Alpina - watches & reviews

Alpina designs each of its watches to be the perfect companion for exploration of all kinds. The brand’s sports ethos reflects a desire to scale new heights with genuine team spirit, ‘roped together’ like mountaineers, supporting each other and sharing risks and success alike. It’s a philosophy grounded in absolute trust between those moving forward together, bound by the same ambition. The Manufactory sets radically demanding standards and brooks no compromise.

Alpina was born in Switzerland in 1883 when founder Gottlieb Hauser decided to bring together various players in the watchmaking industry in what was then known as the Union Horlogère Suisse. Based on the principle that ‘unity makes strength’ , his idea was to get different horological trades working together, creating an unrivalled environment in which innovation and reliability could flourish.

Since its earliest days, the brand has been determined not to compromise on its vision of creating timepieces capable of withstanding all extremes. In the early twentieth century, a time when new ideas of all kinds were emerging everywhere, Alpina itself developed a whole series of major advances in robustness and fine workmanship. With a horological focus on watertightness, corrosion resistance, anti-magnetic properties and impact resistance, Alpina became one of the brands pioneering attributes that went on to define modern watchmaking.

Today, each watch is still designed to withstand even the most demanding environments, a commitment that is upheld in three different realms: the air (the Startimer collection), the sea (the Seastrong collection) and the Earth, with the Alpiner collection. Launched in 2023, the Heritage collection further expands the range with a series of tributes to the brand’s legacy and its most iconic models.

Alpina embodies personal achievement and the call of the great outdoors. The brand has built up robust partnerships aimed at supporting outstanding athletes and adventurers, pushing their limits in their quest for further accomplishments. Rooted in a no-nonsense approach and fierce loyalty to its values, Alpina is moving forward without compromise alongside those who dare to reach for the extreme. Alpina is part of the Frédérique Constant Group, which joined the Japanese group Citizen in 2016 to pursue its international expansion and develop new synergies.