Alpina

Alpina was founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser when he formed the Alpina Swiss Watchmakers Corporation (Union Horlogere), uniting independent Swiss watchmakers. In 1890, the Union established headquarters in Biel/Bienne. The name 'Alpina' was first registered in 1901 to mark the Union's highest quality movements, and used as a brand name from 1908. By 1912, Alpina manufactured its first chronometer, with the German navy purchasing them the following year. The Block Uhr sports watch appeared in 1933, evolving into the Alpina 4 in 1938, featuring four key characteristics: antimagnetic, antishock, water-resistant, and stainless steel. The Seastrong Diver 10 debuted in 1969. The quartz crisis hit the company hard. Dutch entrepreneur Peter Stas, founder of Frederique Constant, acquired Alpina in 2002. In 2016, the Frederique Constant Group was acquired by Citizen Watch Co.