Glycine is a Swiss watchmaker and one of the cheapest brands you can find. So why are glycine watches so cheap? Simple: they’re not as popular as Swiss-made watches, their movements are sourced from Asia rather than Europe, and they use quartz crystals instead of mechanical movements. It’s not that the quality is bad — many people find them perfect for everyday wear — but it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into first.
Table of Contents
Why are Glycine Watches so Cheap?
While Glycine watches are more affordable than other high-end watch brands and feature some truly unique designs, quite a few people frequently inquire as to why these watches are so much less expensive than some other watch brands.
Do not Make Their Movements
Glycine doesn’t make their movements, so they don’t need to manufacture the movement cases and dials themselves. Instead, they source them from China, where many in-house watch brands make their movements with Swiss components. This means that Glycine watches cost significantly less than high-quality Swiss watch brands.
Glycine Uses Quartz Movements Instead of Mechanical Movements
Glycine watches use quartz movements rather than mechanical movements, which is another major factor that affects the price of a watch. Quartz movements are more expensive than mechanical ones, but Quartz movement watches are also significantly cheaper than Swiss mechanical watches. Quartz crystals or the “quartz” material in some instruments and electronic devices, quartz itself is an essential component of watch movements. The other two components are the spring and a regulating mechanism to convert the force of the spring into electrical signals. The more components a watch has, the more expensive it makes.
Is Glycine A Good Brand?
Many people ask whether Glycine watches are good quality watches, so we’ll look at that as well.
Glycine Produces some Unique Designs
Glycine’s watches are primarily famous for the unique designs that they produce. Not only are the designs diverse, but they’re also quite appealing, which is why so many people love them. Glycine also creates different watch styles, including casual and sports watches and even some unusual designs.
A Watch isn’t Just a Watch
Along with the stunning looks comes an attractive price tag as well. Glycine watches are less expensive than high-quality Swiss watch brands because of their quartz movements and other components. However, many people like Glycine watches because of their sleek and modern design and their incredibly good quality (especially at their price), so we wouldn’t discourage you from getting one.
The Brand Has an Interesting History
There is nothing wrong with their design aesthetics, but the brand has an interesting history. Founded in 1999 by a group of students from Lausanne Watch School, much of the inspiration for the Glycine brand was taken from Aesop’s Fables. Because of this inspiration, the Glycine watches are often referred to as Aesop’s Fables or “Aesop watches” because of this inspiration. The founders of Glycine acknowledged the inspiration from Aesop’s Fables in a 2013 article on the brand.
“As part of our research, we studied the stories behind all of our designs to find out what makes them interesting and why people like them,” they wrote. “Contemporary watchmaking is full of heavy and complex designs that are almost impossible to interpret at first glance. We wanted to create stories through our timepieces.
Glycine Watch Collections
When we examine the brand’s design evolution, it appears as though the initial launch was a test, as numerous features were added later. We saw the launch of the Air fighter, an original and futuristic design that received numerous positive reviews.
Glycine Airman Collection
Later, the Airman collection was introduced, including several similar designs with modern finishes and added parts. The first Glycine Airman watches were made with high-quality materials and were constructed from scratch. The cost was significantly higher than other Glycine models, but the quality was exceptional. Since then, more variations have been launched to improve their quality and affordability. Although they’re more expensive than other Glycine models, they’re still very affordable. Glycine also has the Vintage Airman Collection, where they take vintage models from other Glycine collections and make new versions with modern materials.
Combat Collection
They also have the combat collection, including watches with unique designs, materials, and even unique finishes. The Combat Collection is especially popular because it’s one of the more challenging collections on the Glycine website to find. The combat watches are extremely popular in military and sports circles due to their classic design, strength, and dependability.
The Story of Glycine Watches
Eugene Meylan founded the company in 1914 in Bienne, Switzerland. Although Meylan’s company is now best known for rugged men’s watches, the company began by producing extremely small, specialized movements for women’s watches. By the 1930s, he had introduced automatic models and a line of chronometer-certified timepieces. For the modern watch enthusiast, the story truly begins with the launch of the Airman in 1953. As is the case with most people interested in Glycine, this was the first watch that caught my eye. It’s an iconic timepiece that continues to be the standout design in their collection to this day.
Upon its release, the watch was an instant success, having been specifically designed for intercontinental travel. The watch had a 24-hour dial and a GMT function, which enabled travelers in general, and pilots, in particular, to keep track of time in two time zones. Although it lacks the mass appeal of more well-known luxury brands, it is highly regarded among watch collectors, especially after using the US military in Vietnam.
FAQs about Glycine Watches
How can I tell if my Glycine watch is genuine?
Glycine has this answer: “Our manufacturers have declared several trademarks and patents for their watches and movements. In addition, an official certificate from Glycine Company completes every Glycine watches. These certificates are available through our website and in our service center.”
What are the watch features of the Glycine watches?
Special features of Glycine watch models include:
- Newly designed automatic movements with patented parts for long life. These movements have a step-down system that allows for longer than traditional mechanical movements.
- Protections against corrosion such as waterproofing, magnetic resistance, and anti-magnetic properties. Glycine has claimed that its watches have been tested by a series of tests, including shock, vibration, and thermal tests, to verify that they cannot be damaged by water and other types of chemicals.
- Glycine is known for its signature emergency buttons held in place by screws. These buttons can be unscrewed and removed to reveal an emergency button that can be individually or collectively activated to call for help.
- Design: Glycine watches have a sleek, minimalist design that comes in various colors. The cases and bezels are made with high-quality materials such as PVD black titanium and water-resistant sapphire crystal
Is Glycine watch still in business?
Yes, Glycine is still in business. They have factories in Bienne, Switzerland.
Does Invicta own glycine?
Glycine is a separate brand, but they’ve been known to produce limited-edition Invicta watches.
My Glycine watch doesn’t work. What should I do?
Glycine has this answer: “Unfortunately, each watch is made of different materials and parts in different places. As a result, a small component can break or develop problems, such as scratches or dings.