Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsFormex Reef 42 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 42 mm
FormexReef 42 mm
MSRP $2,414

At a glance

16 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
Reef 42 mm42mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
Reef 42 mm56h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
Reef 42 mm300m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
Reef 42 mm$2,414

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
GMT
Diver
Diameter
40mm
42mm
Thickness
12.25mm
11.4mm
Lug-to-Lug
47mm
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
300m
Caseback
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Dial Color
White
Black
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
$2,414

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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 42 mm

The Formex Reef 42 mm is widely praised for its comfortable bracelet featuring a micro-adjust clasp, COSC-certified Sellita movement, and excellent build quality. Owners appreciate the gradient dial's visual appeal and the overall wearability. Some owners note the seconds hand does not perfectly align with markers, and one owner found the lugs' taper hinders third-party strap fit. The bracelet's length and sporty design are noted as limiting versatility by some. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Formex Reef 42 mm highly for its impressive wearability and value at the price point.

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