Catalog 2014/15 (pdf, 30MB)

49 Pages·2014·27.51 MB·English

13 AIRMAN
39 COMBAT
61 INCURSORE
71 KMU 48
75 F 104
85 CLASSICS
89 COLLECTION AND
TECHNICAL FEATURES
THE BEGINNING :
5 FROM ITS FOUNDING BY EUGÈNE MEYLAN IN 1914, GLYCINE HAS 6
CONTINUOUSLY PRODUCED FINE WATCHES AT ITS FACTORY IN BIENNE,
SWITZERLAND.  THE HISTORY OF A PASSION
Meylan was an uncompromising watch engineer who strived for perfection
and nothing less. He possessed a profound understanding of both the
demands of the marketplace and the great possibilities offered by the
technological advances of his era.
A century has passed since the founding and 100 years after the creation
of his first Glycine watch, Meylan’s spirit lives on ! Glycine, more than ever,
burns its own trail by creating distinctive timepieces predicated upon the
unique DNA developed by Meylan, always a bit outside of the mainstream. SINCE ITS FOUNDING BY EUGÈNE there. Around 1931, he presented to the world
MEYLAN IN 1914, GLYCINE HAS BEEN market a well-functioning self-winding watch,
Today, Glycine is recognized as one of the real pioneers for world timer and
PRODUCING WATCHES AT ITS FACTORY entirely of his own invention, a sensational
aviation watches as well as high quality watches of imposing size and design.
IN BIENNE, SWITZERLAND. performance that, for lack of capital, could
Since its founding in 1914 by Eugène Meylan, Glycine has remained a not be exploited commercially. Some of these
Meylan was an uncompromising watch engineer
Swiss family company, which is today managed by Stephan Lack.
GLYCINE Eugène Meylan SA self-winding watches
who strove for perfection and nothing less.
can still be found on the collectors’ market.
He had a profound understanding of both the
STEPHAN LACK market demands and the possibilities offered The year 1934 saw the launch of a chronometer
PRESIDENT by the technological advances of the time. Very range, a line of watches passing the exacting
GLYCINE WATCH
soon, he succeeded in producing extremely tests of the Official Swiss Quality Control.
precise, small movements for ladies watches, The depression years of the 30’ s and the
enabling Glycine to put on the market the finest approaching world war took a heavy toll on
miniature movements, clad in precious gold and the company as Switzerland was cut off from
platinum cases, often studded with diamonds. nearly all its traditional export markets.
Glycine became a supplier to the wealthy Yet Glycine survived and even managed to be one
people who valued highly these works of fine of only 29 exhibitors at the Basel Fair in 1938,
craftsmanship. However, Meylan did not stop an annual event the firm has not missed since.
AFTER WW II THE CRISIS
7 8
IN THE 70’S, THE SWISS WATCH INDUSTRY – The market went through a turnaround in its
LATE IN INTRODUCING QUARTZ MOVEMENTS values, a tendency which further intensified as
– WAS HIT BY THE PROLIFERATION OF the price for the initially exorbitantly expensive
QUARTZ WATCHES FROM THE FAR EAST. quartz watches consistently dropped to a level
where it finally drove even the cheap pin-
The technological revolution brought about
pallet (Roskopf) mechanical movements out
by the quartz movement, together with the
IN 1945, WITH THE WAR OVER AND ACCESS In 1953, the AIRMAN line was presented to world-wide recession and a massive increase of the market. Many market shares were lost,
TO WORLD MARKETS AGAIN POSSIBLE, the world market and immediately received an in value of the Swiss franc, pushed many the industry entered into a crisis that lasted
THE INDUSTRY TOOK A DEEP BREATH. enthusiastic welcome. Now, in addition to regular manufacturers to the brink of disaster. six years and cost roughly 60’000 jobs.
local time, world time was available at a glance.
Immediately, Glycine geared up production Glycine too suffered heavily but managed to
The products that had earned Glycine such
and rapidly presented a complete range of The steadily growing class of jet-setters and survive. In 1984, soldering on with a reduced
an excellent reputation, namely high-quality
automatic (self-winding) watches, making frequent travellers readily took to the convenience staff, Glycine was sold to Hans Brechbühler,
mechanical watches and above all automatic
use of the most advanced technologies. of having two time zones on their wrist. who had been working for years with Glycine
watches, were suddenly no longer in general
in a loose cooperation based on the joint
1952 saw the birth of the famous VACUUM The AIRMAN line has never been absent from demand. Customers everywhere were buying
development and exchange of watch models.
chronometers, watches known for their incredible the Glycine selection, and is, today more Japanese quartz watches or American digital LED
resistance to water and shocks, designed for than ever, the spearhead of the range. watches. The lucrative business with highly-
long-term use under hostile conditions. They regarded automatic watches was over, and these
performed well beyond expectations. were now being sold off at give-away prices.
THE COME-BACK MECHANICS IN THE ASCENDANT,
9 10
THE GIANTS TAKE OVER
THE MARKETS WERE NOW READY
FOR WATCHES OF REAL VALUE, AND
FOLLOWING THE PURCHASE OF GLYCINE goldplating much higher than anything the GLYCINE MADE THE MOST OF IT.
