Alpina

Who are Alpina?

Alpina is a Swiss sports-watch brand based in Geneva. It began in 1883 as the Alpina Union Horlogère, a union of independent Swiss watchmakers founded by Gottlieb Hauser (Monochrome Watches), and since 2016 it has belonged to the Japanese watchmaker Citizen, through the Frederique Constant group (Time and Watches). This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a second-hand Alpina in the UK.

Alpina makes mechanical and quartz watches (its range includes models such as the Startimer Pilot Quartz Worldtimer), and since 2015 connected watches with analogue dials (Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant). Its current range is grouped into Alpiner, Startimer, Seastrong and Heritage (Alpina).

The history of Alpina

Alpina’s history runs from a watchmakers’ union in the 1880s, through a run of sports watches from the 1930s to the 1960s, to near-closure in the quartz era and a revival in 2002 under the founders of Frederique Constant.

The union. Monochrome Watches dates Alpina to 1883, when Gottlieb Hauser founded the Alpina Union Horlogère to bring together independent Swiss watchmakers. The Grail Watch Wiki, which describes itself as incomplete, says the cooperative was actually set up on 23 May 1886 and that 1883 was adopted later as the founding date. In 1890 the union moved its headquarters to Biel/Bienne, where member Jacob Straub ran a movement factory, and in 1901 Straub registered the name Alpina for the union’s highest-quality calibres. From 1908 Alpina was the brand name for its watches, and the red triangle emblem first appeared (Monochrome Watches).

Gruen. Alpina worked closely with the American watch company Gruen. Monochrome Watches dates a joint venture to share distribution and production to 1929; the Grail Watch Wiki puts Gruen’s first involvement earlier, around 1905.

Sports watches. Alpina’s first sports watch, the Block Uhr, came in 1933. In 1938 the Alpina 4 was built to four requirements: antimagnetic, antishock, water-resistant and stainless steel (Monochrome Watches; Watchonista). Calibre 582, Alpina’s first automatic movement, followed in 1945, the Alpina 4 Chronograph in 1959, and the Diver 10 Seastrong, rated to 200 metres with two crowns, in 1969 (Monochrome Watches; Watchonista).

The quartz era. Monochrome Watches says the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 1980s hit Alpina hard and nearly closed it. Watchonista says the brand was revived in 2002 “after about 30 years”.

Revival. In 2002 Peter and Aletta Stas, who founded Frederique Constant in 1988, acquired Alpina (Watchonista; Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant). The Alpiner Extreme line began that year as the Avalanche Extreme (Watchonista). Alpina moved to a new manufacturing site in Geneva in 2006 (Monochrome Watches), and in 2008 it showed the AL-950, an automatic regulator movement described as its first in-house calibre since the revival, in a 125th-anniversary watch (Gressive). Other in-house movements followed, including the AL-980 tourbillon, AL-718 world timer, AL-710 small date and, in 2015, the AL-760 flyback chronograph (Monochrome Watches).

Citizen and connected watches. In 2015 Alpina and Frederique Constant introduced the Horological Smartwatch, which uses a small analogue sub-dial rather than a screen (Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant). On 26 May 2016 Citizen Watch Co. announced an agreement to acquire Frederique Constant Holding SA with its brands Frederique Constant, Alpina and DeMonaco (Time and Watches). The AlpinerX followed in 2018, launched on Kickstarter (Monochrome Watches), and in 2022 Alpina redesigned the Alpiner Extreme Automatic and Alpiner Extreme Regulator Automatic (Watchonista).

What is Alpina known for?

Alpina is known for early sports watches, especially the 1938 Alpina 4, for the red triangle emblem, for the Seastrong dive watches, and since 2015 for analogue connected watches.

The Alpina 4. Alpina presents the 1938 Alpina 4 as the start of its sports-watch line, built to be antimagnetic, antishock, water-resistant and in stainless steel (Monochrome Watches). The Alpina site credits the brand with “setting the standards of the modern sports watch” in 1933, the year of the Block Uhr (Alpina; Watchonista).

Movements. Alpina uses both supplier movements and its own. The Alpiner Extreme Automatic of 2022, for example, uses the AL-525, which Watchonista describes as based on the Sellita SW200-1. Alpina’s own calibres, developed since the revival, include the AL-950 regulator (Gressive) and the AL-760 flyback chronograph (Monochrome Watches). The AL-950 shares its base with Frederique Constant’s FC-700 family, according to the Grail Watch Wiki and Watchbase. Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains what the difference means.

