The 1965 Glycine Airman (Reference 314050) is a quintessential pilot's watch, famously favored by U.S. military pilots during the Vietnam War. Glycine’s first 24-hour watch was developed and launched in the USA. In the 1950s a new model was developed and presented within four months. At first there was only the white version with pencil hands and the PM/AM model. It was a success in the USA and further feedback provided the necessary adjustments to turn it into a world hit. It also reached outer space in 1965 on astronaut Pete Conrad's wrist during the NASA Gemini 5 mission. It is most likely that around 1955 the black version with the famous arrow hand was presented in Basel.

• Rolex launched one of the first GMT watches with two hour hands in 1954. Glycine therefore was a trendsetter in the field of pilot watches. The Airman could display two time zones with just one hour hand and was therefore easily manufactured without extra costs for the consumer.

This background gives us a better understanding as to why this small watch, displaying only 24 hours, was sold with tremendous success in a 12 hour dominated watch world. It was the world getting smaller. The civil airlines and their growing number of passengers demanded a modern watch that was equipped with: -black 24-hour dial with luminous hands and markings for clear visibility -rotating bezel for setting a second time zone -W. Germany made Bracelet -date display -arrow hour hand -automatic movement -waterproof