Escape can be closer than you think.

When I was a child, I travelled a lot within my own country, France. It was worth it, and still is. There are so many places to see, atmospheres to soak up, lands to explore and towns to visit. I went abroad rather late. I had already graduated from law school. In 2016, I took a big step and set off to Peru with my backpack. At that point, I was convinced that the more distant the destination, the greater the pleasure.

Scotland had always appealed to my girlfriend and me. We often looked enviously at photos of its green landscapes, towns and ports. Yet we kept putting off the trip, chasing the thrill of some other far-flung journey instead. In March 2019, we decided it was time to spend a few days in that alluring country.

I chose the Glycine Airman MLV, a limited edition my father had given me a few months earlier, to be by my side during this Scottish journey. I didn't know why I had picked this watch at the time. I just had a feeling it was the right choice. My intuition didn't let me down. The watch was perfect.

First miles, first slap.

First steps on Scottish soil at Edinburgh airport, the hire car picked up, and we crossed the country towards Skye. Scotland gave us what we were after from the very first miles: roads lost in vast landscapes, bright green grass, mountains and rocks under a late-winter sun. I hadn't been in Scotland an hour and I was already blown away by what was unfolding in front of me.

Enjoying the drive through the immensity of the landscapes along a winding road, I glanced now and then at the watch on my left wrist. The resemblance between my Glycine and what I saw outside the car was quite striking.

First, the dial echoes the greenery of the scenery outside. This green comes from the Super-LumiNova treatment of the dial. The indexes and hands are black. Thanks to this contrast, legibility is excellent. Then there's the bidirectional black PVD bezel, which recalls the rocks and mountains surrounding the high plains.

The comparison may not be so far-fetched. As it happens, MLV stands for Mauna Loa Volcano, the world's largest volcano, located in Hawaii. The Super-LumiNova dial framed by the bezel seems to depict a volcanic crater with incandescent lava glowing within. It all makes sense in the dark.

The dial isn't this watch's only original feature. You might notice the 24-hour graduation on the dial and bezel, which lets you read two time zones. There is no GMT hand, however. So how does it work? It's quite simple: this is a "true" 24-hour watch. The hour hand makes only one full rotation of the dial per day. When the hour hand is at the 6 o'clock position, it's actually noon. This way of reading the time is called the "purist version". That said, this watch, like other Airman models, is (or rather, was) also available in a GMT version, with a GMT hand, of course. On the GMT version, the hour hand makes two full rotations per day, but the graduation is exactly the same. In my opinion, this makes it harder to read than the purist version.

From left to right: my "purist version" and the "GMT version" (Credit: "Glycine Airman - Play it Again, Sam!" 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, then on to visit Eilean Donan Castle. So much history has taken place here, and you feel it the moment you set eyes on it.

Glycine, too, has an important history, particularly with its Airman range. The Airman was launched in 1953 as a pilot's watch. It proved popular with pilots and travellers. It has also been worn by astronauts such as Charles "Pete" Conrad, who took part in several space missions.

From left to right: Charles "Pete" Conrad (Credit: NASA) and an American pilot during the Vietnam War.

This pilot vibe is echoed in the movement you can admire through the sapphire display case back. The Airman MLV runs on an ETA 2893-2 movement. Glycine has very nicely decorated the rotor with "Côtes de Genève" and an engraved aircraft that appears to be a stylised Bücker Jungmeister.

Pilot of the seas.

Water holds a significant place in Scotland. There's no Scotland without its lochs. We discovered several spots such as Portree, with its cruise harbour. The colours of the little houses, the wind, the smell and the boats create a soothing atmosphere.

Water is also key to one of Scotland's best-known specialities: whisky. We visited the Talisker distillery. Established in 1830 on the shores of Loch Harport, Talisker is rather special. First, it's the only distillery on Skye. Second, its fresh, peaty water comes not 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 was the discovery of outstanding beaches with turquoise water so stunning you'd hardly believe they were in Scotland.

The Glycine Airman MLV has no fear of water. It boasts unusual water resistance for a pilot's watch: 200 metres. This may well be the most water-resistant watch in the Airman range, whose models are usually rated between 10 and 100 metres. It makes the Glycine Airman MLV even more of a "tool watch". That's why I didn't hesitate to plunge my hands into the water, just to check whether it was as cold as it was clear and blue.

More than that.

Scotland is more than a whisky distiller and a sheep pasture. It will stay with me as a journey that touched my soul and what I long for: escape, calm, nature and hospitality.

In the same way, the Glycine Airman MLV is more than a pilot's watch. It's built for adventure and travel, thanks to its modern features. The range of strap options reinforces its adventurous spirit. This watch is striking, and perhaps not a "one-watch collection", but it makes its wearer want to think outside the box.