Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsFormex Reef GMT

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 GMT
FormexReef GMT
MSRP $2,235

At a glance

15 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
Reef GMT42mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
Reef GMT56h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
Reef GMT300m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
Reef GMT$2,235

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
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 SW330-2
Power Reserve
48h
56h
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$2,235

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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 GMT

The Formex Reef GMT is widely praised for its unique porthole case shape, COSC-certified Sellita SW330-2 movement with good finishing, and comfortable quick-release bracelet with on-the-fly micro-adjustment. Reviewers note its robust construction, impressive specifications, and strong value proposition, with a slim 11.4mm profile accommodating 300m water resistance and an exhibition caseback. However, owners widely report the 53mm lug-to-lug span with male endlinks makes it too large for smaller wrists. Some find the bezel action stiff and potentially slippery, and a reviewer desired sharper finishing and edges, deeming the aesthetic too modernist. The GMT variant sacrifices a timing bezel unless swapped, and one owner notes sharp edges on the crown and crown guard. Overall, owners and reviewers highly rate the Formex Reef GMT for its exceptional value and well-executed features, particularly its bracelet system and COSC-certified movement.

From video reviewers

The watch features a COSC-certified SW330-2 GMT movement, which is visible through a sapphire crystal display case back and beautifully decorated. The watch's water-resistance of up to 300m/1000ft is a notable feature. The 42mm diameter may be too large for smaller wrists.

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