After serving in the market as one of the most sturdy and captivating watches, the Glycine Combat Sub has qualities made for extracting conditions of wear and use. For this article we made a deep Glycine Combat Sub Review, including pros and cons of this infamous divers watch.
Far back in 1914 during World War I, the brand was developed by Eugene Meylan creating extremely precise, small movements for ladies at its factory in Bienne, Switzerland.
In 1953, the brand developed some sort of underground reputation with the Airman watch, which is being part of the Glycine range ever since. But from a humble foundation in the early 20th century, Glycine has built up a watch brand capable of doing things differently to keep their fans proud. The company was however recently acquired by Invicta, which questioned the brand’s future in terms of quality and design.
Regardless, the all-round brand continues to find ways to make forward-thinking and distinctive designs. One of which is the Combat Sub. Even after all these glory years, the Combat Sub is arguably Glycine’s most popular watch. Making up a line of excellent world time watches established through solid aviation links.
Glycine Combat Sub Review
Pros
- Outstanding build quality
- Perfect dimensions to suit both large and small wrists
- High accuracy
- Classic and timeless good looks
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Small Date window
- No drilled lugs
- Large crown
Benefits/Drawbacks
In a world full of Rolex Submariner homages and a lot of copycats, you might be asking if we still need another one. Well, in spite of the name, the Combat Sub may not make the first choice for an exact submariner. It’s entirely a different spec with its unique trademarks for sure. Continue reading to see some of its features.
Outstanding Build Quality
Over the years, the Combat Sub has created a stand for enduring strength and reliability so much that they have become popular among military and sports circles. Equipped with both automatic and chronograph movement housed in rugged construction high-grade steel case, this line of watches should be boasted about.
The Combat Sub doesn’t feel heavy or out of balance. Still, it’s exceptionally built to give an impression as a tough, robust and professional type of watch. The stainless steel case and sapphire crystal ensure the watch’s durability.
It’s very much the same kind of bezel you expect to see on a stylish diver. But the green bezel on GL0091, red on GL0092, brown on GL0093 and GL0094’s blue seem to be a step up from the regular black and silver bezels we see around other dive watches in the market place.
The bezels are positively grippy. Instead of 120 clicks like you find in more expensive watches, this one has only 60 for added confidence and at the same time saving a little on the inners. Better than the usual screw tube, the screw-down crown is large, easy to grip and able to screw in and out without any roughness in the screw thread.
Depending on what you are wearing, you can have the two-tone steel, golden GL0082, black carbon fiber strapped GL0244 and lots more that look the part. But one sure thing is that any of these watches will have a refined look ideal to dress up many outfits. There’s undoubtedly one fashionable enough for your watch collection.
General Style Dial
The dials on the Combat Subs tend to show similar features to the homage – well, except for some slight differences. For starters, the hour markers are a lot smaller with very prominent minute makers in between them. The Arabic numbers included on the dial, including the 24-hour indication, gives an entirely new look to the Combat Sub. Especially if work on a 24 hour time or travel to places where it’s standard.
In terms of simplicity, the dial has a lot going on, but considering the function of each addition – it’s convenient. The hands partially have a Mercedes style, as you will find on the Rolex. However, to be different, it seems a little small, without the three-armed symbols in the middle of the hour hand, and a large rectangle on the end of the seconds’ hand. At least, it’s unique and decent, I suppose!
There are only a few variations within the dials on sub-models of the Combat Subs. Obviously, the design team was having too much fun. The dials come in different colors, but the majority of them have finished matte black, white, and blue colors.
Depending on the hand, some use blocks for indexes and Arabic numbers, others use dots. The date feature on the three o’clock of the dial is small enough and well placed. One good thing is the triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal covering the dial, that’s tough enough to withstand knocks and scratch-resistant. Also, the coasting on the underside adds clarity under different lighting conditions.
Water-resistant
Backed by more than enough years of expertise, the glycine combat sub is water-resistant to 200 meters. Most Glycine Combat Subs have the rotating bezel to help keep track of elapsed time when underwater. The build-up of the solid case back and sapphire glass reinforces the watch’s ability to withstand high pressure underwater.
