MD:   Can you tells us a little about Glycine’s history?

HB:   Glycine was founded in Bienne in 1914. In 1934 we introduced a range of chronometers which passed the official Swiss quality control tests. Glycine maintained production through the war years, and introduced a full line of automatic watches in 1948. The first Airman with 24 hour dial was presented in 1953. Like many companies, we eventually embraced quartz watches, introducing our first quartz line in 1969. The first quartz Airman was introduced in 1979. Last year we introduced a new line of heavy-duty watches for sports and military use. Glycine’s ownership has changed hands only once since it was founded, and that was in 1984. Glycine has been in production continuously since its founding.


MD:   Glycine offers very moderately priced watches. Is value part of the Glycine philosophy?

HB:   To offer excellent value at a reasonable price is an important part of our philosophy.


MD:   Can you tell us a little about your own background? How did you get started in the watch business?

HB:   As a very young employee I entered in the service of a watch manufacturer in the “Jura” mountains. Since then I never even considered to change trade.


MD:   Was the Airman Glycine’s first pilot’s watch?

HB:   Yes, in 1953 the first Airman was produced.


MD:   How did Glycine come to be associated with pilots and aviation?

HB:   By courtesy of a private connection and then we got “hooked”. The connection was contacts to various Swiss civil and military pilots, then also contacts and exchange of experiences with USA combat pilots who gave some highly valuable information about the needs of a flyer in his cockpit.