Connected watches. The Horological Smartwatch of 2015 shows its connected information on an analogue sub-dial rather than a screen; Wikipedia says its battery lasts two years or more and that its technology was licensed from Fullpower Technologies. The AlpinerX of 2018 extended the idea (Monochrome Watches).

Which Alpina collections are there?

Alpina’s current range is grouped into Alpiner, Startimer, Seastrong and Heritage, with collaborations listed separately (Alpina).

The collections table on this page gives a line on each family. A few points help when you read listings:

• Alpiner and Alpiner Extreme. The Alpiner Extreme is a line within the Alpiner family; the 2022 Automatic has a 41 mm by 42.5 mm case rated to 200 metres (Watchonista). Mid-2000s Alpiner Extreme references reached 48 mm (Watchonista), so check the reference rather than the family name.
• Mechanical, quartz or connected. One family can include all three. Read the full model name: “Automatic”, “Quartz”, “Manufacture” and “Smartwatch” mean different movements and different servicing.
• Seastrong. The modern Seastrong divers draw on the 1969 Diver 10 Seastrong (Monochrome Watches).

Who owns Alpina?

Alpina is owned by Citizen Watch Co., the Japanese watchmaker. Citizen announced on 26 May 2016 that it had agreed to acquire Frederique Constant Holding SA, which owned Frederique Constant, Alpina and DeMonaco, and said the brands’ management and staff would keep their positions (Time and Watches). Wikipedia describes the deal as a leveraged buyout accepted by the Stas couple.

The trading company is Alpina Watch International S.A. (Alpina). Alpina shares its Geneva base in Plan-les-Ouates with Frederique Constant (Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant).

Buying an Alpina watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check which movement the watch has, whether the warranty certificate is present and stamped, the service history and, for connected models, that it still pairs and works; then run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Alpina’s warranty is valid only with a certificate signed, dated and stamped by an authorised Alpina retailer, with the watch’s reference and individual number written on it (Alpina). Check those numbers against the case. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Warranty. Alpina’s international warranty runs for two years from purchase and is void if the watch has been serviced or repaired outside an Alpina-approved service centre (Alpina). Alpina’s US site gives three years for watches bought in the US, Canada and Caribbean duty-free markets. Alpina’s page does not say whether the warranty passes to a second owner. See watch warranties explained.

3. Movement. Ask the seller which calibre the watch has. A supplier-based movement such as the AL-525 and an Alpina in-house calibre are serviced differently, and a quartz or connected model needs a battery rather than a mechanical service. Our guide to mechanical and quartz watches sets out the differences.

4. Connected models. For a Horological Smartwatch or AlpinerX, ask the seller to show it pairing with the app before you pay, and confirm it has been removed from their account.

5. Dive watches. If you plan to swim with a Seastrong or Alpiner Extreme, ask when the water resistance was last tested; our water resistance guide explains why the dial rating is not enough on a second-hand watch.

6. Authenticity and theft. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what they look at, and our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers to search before you pay.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Alpina?

Citizen Watch Co. of Japan. Citizen announced in May 2016 that it had agreed to buy Frederique Constant Holding SA, the owner of Alpina, Frederique Constant and DeMonaco (Time and Watches).

Is Alpina part of Frederique Constant?

Alpina is a sister brand of Frederique Constant. Frederique Constant’s founders, Peter and Aletta Stas, acquired Alpina in 2002, and both brands have belonged to Citizen since 2016 (Watchonista; Time and Watches).

When was Alpina founded?

Alpina gives 1883, when Gottlieb Hauser founded the Alpina Union Horlogère (Alpina; Monochrome Watches). The Grail Watch Wiki says the cooperative was formally set up in 1886.

Where are Alpina watches made?

In Geneva, Switzerland. Alpina moved to a new manufacturing site there in 2006 (Monochrome Watches), and the Frederique Constant group is based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva (Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant).

Does Alpina make its own movements?

Some. Alpina has developed its own calibres since the AL-950 of 2008 (Gressive; Monochrome Watches). Other models use supplier-based movements; the AL-525 is based on the Sellita SW200-1 (Watchonista).

What was the Alpina 4?

A sports watch of 1938 built to four requirements: antimagnetic, antishock, water-resistant and stainless steel (Monochrome Watches).

What is the Alpina Horological Smartwatch?

An analogue watch introduced in 2015 with connected functions, shown on a sub-dial rather than a screen (Wikipedia, Frédérique Constant).

How long is the Alpina warranty?

Two years from purchase under Alpina’s international warranty, with a certificate stamped by an authorised retailer (Alpina).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Alpina.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.