THE BRAND

From the very beginning, as far back as 1883, Alpina has been associated with horological innovation. Whether it was our innovative way of creating an excellent working environment, or through the introduction of new quality control criteria before anyone else, Alpina has always sought ways to improve how things are done.

Alpina History

In 1883, Gottlieb Hauser founded Alpina Union Horlogère which lead to the creation in 1938 of the very first Swiss sports watch as we know it today.

In 1938, the terms “shocks”, “magnetism” and “water-resistance” were still far from the concerns of watchmakers and their customers alike. But Gottlieb Hauser saw further ahead. He imagined a watch that would meet four requirements: shockproof, anti-magnetic, waterproof and made of stainless steel. These were to be the four characteristics of a piece that was to be called the Alpiner 4. And so Gottlieb Hauser and Alpina laid the practical and theoretical foundations of the contemporary sports watch.

The Timekeeper Of Choice For Alpinists

Through strict adherence to these principles and properties, the legendary “Alpina 4” watches became the timekeeper of choice for Alpinists, air force pilots, divers, the navy and the military. In all domains where absolute reliability was critical to accomplish a mission, an “Alpina 4” became the mainstay of reliable timekeeping. The ongoing adherence to the truly innovative “Alpina 4” manufacturing requirements saw the company achieve unparalleled success, it is no exaggeration to say that Alpina was one of the first leading manufacturers of Swiss watches. Today, the ideals and innovation upon which Alpina was founded are still alive in our Geneva manufacture, where we make professional sport watches to the most exacting horological standards.