Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsVaer D5 Meridian Auto

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
D5 Meridian Auto
VaerD5 Meridian Auto
MSRP $679

At a glance

18 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
D5 Meridian Auto39mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
D5 Meridian Auto40h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
D5 Meridian Auto200m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
D5 Meridian Auto$679

Full specifications

Case

9 specs
Category
GMT
Diver
Diameter
40mm
39mm
Thickness
12.25mm
12.5mm
Lug-to-Lug
46mm
Lug Width
22mm
20mm
Material
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
200m
Caseback
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Dial Color
White
Black
Indices
Applied
Lume
Luminous
None

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
SW330-2
Miyota 9015
Power Reserve
48h
40h
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$679

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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.

Vaer D5 Meridian Auto

Owners widely praise the Vaer D5 Meridian Auto for its classic aesthetic, comfortable 39mm size, and well-executed 120-click bezel with minimal back play. Reviewers highlight the anodized aluminum bezel insert, lyre lugs, sword hands, and gold accents on the blue sunburst dial as contributing to its old-school charm, making it a great companion for desk diving with comfortable strap options and quick-release spring bars. One owner specifically noted satisfaction with the 42mm variant's premium steel bracelet featuring a tool-less micro-adjust clasp. On balance, owners and reviewers rate the Vaer D5 Meridian Auto highly for its classic design and comfortable wearability at its price point.

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