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I always wanted an Airman, so I finally got one. This is my long-term look at the Glycine Airman 9, reference 3840.
The Airman is the watch Glycine is known for, the way the Daytona or Seamaster are for other brands. Mine is a chronograph with a GMT hand and a 24-hour bezel, so it can track three time zones. It has picked up some knocks over the years, but it is still running great. The 3840 is no longer listed on Amazon, so the button goes to a current Glycine Airman GMT automatic.
- Three time zones: local, GMT hand and the rotating bezel
- Long chronograph timing; my 7-hour 18-minute test was accurate
- Big lume on hands and markers, easy to read at night
- Heft and toughness, it takes a beating
- Classic Airman look that changes character with the strap
- At 15mm thick, it is a chunky watch
- Screw-in bars are a pain to remove alone
- No running seconds hand
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Why the Airman matters
If you are not familiar with it, the Airman was Glycine’s early claim to fame. It is an aviator watch, and there are a ton of versions, from simple older ones with a broad dial to quartz and automatic models and wacky variants like double-12 and 24-hour dials.
This one has the classic look: a brushed-style steel bezel with a 24-hour ring, an angled 24-hour chapter ring, a tachymeter inside, and an orange GMT hand.
Case, movement and straps
Glycine calls the movement a GL 118, which I believe is based on the Valjoux 7750. Through the screw-down exhibition back you can see a copper-tone rotor with the Airman airplane on it. It is rated to 20 atmospheres.
It does not use spring bars. It uses screw-in pass-through bars, which are stronger but a pain, because you have to brace one end while unscrewing the other. I swapped an orange silicone strap for an aftermarket black leather one with a Glycine buckle, and it changes the whole personality of the watch.
Chronograph and flyback
The top sub-dial is a 30-minute counter, and the lower one counts hours. I started the chronograph about seven hours and 18 minutes before filming, checked a clock, and it was right on. When you reset, everything flies back instantly.
The date window is color-matched to the dial, and the hands and markers have big lume, so it is easy to read at night.
About the buy link
My Airman 9 chronograph (3840) is no longer listed on Amazon. The button goes to the Glycine Airman GMT automatic (GL0470), a current Airman with a GMT function. It is not a chronograph, and it has a different dial, so check the listing for specs.
Setting three time zones
Unscrew the crown. The first position sets the date one way and jumps the GMT hour hand the other way, so the minutes always stay synced. The second position sets local time.
For a third zone, turn the bi-directional bezel to line up the hour you want against the GMT hand. Low-tech, but it works. On my seven-and-a-half-inch wrist, the 44mm size is perfect, and it goes from formal to casual.
FAQ
How big is the Glycine Airman 3840?
44 millimeters across and about 15 millimeters thick.
Can it show three time zones?
Yes: local time, the GMT hand, and a third zone using the bi-directional 24-hour bezel.
Does it use spring bars?
No, it uses screw-in pass-through bars, which are stronger but harder to change.
How long can the chronograph time?
Hours. Mine timed just over seven hours accurately in my test.
Is this an affiliate link?
Yes. The buttons are #ad affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra.
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