Many hands make light work and that’s certainly the case for Swiss watchmaker Alpina and the story behind the brand’s birth. Independent watchmaker, Gottleib Hauser found it particularly difficult to source watch parts and components during the 1880s, so he formulated an idea. He would create a community of experienced Swiss watchmakers who would share their parts, materials and ideas with one another. These united Swiss watchmakers became known as Alpinists. Calibres and chronometers were soon developed and distributed to other watchmakers and Alpina the company was formed in 1901. Situated 4,478 meters above sea level and overlooking the Swiss town of Zermatt is Mount Matterhorn, of which the Alpina logo brand takes inspiration from, featuring a triangular shape that is now emblazoned onto every single Alpina watch dial.
In 1913 Alpina became the supplier of chronometers for the German Navy, followed by the supplier of accurate timekeeping instruments for military pilots used throughout the Air Force. The company also became the first to introduce an international watch guarantee with its products, demonstrating the brand’s unwavering confidence in the performance and reliability of its watches. In 1933 Alpina created its first sports watch in a robust steel casing. It featured a new patented crown that screwed into the case to reduce the amount of moisture and dust able to enter the internal parts of the watch. Five years later, the Alpina 4 watch was announced. The number 4 in its name referred to four key features that defined this timepiece. Anti magnetic, waterproof, anti shock and stainless steel. The watch was powered by one of the industry’s sturdiest movements, the hand wound Alpina 592 calibre.
In 1953 Alpina celebrated its 70th anniversary with the Alpina 70 watch, a timepiece that again incorporated the four integral elements of the archetypal Alpina sports watch, but also boasted an eye catching golden logo on its dial. Fast forward another 8 years and Alpina released a chronograph version of the Alpina 4. The design came with a telemeter, enabling the wearer to calculate the distance separating him from the place where a visible phenomenon occurred such as a fork of lightning in the sky, or the distance of a ski or run using the speed of sound. The Alpina watch with its robust profile and high-quality calibre became recognised as a benchmark in quality and precision throughout the Swiss watch industry.
The Alpina 10 Diver Seastrong watch was released in 1969 which was met with resounding success just before the crushing blow of the quartz crisis in the 70s. It featured a 60 minute rotating diver bezel, a rugged 200 meter water resistant case and anti magnetic technology to preserve the performance of its self winding movement. After Alpina reduced its company right down to a minimum, it was the work of a Dutch entrepreneur, Peter Stas who saved the manufacturer from retreating into the shadows completely. Production resumed and has continued to release expert military, sports and aviation wristwatches ever since, even after Frederique Constant purchased Alpina in 2002.
Over the last decade, Alpina has released the highly anticipated Alpiner X watch, A hybrid smartwatch featuring an altimeter, barometer, connected GPS, compass, UV indicator and a thermometer. In addition to these features, it assists the wearer with adhering to a healthy lifestyle with innovative features like Activity Tracking, Dynamic Coach, Sleep Monitoring and Smart Alarms. Alpina’s current watch collection is as varied and as appealing as ever with watches featured in our C W Sellors collections that include the Startimer, Smartwatch, Seastrong and Alpiner. Each watch is available to purchase online, complete with a genuine presentation box, paperwork and manufacturer warranty.
