Side by side

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief PuristvsPhoibos Wave Master

The numbers, the dial colors, the calibers — laid out so you can stop flipping between tabs.

Airman Vintage The Chief Purist
GlycineAirman Vintage The Chief Purist
MSRP $2,900
Wave Master
PhoibosWave Master
MSRP $309

At a glance

16 of 29 specs differ
Diameter
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist40mm
Wave Master42mm
Power Reserve
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist48h
Wave Master40h
Water Resistance
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist30m
Wave Master300m
MSRP
Airman Vintage The Chief Purist$2,900
Wave Master$309

Full specifications

Case

7 specs
Category
GMT
Diver
Diameter
40mm
42mm
Thickness
12.25mm
14mm
Lug-to-Lug
48.5mm
Finish
Brushed and polished
Water Resistance
30m
300m
Caseback
Solid

Crystal & Dial

5 specs
Crystal Shape
Flat
AR Coating
Yes
Dial Color
White
Black
Indices
Applied
Lume
Luminous
Super-LumiNova

Movement

3 specs
Caliber
SW330-2
SII NH35A
Power Reserve
48h
40h
Complications
Date
None

Pricing

1 specs
MSRP
$2,900
$309

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What people say

Owners + reviewers, side by side

Synthesized for each watch independently from owner discussions, enthusiast forums, written reviews, and video reviewers.

Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief Purist

The Glycine Airman Vintage The Chief Purist is widely praised for its classic pilot watch design and excellent wearability, with owners highlighting its authentic 24-hour dial as a core element of its identity. Reviewers and owners consistently note its accurate timekeeping, with one report stating it keeps very accurate time and another confirming excellent timekeeping. The sun-ray green dial is specifically mentioned as looking great in different lighting conditions, and the lume is described as great for a vintage-style piece. Owners find the purist model's 24-hour dial more logical than GMT versions, and the 40mm size is noted for offering larger, readable dials. One owner calls it the best pilot watch ever made.

From video reviewers

The 24-hour dial legibility is a key strength. Reviewers disagree on the desirability of the current Purist design compared to Glycine's past Airman 18 series.

Phoibos Wave Master

Owners widely praise the Phoibos Wave Master for its attractive wavy dial, bright lume, and comfortable engineer bracelet, with many considering it one of the best-looking watches under $300. The watch features a sapphire crystal and ceramic bezel, and owners report good quality for the price, with a subtle wave pattern on the dial appreciated for its unique style. While some minor finishing flaws like slightly crooked hour markers or an off-center outer ring have been noted, these are generally considered not visible during wear. One owner experienced a clasp breakage after four years, but Phoibos replaced it free of charge. Some owners wish the watch were larger than 40mm, and one notes the GMT hand and other details may not hold up under extreme close-ups. Overall, owners rate the Phoibos Wave Master highly for its distinctive dial and value, especially considering its build quality and features.

From video reviewers

The unidirectional ceramic bezel action is praised. The lume brightness is noted as a weakness. Reviewers disagree on the water resistance rating, with some stating 300M and others 200M.

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