IN 1984, BRECHBÜHLER, WHO HAD competitors could present. The sophisticated Beginning in the late 90’s and in quick succession,
BEEN A SPECIALIST IN PRIVATE LABEL super-thin AMARANTH watches received an a rich assortment of mechanical watches, with
BUSINESS, SWITCHED OVER TO THE BRAND enthusiastic welcome in Italy and the USA. steadily growing diameters, was presented to the
WATCH BUSINESS, AN ENTIRELY NEW The new strategies began to pay off in the market, from the 37 mm COMBAT to the 42 mm
EXPERIENCE FOR HIM. PROGRESSIVELY, early 1990’s when Brechbühler’s daughter OBSERVER, the 44 and 46 mm INCURSORE, the
NEW PRODUCTS WERE DEVELOPED THAT Katherina, born in 1962, joined the company 48 mm KMU and, to top it off, the 52 mm F 104,
ENABLED GLYCINE TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY and successfully implemented her own brand one of the biggest wrist watches ever produced.
IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS SCANDINAVIA,
concept, resulting in mechanical products being
Chronographs with the famous V 7750 and 7751
ITALY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM AND GERMANY.
increasingly integrated into the company’s
movements were added, such as the classic 46
A quartz collection was created and an collections. This strategy proved effective in
mm STRATOFORTE, the giant GRAND CARRE 3810
international network of agencies sprang to life positioning Glycine as a specialist, with a long
and the elegant barrel-shaped ALTUS, inspired
again. Extremely resistant watches, such as the tradition in the field of mechanical watches.
by a successful Glycine model of the 50’s.
TJALK and HEAVY DUTY models, were launched
After an initial success in Germany, the first
and added to the prestige of the brand. All these big size watches gave the company
to really accept the mechanical watches
the status of a daring innovator that did
The market accepted with pleasure the on a large scale, the new range of Glycine
not hesitate to push the size of its watches
GOLDSHIELD line, featuring a standard of products spread to other countries.
beyond every dimension known so far.
AIRMAN FOREVER
11 12
ALREADY IN 1953, GLYCINE STARTED Glycine offered a three-time-zone timekeeper, In 2012 Glycine launched the Airman vintage
THE PRODUCTION OF ITS FIRST AIRMAN unique in the field of 24-hour watches. The 1953, which was presented in a legendary In 2014 Glycine is launching the Airman AirFighter, value at reasonable prices is an important part
MODEL, A WATCH THAT HAS BECOME following year, the AIRMAN line was enlarged by wooden box and very well received in the market. a stunning multiple time zone wristwatch with of Glycine’s philosophy. The company’s strong
LEGENDARY. THE DESIGN AND FEATURES a jumbo 46 mm watch, featuring a special locking a revolutionary lefthanded slide chronograph. foundation, coupled with its emphasis on rugged
In 2013 Glycine presented a unique, but not for
OF THIS WATCH HAD BEEN WORKED OUT system on the revolving top ring. In the same year Glycine is surprising the watch and reliable products, make Glycine a respected
sale, trilogy to the world famous Airman No.1 with
market with the Airman Seven, a watch displaying name in Swiss watchmaking today.
IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH PILOTS
At Basel Fair 2002, a genuine world novelty was original case and original Felsa 692 movement.
three individual time zones at once, based on one
OF CIVIL AND MILITARY AVIATION.
offered to the public under the name of AIRMAN 7,
movement.
Undoubtedly this line gave Glycine the status a watch featuring three independent self-winding
of a pioneer in the field of world time watches. movements, showing time simultaneously in four From 1914 to this day Glycine has developed an
Over the years Airman models have never been different time zones on three independent dials. unbroken chain of mechanical watches ranging
absent from the Glycine range, even during the The case measures a stunning 53 mm in diameter from successively more complex world timers to
period when quartz movements dominated the yet fits well on an average wrist. Its sapphire glass unique collectors items.
world market. In reply to market demand, two back allows for a fascinating view of three finely Today, Glycine is active world-wide by means
AIRMAN models with ETA quartz movements were embellished self-winding movements. of a steadily growing network of distributors,
launched, gaining particular success in Japan and The world economic crisis of 2009 and the passing allowing the company to increase production
USA, where demand for real world time watches away of Hans Brechbühler in 2010 brought while maintaining the quality of its products.
had not faded. Glycine again back into difficulties. Widespread and reliable aftersale service remains
The year 1998 brought the long-awaited rebirth of an important factor in the company’s growth, and
In 2011 Glycine was taken over by Stephan Lack who
this leader, with model ref. 3764, AIRMAN 2000. Glycine is taking utmost care to provide impeccable
succeeded in bringing Glycine to the next step.
By using an exquisite ETA movement 2893-2, performance in this field. Offering excellent
13 14
A I R M A N
WHENEVER THE SUBJECT OF AVIATION COMES UP, THE NAME OF GLYCINE
IS MENTIONED AS ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF WATCHMAKING FOR PILOTS
AND FREQUENT TRAVELLERS.
Beginning in 1953, Glycine started production of the Airman, a watch that became legendary
for introducing multiple time-zone watches to the market. Since then, Glycine has developed
an unbroken chain of aviation watches, ranging from successively more complex world timers
to unique collectors items.
15 – 16 › AIRMAN N°1 21 – 22 › SEVEN 29 – 32 › AIRMAN 18
17 – 18 › 1953 VINTAGE 23 – 24 › SST 12 33 – 34 › CHRONO 09
19 – 20 › AIRFIGHTER 25 – 28 › AIRMAN 17 35 – 38 › BASE 22
15 16
AIRMAN
NUMBER ONE
1 › 3944.19.TB9
1 ›
17 18
AIRMAN
1953 VINTAGE
LIMITED EDITION
600 PIECES
1 › 3904.14/66.TB9
1 ›
19 20
AIRMAN
AIRFIGHTER
1 › 3921.18.LB9B 2 › 3921.19.LB960B
3 › 3921.16.LB96B
1 ›
2 ›
3 ›