Glycine
Glycine watch SA
Founded in 1914 in Bienne, Switzerland by Eugène Meylan, initially making pocket watches and women's watches and used interchangeable parts for ease of manufacture.
In 1930, in collaboration with Meylan's new company, made the first mass-produced automatic movements, a system where a separate module could be fitted to any small watch.
In 1942 the movement division was acquired by ASUAG later to become part of the Swatch group, around the same time they made watches for the German Army and were issued to many German soldiers.
The most famous watch produced by Glycine was the 'Airman' in 1953 and was sold to many US Air force personnel through shops on military bases, This was the earliest form of GMT watch with dual time capabilities.
This watch was later made available to the civilian market and proved popular with intercontinental travellers.
The watches also found fame during the US Gemini II spaceflight when Astronaut Pete Conrad wore his Glycine Airman watch as a backup to the official Omega watch.
In 1984 the company was purchased by Hans Brechbühler who's daughter Katharina later assumed full control of the company to focus largely on mechanical movements.
In 2010 the company was sold to Altus Uhren Holding AG, but Katharina remained in charge of product design, later in 2016 the company was acquired by Invicta Watch group, Katharina was replaced by Daniele Andreatta as Glycine's managing director in 2019.
Glycine Combat Sub 39mm on grey Marine National strap
Looks very much like a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner.
Glycine Combat Sub GL0402
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