Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsGrand Seiko SBGJ249

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

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.

Grand Seiko SBGJ249

Grand Seiko SBGJ249 owners and reviewers widely praise its spectacular beauty, particularly the stunning wave dial that shifts color and exhibits an incredible texture. The watch is noted for its perfect proportions and "out of this world" finishing on the case, hands, and hour indices. It is powered by the Hi-Beat Caliber 9S86, a true GMT movement operating at 36,000vph. Accuracy is reported at -3 to +5 seconds per day, with one owner noting +3 seconds per day. The watch is offered at $6,800, which is considered outstanding value. A drawback flagged is its 3 bar water resistance. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Grand Seiko SBGJ249 highly for its exceptional dial finishing and overall beauty at its price point.

At a glance

17 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
SBGJ24939.5mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
SBGJ24955h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
SBGJ24930m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
SBGJ249$7,700

Full specifications

Case

6 specs
Diameter
40mm
39.5mm
Thickness
12.25mm
14.1mm
Lug-to-Lug
46.9mm
Lug Width
22mm
19mm
Finish
Caseback

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
AR Coating
Yes
Dial Color
White
Indices
Lume
Luminous
None

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW330-2
9S86
Beat Rate
28,800 vph
0 vph
Power Reserve
48h
55h
Jewels
25
0
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$7,700
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