When I was a child, I traveled a lot in my own country, France. It is worth it and still is. There are many places to see, atmospheres to feel, lands to explore and towns to visit. I went abroad quite lately. I was already graduated from Law school. In 2016, I made a big step. I went to Peru with my backpack. At that moment, I was sure that the more distant the destination, the greater the pleasure.
Scotland always attracted my girlfriend and I. We watched quite often photos of its green landscapes, towns and ports with envy. However, we postponed often its visit, looking for the excitement of another very distant journey. In March 2019, we decided it was time to make a trip a few days in this attractive Scotland.
I choose the Glycine Airman MLV, a limited edition that my father offered me a few months sooner, to be by my side during this journey in Scotland. I did not know why I had picked up this watch at the moment. I just had the feeling it was the right choice. My intuition did not betrayed me. This watch was perfect.
First miles, first slap
First step on the Scottish ground at Edimbourg airport, the rented car picked up, we crossed the country towards Skye. Scotland gave us what we were looking for from the first miles : roads lost in huge landscapes, bright green grass, mountains and rocks under a late winter sun. I was not in Scotland for one hour that I was already blown by what was happening in front of me.
Enjoying the drive in the vastness of the landscapes we were crossing thanks to a winding road, I sometimes glanced at my watch, sitting on my left wrist. The resemblance between my Glycine and what I saw outside the car was pretty striking.
First, the dial recalls the greenness of the outdoor decor. This green is due to the Superluminova treatment of the dial. Indexes and hands are black. Thanks to this contrast, the readability is optimal. Then, the black PVD bidirectional bezel, reminds the rocks and mountains surrounding the high plains.
The comparison might not be so convoluted. As a matter of fact, MLV stands for Mauna Loa volcano, the world's largest volcano located in Hawaï. Therefore, the SuperLuminova dial surrounded by the bezel seems to represent a volcanic crater where incandescent lava is floating. This make sense in the darkness.
The dial is not the only originality of this watch. You might notice the 24 hours graduation on the dial and the bezel enabling to read two time zones. However, there is no GMT hands. How does this work then ? This is quite simple : this watch is a "true" 24 hours watch. The hour hand makes only one complete circle of the dial per day. When this hour hand is at 6 o'clock position, it is actually noon. This type of time reading is called "purist version". However, this watch, like other Airman models, is (was actually) available in a GMT version, obviously with a GMT hand. On the GMT version, the hour hand makes two complete circle of the dial per day but the graduation is exactly the same. In my opinion, this makes the readability more complicated than on the purist version.
From left to right : my "purist version" and the "GMT version" (Credit: "Glycine Airman - Play it again Sam!" written by André Stikkers, photography by Eddie Boschma & Lucas Canepa)
Full of history
We made many stops on our road trip. One of the first was fort William to visit Eilean Donan Castle. This is where many historical facts took place and you feel it the moment you look at it.
Glycine has also an important history, in particular with its Airman range. The Airman was introduced in 1953 as a pilot's watch. It has been successful for pilots and travelers. It has also been worn by astronauts such as Charles “Pete” Conrad who participated to several space missions.
From left to right : Charles “Pete” Conrad (Credit : NASA) and an American pilot during Vietnam war.
This Pilot vibe is recall on the movement you can observe through the sapphire display case back. The Airman MLV runs an ETA 2893-2 movement. Glycine decorated very nicely the rotor with the "côtes de Genève" and an engraved aircraft which appears to be a stylized Bucker Jungmeister.
Pilot of the seas
The water has a significant place in Scotland. There is no Scotland without the lochs. We discovered several lochs such as Portree with its cruise port. The colors of the small houses, the wind, the smell and the boats provides a soothing atmosphere.
The water is also important for one of Scotland's best-know specialities: whisky. We visited Talisker distillery, Established in 1830 on the shores of Loch Harport, Talisker is quite special. First, this is in the only distillery on Skye. Second, its fresh and peaty water does not come from streams or rivers but from the 21 underground springs of Hawk Hill just steps from the distillery.
Scotland rewarded us with many surprises. One of them was the discovery of outstanding beaches with amazing turquoise water that you would not believe they are in Scotland.
The Glycine Airman MLV does not fear water. We can indeed rely on an unusual water resistance for a pilot watch. The Airman MLV is 200 meters water resistant. This may be the most water resistant watch in the Airman range, the models of which are usually water resistant from 10 to 100 meters. This makes this Glycine Airman MLV even more a "tool watch". This is why I did not hesitate to push my hands in the water, just to check if it was as cold as clear and blue.
More than that
Scotland is more than a whisky distiller and a sheep garden. Scotland will remain a journey that reached my soul and my aspiration : escape, quiet, nature and hospitality.
In the same way, the Glycine Airman MLV is more than a pilot's watch. This is built for adventures and travels thanks to its modern features. The strap possibilities reinforce its adventurer soul. This watch is cleaving and maybe not a "one watch collection" but it makes the wearer want to think outside the box.
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