Alpina Watches

Alpina watches began as a collaborative movement in 1883.  A group that called themselves “The Alpinists” formed to create the perfect watch, the Alpina.  Different members of the group in Geneva, Germany and Eastern and Northern Europe manufactured various parts of the watch.  In 1901 the trade name ‘Alpina’ was registered.  In 1912, the first Alpina Chronometer Glashütte was finalized and this model competed directly against the watch making artistry of the likes of A. Lange & Sohne who even went so far as to take Alpina to court; unsuccessfully.  Continues below...

Alpina Watch Collections

Alpina Avalanche - Avalanche Automatic	Alpina Avalanche - Avalanche Chronograph	Alpina Avalanche - Avalanche Chronograph Automatic	Alpina Avalanche - Avalanche GMT
Alpina Avalanche - Avalanche Regulator	Alpina Avalanche Startimer Chronograph Automatic	Alpina Avalanche Startimer GMT Automatic	Alpina Avalanche Extreme Automatic
Alpina Avalanche Extreme Regulator	Alpina Heritage - Heritage Automatic	Alpina Heritage - Heritage Chronograph Automatic	Alpina Startimer - Startimer Automatic
Alpina Startimer - Startimer GMT Chronograph Automatic

The Alpina brand continued to gain traction after the First World War despite the dissolve of the horology society that had originally collaborated on the watch making.  A new association that required members to apply to join them continued to contribute watches under the Alpina brand name.  The association gathered interest from other parties and in 1929 merged with the American brand ‘Gruen’ to create the largest horology collaboration of all time.  This union was initially successful and included joint developments with Rolex.  However a difference in opinion between Gruen and the Alpina brand in terms of pricing resulted in a dissolving of the union in 1937.

The Alpina watch brand continued to have highs and lows during the second world war, and the introduction of the Quartz movement.  The collaboration never really recovered and Alpina missed the revival of the mechanical watch in the eighties and nineties. Alpina watches were reduced to only being sold in as few as 30 shops in Germany.  2002 brought about the launch of three new collections called Heritage, Startimer and Avalanche.  These collections strive to attract sportsmen of all endeavors and to reflect the strength and character associated with the Alpina watch brand name. 

Dealers:

If you are a dealer for Alpina watches and want to list your website here, please email your request to info@internationalwatchclub.com.  Be sure to include your website url as well as info on any other brands of watches you carry.