Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsGrand Seiko SBGM245

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 SBGM245

Owners widely appreciate the Grand Seiko SBGM245 for its blend of sport and luxury, with one enthusiast highlighting its superior workmanship over quartz movements. However, opinions on its size vary, as one owner found the SBGM245 too large, preferring the comfort of a different variant. Overall, owners value the Grand Seiko SBGM245 for its refined craftsmanship, though its wearability is a point of personal preference.

At a glance

18 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
SBGM24540.5mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
SBGM24572h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
SBGM245200m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
SBGM245$6,100

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Diameter
40mm
40.5mm
Thickness
12.25mm
14.4mm
Lug-to-Lug
48.6mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Finish
Water Resistance
30m
200m
Caseback

Crystal & Dial

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

Movement

5 specs
Caliber
Sellita SW330-2
9S66
Beat Rate
28,800 vph
0 vph
Power Reserve
48h
72h
Jewels
25
0
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$6,100
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