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Alpina

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Alpina Zifferblattsignatur

Taschenuhr von Alpina

Datei:Alpina Uhrenfabrik Straub & Co.jpg

Alpina watch factory Straub & Co.in Biel about 1910. Now it's Wenger Watch

Union Horlogère Alpina office, Uniongasse 13 Biel/Bienne

Alpina Watches International SA is a manufacturer of wrist watches based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.

History

Everything started in 1883, when Gottlieb Hauser, a watchmaker in Winterthur, founded the Swiss Watchmakers Corporation (“Corporation d’Horlogers Suisses”) to purchase watch components and organize their manufacturing. The concept was an immediate success, and soon, the Association started developing and producing its own calibres. Representations were set up in Germany as well as Eastern and Northern Europe. In 1901, the name "Alpina" was registered as a trademark. From the beginning, it was decided that the Alpina Brand would only appear on the dials of high-end watches. A leap in time takes us to 1938, when Alpina unveiled the Alpina 4. The number “4” stood for four important quality criteria that were united in these watches: anti-magnetism, water-resistance, the incorporation of an Incabloc anti-shock system and a tough stainless steel case. The “Alpina 4” was also equipped with one of the sturdiest watch engines of its generation, the hand-wound Alpina 592 calibre, which continued to be used well into the 1950’s and 60’s. Retrospectively, it can be said that sports watches were the main focus and biggest success of Alpina. Growth was sustained until the seventies, when the quartz crisis violently shook up the Swiss watch industry. The overwhelming emergence of electronic watches left only little room for the brand, which continued as best as it could to bring together the remaining “Alpinists” and keep alive the spirit of the golden age of the venerable brand. In 2002, Alpina was sold to two passionate young watch entrepreneurs, Aletta and Peter Stas, co-founders of the Frédérique Constant. A new collection was presented at Baselworld 2003, setting the stage for the brand’s revival and comeback to the forefront of the watch making scene. January 2006 marked a new turning point in Alpina’s history, when the brand moved to its brand-new headquarters in Plan-les-Ouates, Genève. Today, after 125 years of existence, and to the delight of watch aficionados and collectors alike, Alpina is available again at over 200 select watch retailers throughout the world.

Members of the Union Horlogère

Except J. Straub & Co. were still following manufacturer member of the Union Horlogère

• Kurth Freres, Grenchen (später Certina) bis ca. 1920,
• Duret & Colonnaz, Genf (Rohwerke),
• Adolf Haeker (Gehäuse),
• Lesquereux & Co, (Gehäuse),
• Huguenin - Robert (Gehäuse),
• Ali Jeanrenaud, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Pendants und Bügel),
• Oskar Mistely, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Dekorationen, Guilloches und Gravierungen),
• H. Maumary, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Zugfedern),
• H. Bopp-Boillot, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Zeiger),
• Numa Nicolet & Fils, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Zifferblätter),
• Schwob Freres & Co, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Cyma),
• Robert Frères, Villeret (Minerva),
• L. Rueff & Meyrat, Saint-Imier (Allianz),
• Fritz Moeri, Saint-Imier (Moeris)
• J. Assmann, Glashütte from 1904 for the German market.

Literature

• Die Uhr am Handgelenk. Die Geschichte der Armbanduhr (Gebundene Ausgabe); Autor: Anton Kreuzer; ISBN 3853782000
• Festschrift Alpina Gruen 1933 und Fournitures der Alpina Gruen Gilde Kaliber
• Offizieller Katalog der Erzatzteile der Schweizer Uhr
• Bestfit Encyclopedia of watch material part 1 and 2 1968
• Flume Werksucher 1947, 1952, K1, K2, K3
• Kaliberliste Alpina, Gruen, A-werke, Festa, Novice, Terval; Autor: P.Andriessen
• Archiv Juwelier Andriessen
• Clock and watch trademark index european origin; Autor: Karl Kochmann; ISBN 0-933396-31-7
• Swiss Timepiece Makers; Autor: Kathleen H.Pritchard; ISBN 0-914659-79-0

Address

Alpina Watch International S.A.
8, Chemin de la Galaise
Plan-les-Ouates
CH-1228 Genf
Tel: +41 22 860 0180
Fax: +41 22 860 0464