Watch Wiki

The association, “Corporation d'Horlogers Suisse” (Swiss watchmaker Association) was founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, and was located in Biel from 1890. The aim of this merger of leading manufacturer and traders was cost-effective production and distribution of watches. From 1901, the association was called “Union Horlogère” (Watch Association). There were factories in Geneva, Biel and in French Besançon.

The name “Alpina” was initially used to designate internally-developed calibres. Alpina was a developer and manufacturer of ebauche movements at the Duret & Colonnaz factory in Geneva. The brand name “Alpina” was officially registered in 1901.

“Alpina Union Horlogère” was renamed in 1972 to “Alpina Watch International”. In the 1970's and 1980's, the quartz crisis came and left this company, like so many others, in dire straits. Eventually there was only one German sales office, in Cologne. In 2000, the brand disappeared from the market.

Interest in the famous brand remained in Switzerland, and in 2002, the Alpina name was acquired by the founders of Frederique Constant of Geneva. Their owners, the couple Aletta and Peter Stas, had created a sensation with the rapid rise of their own brand and wanted to rebuild Alpina as well …

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