Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsFormex Reef 39.5 mm

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

Airman Vintage The Chief Purist
GlycineAirman Vintage The Chief Purist
MSRP $2,900
Reef 39.5 mm
FormexReef 39.5 mm
MSRP $2,230

At a glance

16 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
Reef 39.5 mm39.5mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
Reef 39.5 mm56h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
Reef 39.5 mm300m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
Reef 39.5 mm$2,230

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
GMT
Diver
Diameter
40mm
39.5mm
Thickness
12.25mm
11mm
Lug-to-Lug
45.5mm
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
300m
Caseback
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Dial Color
White
Bahama Blue
Indices
Applied
Lume
Luminous
Super-LumiNova

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
SW330-2
Sellita SW300-1
Power Reserve
48h
56h
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$2,230

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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 Vintage The Chief Purist

The Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief Purist is widely praised for its classic pilot watch design and excellent wearability, with owners highlighting its authentic 24-hour dial as a core element of its identity. Reviewers and owners consistently note its accurate timekeeping, with one report stating it keeps very accurate time and another confirming excellent timekeeping. The sun-ray green dial is specifically mentioned as looking great in different lighting conditions, and the lume is described as great for a vintage-style piece. Owners find the purist model's 24-hour dial more logical than GMT versions, and the 40mm size is noted for offering larger, readable dials. One owner calls it the best pilot watch ever made.

From video reviewers

The 24-hour dial legibility is a key strength. Reviewers disagree on the desirability of the current Purist design compared to Glycine's past Airman 18 series.

Formex Reef 39.5 mm

The Formex Reef 39.5 mm is widely praised for its refined finishing, comfortable and well-proportioned case design, and impressive specifications for its price point, including COSC-certified Sellita SW300-1 movement and 300m water resistance. Owners and reviewers highlight the tool-less micro-adjust clasp and quick-release spring bars as practical features. Some reviewers note that the 22mm lug width feels slightly disproportionate to the smaller case, and the bracelet could benefit from more taper, though this is a point of contention for some owners who value the overall package. A prototype crown protrusion issue is noted as being addressed for production. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Formex Reef 39.5 mm highly for its excellent value and well-executed design.

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