Compared to steel, bronze is vastly different in its properties and appearance. Identified from its distinct reddish-brown colour, bronze offers a high level of seawater corrosion resistance and tensile strength, a perfect choice of material for a dive watch. Similar to the satisfaction of owning a well-aged, vintage watch, bronze develops a beautiful patina over time, transforming it to a unique timepiece that holds so much character. With this in mind, Glycine unveiled an attractive new bronze variant to their ever-popular Combat SUB collection - introducing the Glycine Combat SUB Bronze 42 Grey Ref. GL0390 with its all new quick-release canvas strap.

With the landscape of watches getting crowded with the ever-growing competition, many strong players dominate the market to overshadow brands like Glycine. Nevertheless, Glycine continues to produce a wide array of compelling watches that hold their own. Established back in 1914, Glycine was founded by Eugène Meylan in Bienne, Switzerland, a place where countless prestigious watchmakers call home. Meylan was an accomplished watch engineer who strove for perfection and nothing less. Through his strong will and determination, he brought Glycine to greater heights with the successful production of extremely precise and fine miniature movements that were encased in precious gold and platinum cases.

Famously known for their historic Airman models from the 1960s, Glycine has put their watchmaking expertise to create new categories of robust tool watches apart from aviation timepieces. In the late 1990s, Glycine introduced the Combat SUB collection, a series of solid dive watches that have since grown to be well respected by watch lovers for its value proposition and outstanding build quality. Along the years, Glycine added a whole array of designs and colour variations to the Combat SUB line up from classic designs to fancy-looking ones, we’re definitely spoilt for choice here.

As the name suggests, the watch bears a bronze 42mm case that works just right as an everyday diver. The impressive slimness of 11mm coupled with the pleasing curved-down lugs allows for excellent wearability on the wrist. Paired with a lug to lug distance of 49.5mm, the case feels incredibly refined and proportionate, embodying Glycine’s rich watchmaking heritage into its design.

Entirely hand-finished in Switzerland, finishes on the case are executed to a high level of precision with satin brushing on the top of the lugs, as well as the side of the case. Despite the slim case profile, the watch features a capable water resistance of 200m as a result of its screw-down crown and screw-in solid case back - perfect for taking a dip in the pool. Matching the watch, the 22mm supplied Glycine light brown canvas leather strap is a unique choice for one who prefers some military presence. Oh, and it comes with a quick-release spring bar for its wearer to efficiently throw in some strap options.

The deep, warm tones of the case blend exceptionally well with the utilitarian look of the Combat SUB Bronze 42 Grey Ref. GL0390. This is further highlighted on the coffee brown 120-click unidirectional diving bezel with contrasting black-coloured markings. The choice of colours here brings out a subtle yet commanding presence on the wrist, this is something that will truly stand out from the rest of the crowd.

The tasteful cool color combination remains constant throughout the watch, carrying on to the matte grey dial, accompanied with large and prominent indices for a strong dial readability. The dial of the Combat SUB Bronze 42 Grey embraces a simple and clean dial layout without the usual inner 24-hour inner hour markers seen prominently on other Combat SUB models. Printed in a matching bronze color, the minute track and the bronze-colored hands establish a cohesive look that blend excellently with the bronze case. In the dark, the luminous paint glows brilliantly with spectacular low light visibility. Above that, the dial is protected with a flat piece of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with 3 layers of anti-reflective coating on the underside, a treat to see at this price point.

Under the hood, the Combat SUB Bronze 42 Grey Ref. GL390 runs on Glycine’s Cal. GL224 Swiss automatic movement. Based on the ETA 2824-2/SW200-1, this 25/26 jewel movement is renowned for its reliability as a ‘workhorse’ movement with a 4Hz beat rate of 28,800 BPH and a power reserve of 38 hours.

In the sea of bronze watches available in the market, the Combat SUB Bronze 42 Grey Ref. GL0390 in its canvas strap, stands out as one of the most price-competitive Swiss-made automatic dive watches with incredible value for money considering the specifications packed into this impressive piece. While the Combat SUB has been a staple collection for Glycine, giving it a refreshing facelift in its design and materials are especially welcoming for a line up that held its own for so many years.