Alpina Watches

The origins of Alpina can be traced back to 1883. In that year, Swiss watchmaker Gottlieb Hauser laid the foundation stone of the Alpina Swiss Watchmakers Corporation. In its initial stages, Alpina Swiss Watchmakers was not a separate brand. Instead, it was a conglomerate of Swiss watchmakers who were collectively known as the Alpinists.

After spending more than a decade with the Alpina Swiss Watchmakers Coporation, Hauser decided to take Alpina to a new level. He registered the brand name Alpina to sell his in-house movements and timepieces. The formal brand Alpina was born in 1901. However, it took almost twenty for Alpina to make its first breakthrough. By the 1920s, Alpina watches had made a name for themselves and were among the most popular Swiss-made watches.

Alpina watches across the years

Over its 100+ years of watchmaking, Alpina has created some of the most significant Swiss timepieces of its time. Here are the remarkable Alpina models that took the company to fame.

Alpina 4

The Alpina 4 watch was released in 1938, at a time when the brand was making steady improvements in its procedures and manufacturing units. Digit 4 referred to the four qualities of an authentic sports watch - Antimagnetic, Anti-shock, Water resistance, and Stainless steel. Until the quartz crisis hit the watchmaking industry in the 1970s, the Alpina 4 was one of the most well-known sports watches in the world. It found special prominence among working professionals such as engineers and among outdoorsmen such as army officers. Alpina 4 marked what was to come for the company over the century.

1970s and the quartz crisis

In 1972, Alpina Watch International SA was born with the help of German investors. As it was a time of acute crisis in the market, Alpina needed new leadership to wade through the crisis. After struggling for almost 3 decades, Aletta and Peter Stas took over the company in 2002 and changed its course. Just 4 years later, Alpina moved to the newly-built watchmaking infrastructure in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. Then in 2014, Alpina came out with the Alpiner collection of sports watches. One year later, they released the AL-760 Automatic Flyback Chronograph movement and introduced their first smartwatch - the Swiss Horological Smartwatch. Alpina continues to build on this rich legacy after the Citizen group acquired the brand in 2016. Today it is a subsidiary of the Japan-based Citizen group and is one of the best-known watch manufacturers in the world.

Popular Alpina collections

Alpina has four collections that have stood the test of time and proved their quality in a market already flooded with luxury Swiss watches. Here are the top four collections from Alpina explained.

Alpina Alpiner

The Alpiner collection from Alpina is one of its classics. It is a remarkable collection of study and robust sports watches that can endure extreme weather conditions. The anti-magnetic and shockproof properties of these watches help them stand out. The Alpiner Regulator Automatic, the Alpiner 4 Automatic, the Alpiner 4 automatic chronograph, the Alpiner Quartz, and the Alpiner Quartz GMT are the most well-known models from this collection. These watches come with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass, a screw-in crown, and an engraved stainless steel case back. If you are looking for a classic sports watch that combines functionality with aesthetics, the Alpiner collection will not disappoint you.

Alpina Startimer

Alpina Startimer watches are stunning aviation timepieces that are inspired by the needs of pilots and aviators. The most prominent watches from this collection are the Startimer Pilot Automatic, Startimer Pilot Automatic chronograph, Startimer Pilot Heritage Automatic, and the Startimer Pilot Heritage Automatic Chronograph. They come with both automatic and quartz movement variants and have a water resistance of up to 100 meters. The stainless steel case, sapphire crystal glass, solid case back, and screw-in crown distinguish the Alpina Startiimer watches from other aviation watches.

Alpina Seastrong

After targeting the aviation watch segment, Alpina took over the diving and navigation watch segment with the Alpina Seastrong collection. It was meant for divers and sailors who would spend considerable time onboard ships and vessels. These watches have a stunning 300 m water resistance and come with the AL-525 automatic caliber. The most important timepieces from this collection are the Seastrong Diver 300, the Seastrong Diver GMT, the Seastrong Diver Heritage, and the Seastrong Diver Gyre. Each Alpina Seastrong timepiece incorporates premium Swiss luminescent coatings on the hands and indexes for enhanced readability under difficult weather conditions.

Alpina Comtesse

The Alpina Comtesse collection is designed for women and their watch needs. Some of the most popular models from this collection are the Comtesse quartz, the Alpiner Comtesse Sport Quartz, and the Seastrong Diver Comtesse. These watches come in a 34mm case and with matching stainless steel bracelets. Depending on the variant, the water resistance ranges anywhere from 60 m to 300 m. It is one of the most popular collections of sports watches for women in the world.

Alpina watches continue to shine with their innovative designs, ruggedness, durability, and attention to detail. Wath lovers and connoisseurs around the world appreciate and admire Alpina for its consistency and fine craftsmanship. Alpina remains one of the most south after watch brands in the world.