Glycine with ESA 9315 movement. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. More historical facts at Glycine History page: https://glycintennial.com/glycine-history

Glycine Electronic. Quartz watches came in varieties which included LED, LCD, Electronic, Electric and Hybrid movements with a stepper motor. This retro TV case watch is powered by ESA 9154 movement. Donated to Glycine Heritage Museum. 

Compressor watches were still manufactured in mid '70s in various shapes within Glycine models within EPSA cases.

Glycine didn't just manufacture wrist watches, they did also pocket watches and desk clocks. This Glycine Airman desk clock is a limited run of 50 pieces from 1978.  It has an 8 days IMHOF movement and the 24h internal disc is rotating with time. So once you set your local time and your desired 2nd timezone via the bezel,the hands and the disc moves together, enabling you to read two time-zones.It's one of the rare Glycine models to surface. It differs from the wrist Airmans by its moving bezel/disc with time.

Manufactured 3,000 pieces in 11 Mar 1979 the Airman turned Quartz this time to continue its evolution. These are powered by ESA FHF 960.111 hybrid quartz movements.

Manufactured 1,000 pieces on 6th Oct 1989 the Glycine Airman Quartz World Time is powered by an ETA 955.924. The internal rotating ring can be set for a second time zone just like in SST models, only difference is 12 o'clock is on top rather than 24.

Falcon watches are Glycine models' brother in law. When Glycine produced the Quartz Airman and didn't want to continue while demand was increasing, Werner Siegrist from Glycine US Service Center made an exclusive agreement with Glycine to manufacture under his own brand Airman watches and labelled them Falcon. They can be still found in online auction sites.

I really don't know where they got this dial mark 'Sea Walker' but this model was manufactured in Mar 1996 and is powered by ETA 2824 movement.

Initially manufactured as Glycine Observer, the 'Luftwaffe' ( German: Air Force ) dial mark was done for a retailer upon request with low numbers. These models were manufactured 1,000 pieces in 1998 and case the work horse movement ETA 2824. The onion crown, dial characters, lume and hands are defining this as  'flieger' type of watch. Very easy to read and a great wrist presence.42 mm w/out crown diameter. The Observer, has also see through case-back as well as solid case-back options. 

In 2001 Glycine manufactured an Eugene Meylan automatic watch, tribute to its first automatic invention EMSA Automatic from 1931. It was manufactured on 26 Oct 2001 only 500 pieces. Powered by ETA 2895 movement.

Glycine Airman SST 06 powered by ETA 2893 manufactured on 1 Aug 2005, 600 pieces only. This one has the closest resemblance to the original SSTs manufactured back in 1967. 

Some more Glycine models, eye candy for your viewing pleasure.

Glycine Airman AM/PM gets a face and engine lift: changes in 60 years, 1953 vs 2013 re-issue.

The rare beast vs the re-issue, face to face.Vintage Glycine Airman vs. new-er execution.

At some point back in 2014-15 there was a project to re-issue also the hacking mechanism as in the vintage models but was not realized.

Airman case size remains 36mm, vintage case-maker was Pretat.

Case size got bigger, WR increased, crystal type changed, hacking mechanism removed.

Two generations of 3 family members vintage Glycine watches vs newer executions. Airman AM/PM, Airman 1 and Glycine Combat

Cases get larger and dials more colorful with time, just like the black&white TVs from the past vs now.

The logo crowns Glycine watches since 1965... But it's just in 1967 that all Glycine models adapt the crown.