Side by side

Glycine Airman No. 1 PuristvsVario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Airman No. 1 Purist
GlycineAirman No. 1 Purist
MSRP $2,800
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound
VarioEmpire Art Nouveau Handwound
MSRP $888

At a glance

18 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman No. 1 Purist36mm
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound38mm
Power Reserve
Airman No. 1 Purist48h
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound40h
Water Resistance
Airman No. 1 Purist30m
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound50m
MSRP
Airman No. 1 Purist$2,800
Empire Art Nouveau Handwound$888

Full specifications

Case

8 specs
Category
GMT
Dress
Diameter
36mm
38mm
Thickness
11.6mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
38mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
50m
Caseback
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Dial Color
Silver
Black
Indices
Applied
Lume
Luminous
None

Movement

4 specs
Caliber
SW330-2
Miyota 6T33
Type
Automatic
Manual
Power Reserve
48h
40h
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,800
$888

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Glycine Airman No. 1 Purist

The Glycine Airman No. 1 Purist is praised as a faithful re-creation of a historical 24-hour watch, with one owner purchasing it for $620 and viewing it as a long-term keeper due to its heritage reissue status and vintage aesthetics. The 36mm size is noted as a conversation starter. However, the acrylic crystal is prone to scratching, with one example showing a small scratch over the date window. Some community members suggest pre-Invicta models may hold value better. Overall, owners appreciate the Glycine Airman No. 1 Purist for its authentic vintage appeal and unique dial, though the acrylic crystal requires careful handling.

Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound

Owners widely praise the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound for its detailed, multi-layered dial featuring applied numerals and guilloche patterns, its elegant Art Deco-inspired design, and the enjoyable winding feel of the Miyota 6T33 handwound movement, often visible through an exhibition case back. The 38mm case size is considered a positive by many, and the included leather strap is noted for its comfort and quality. Some owners find the differing fonts on the sub-dials and perimeter less appealing, and the absence of a constant seconds sub-dial is flagged as a drawback. On balance, owners rate the Vario Empire Art Nouveau Handwound highly for its distinctive Art Deco styling and detailed dial at its price point.

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