The 200 meters dive freedom feels like a good bargain. But unfortunately, that’s if you plan to spend only a few minutes down there. It won’t be useful after 15 minutes. Well, unless you’re wearing it only for decoration or as a lucky charm.
The markers provided by Glycine are quite standard with numbers every 5 minutes and 10 minutes markers. These markers are more relevant to avoid running out of air during a dive.
Great Lume Brightness
The Combat Subs uses Superluminova on the hands, and marker – which is as good as it gets. Even the frame around the date window that replaces the three o’clock pointer is no different.
The generously applied lume effectively glows like a torch in the dark. After only a very short exposure to sunlight, you can expect the Glycine Combat Sub to emit a bright glow that lasts long. Good looks are nothing without performance, so on the brighter side, this may just be the best lume watch on the market.
The finishing on the dials is in such a way that the hands, markers, and date wheel will be either darker or brighter to blend appropriately – in the right color combination and can be easily read.
Perfect Dimensions
The diameter of the combat subs measures around 42mm or 44mm, which is the daily camp wear watch requirement of most people. It ranges are 10.6mm thick and 49mm lug to lug, and micro-adjustable flip-lock push-button clasps to be appropriate for many wrist sizes. The slimness, or if you prefer the lack of thickness of the range of watches from Combat Sub, make it comfortably wearable under a shirt cuff.
The Glycine Combat Sub offers several models to choose from. Some are very subtle, while others are dressier. Some come with stainless steel bracelets, leather or rubber straps, and a selection of color combos, straps, styles, and finishes.
High Accuracy
Nothing too spectacular! These days, most Swiss watchmakers do not produce their movement; Glycine is not any different. The robust divers designed Combat Sub features the ETA 2824, also known to the brand as Glycine’s GL224 Swiss-made automatic movement. Combat Sub offers a 38-hour power reserve and a sweeping seconds hand vibrating at 28,800 beats per hour.
As expected, it’s a reliable workhorse, with bidirectional winding, quickest date change, 25 jewels, and hack features. Put together, it’s not overhyped with anything too special, but it’s quite impressive at this price range.
Classic and Timeless Good Looks
Though the glycine watches are absolute stunners, the Combat Sub is a little bit more special. With new versions released seemingly every year, each model comes with some variation, including the barely readable contrast of the recent stealth models. But you can easily spot any of them having a solid stainless steel case, excellent legible dial and sapphire crystal.
As expected from a Glycine product, the finishing is of high-quality, brushed on top and polished to the sides to a very high standard. There’s the leather, rubber, or stainless steel bracelets. It’s all based on your choice. For the casing, there are no extremely distinguishing characteristics. Just the regular well-finished stainless steel that you’ve seen several times.
With the busy design and color schemes, a lot is happening on each Combat Sub. The “modern classic” model with the signature Glycine logo (looking like Aston Martin’s) on the case back can’t be ignored.
After a look at any one of these watch brand, the seductive line of beauty will instantly take any watch enthusiast or diver. It works out as an astonishing diver piece.
Excellent Value for Money
The Glycine is a decent timepiece suitable for anyone requiring quality with excellent value for money. Plus, it’s easily affordable. You might not need to refer to this line as ultra-affordable, but for the price, it offers a lot.
With the Combat Sub, which they seem to re-invent now and again, they have offered various high-quality timepieces into the market. This perception of value already explains why the watch is so popular amidst most categories.
Best to include this beauty to your watch collection as it doesn’t stop as a dive watch. It’s also suitable for other non-related uses.
Conclusion
The entire Combat Subs passes with flying colors. There are variations on each sub-model. However, they look so closely related. Showing quality on every piece.
The look, the ruggedness, reliability, accuracy, perfect dimensions meets up to the expected standards. It feels comfortable and works with all outfits from shorts to T-shirts to cooperate suit and tie. If you need a mid-range diver’s watch that fits your budget, the Combat Sub is your best option for now. Check out the glycine watches review for more on the brand.
