Glycine

Founded in 1914 by Eugène Meylan in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, Glycine initially specialized in miniature movements and elegant women's watches before expanding into men's timepieces. In 1930, Glycine produced the first mass-produced automatic watches using Meylan's patented EMSA module. The brand's defining moment came in 1953 when it created the Airman at the request of pilot Chat Brown—the first watch to display two time zones simultaneously. The Airman became iconic among military aviators, particularly USAF pilots during Vietnam. In 1959, Glycine developed vacuum-sealed cases for enhanced durability. Astronaut Pete Conrad wore his Airman during the Gemini 5 (1965) and Gemini 11 (1966) spaceflights, making it the first automatic watch exposed to outer space. The company survived the quartz crisis by adapting with LED and quartz offerings. After passing through several owners, Glycine was acquired by Invicta Watch Group in 2016, continuing production at its original Bienne facility.