Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsVaer D5 Pacific Anacapa 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 Pacific Anacapa Auto
VaerD5 Pacific Anacapa Auto
MSRP $699

At a glance

19 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto39mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto40h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto200m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto$699

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

6 specs
Crystal
Sapphire
Domed Sapphire
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Inner
Dial Color
White
Anacapa
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
$699

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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 Pacific Anacapa Auto

The Vaer D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto is widely praised for its 39mm case size and refined yet rugged case design, with owners noting it wears well and fits perfectly. Reviewers and owners alike highlight the colorful, multi-layer dial, with one specifically appreciating the matte green dial's accenting of other colors. The watch's American assembly is also a point of praise. One owner found the fit superior to a previous Seiko "Baby Hulk." A reviewer noted the bezel numerals lack lume, and the date wheel's three-orange-one-green pattern is described as peculiar. One owner also felt the minute markers seemed oddly placed. The Vaer D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto uses a Miyota 9015 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve and offers 200m water resistance. Overall, owners and reviewers rate the Vaer D5 Pacific Anacapa Auto highly for its wearability and dial design at the price point.

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