Is Alpina a good watch brand? The last time we examined it, we concluded that it’s pretty good but not for everyone. Well, times have changed — here’s everything you need to know.
Some of you might think I’m referring to German cars when I refer to the Alpina company. Still, Alpina has been making watches since the 1800s. To this day, they still offer some pretty solid Swiss-made timepieces. Yet, outside of the watch enthusiast set, they aren’t a household name like Rolex or Swatch. So, if you aren’t familiar, your next question is likely: Are Alpina watches good?
And if you are familiar, you might think, “They’re good, but not for small-wristed guys.” This was mostly true even as recently as earlier this year. But, they have more to offer than their trademark athletic models. Let’s start with the brand’s rich history.
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Alpina Watch Company: Some History
I’ll start by mentioning that Citizen Watches now owns Alpina. However, like many brands in the Citizen family, Bulova, for example, it has maintained its identity. In fact, I may credit Citizen for many of the cool things happening in Alpina. You get the brand’s original vision but with the resources and horological chops of a major watchmaking and electronics group.
Gottlieb Hauser, a Swiss watchmaker, founded the Corporation of Swiss Watchmakers, a union with other highly skilled watchmakers. Gottlieb wanted to build unique watch models but had trouble sourcing parts. Through this union, the watchmakers could rely on each other for skill sharing and part sourcing.
In 1883, Gottlieb founded Alpina, which started producing its own Chronometers and Swiss calibers in-house. By the turn of the century, Alpina produced movements for several other Swiss brands.
Roots in Function, Leading up to the Present Day
In 1913, Alpina struck a deal with the German Navy. Alpina supplied them with Chronometers marked “KM” on the dial. KM stood for Kriegsmarine, otherwise known as Germany’s World War II naval and amphibious warfare group. The military-issue watches were expectedly spec-forward. Even more, they were often just 33 millimeters in diameter and flaunted silvery white dials and legible Arabic indices.
Alpina would continue to produce and be known for its function-forward models. The company’s aviation style made a huge impact. Alpina started manufacturing Flieger-style watches with large crowns and long leather straps — perfect for pilots since they could wear them over their uniforms for easy reading. They’d make several contributions to watchmaking, which I’ll get to momentarily.
It was also around this time that Alpina began selling watches worldwide at over 2,000 retail locations. In fact, Alpina was one of the first brands to establish global distribution lines, which was a very big deal at the time.
Then, of course, the quartz crisis came. It hit Alpina as hard as it hit most European brands. In the ‘70s and ‘80, several European watchmakers shuttered or started producing quartz watches. Like most heritage watchmakers, Alpina focused on mechanical movements and automatic movements.
Alpina stayed around, though they would eventually be bought out by Dutch entrepreneur Peter Stas and his wife, Aletta, in 2002. They owned Frederique Constant, which would then be bought by Citizen in 2016, bringing both brands into the Citizen family.
Alpina’s Innovations
To answer whether or not Alpina watches are good, I’ll go into what they’ve ushered into the watch world. Today, they’re known for and produce fairly luxurious, high-value sports watches. In fact, many argue they pioneered the concept of the high-end sports watch in general.
Gottlieb wanted to provide spec-forward models to men who were out there doing things. I’m talking about adventurers and mountaineers, technicians and engineers, and, of course, sportsmen. This was his target audience.
In 1933, Alpina released the Block Uhr, a tough stainless steel watch with a durable crown. The crown was patented, as Alpina wanted to protect its dust-free and airtight design. Then, in 1938, a second generation of Block Uhr was born. This was the Alpina 4, a horological turning point.
The Alpina 4 had, as you might’ve guessed, four defining characteristics: Water resistance, anti-magnet, anti-shock, and a rugged stainless steel case. Many consider the 4 to be the first sports watch. Considering these features are still go-tos for brands that build sports watches, it’s easy to see why. I can’t help but wonder if the Seiko 5 line took inspiration from the Alpina 4 line. Certainly, their name formats are similar!
In the 1950s, Alpina released an anniversary model of the Alpina 4 subline. Then, in 1959, the Alpina 4 chronograph came out. At this point, the company’s global reach was growing. In 1969, Alpina released the Seastrong Diver. It was a true diver with a rotating bezel and plenty of water resistance, which rounded out their sports watch collection.
Is Alpina a Good Watch? Noteworthy and Slender-Wrist-Friendly Models
So now you know a bit of history, a bit of brand identity, and why Alpina is, in fact, an important watch brand. Moreover, I want to mention that they offer a pretty compelling value proposition at around $1,000 to around $4,000.
But does this mean that Alpina watches are good for you, specifically? Are they good for small-wristed folks? Let’s look into some popular models and lines to figure that out.
Alpiner 4 Automatic
Of course, to this day, one of the brand’s best-sellers is the Alpiner 4 Automatic. Whether or not someone recognizes the brand name, it’s easy to see it’s a luxury sports watch upon seeing it in person. The solid build, silky dial, flawless applications, and calf leather strap are dead give-aways.
It’s classic yet distinct, proving that Alpina has a unique brand identity. At 40 millimeters, I’d call the size moderate-to-big but reasonable.
Alpiner Extreme Automatic
Let’s move on to the Alpiner Extreme Automatic. At 41 millimeters, this might be pushing it for some small-wristed gents. I always say that 42 millimeters is my limit, so I’m okay with the size. Plus, at 11.5 millimeters in height, it wears quite comfortably.
This watch has the sort of luxury-meets-industrial aesthetic that the Royal Oak does—at a much lower cost. It is available in several variations, from blue to black dials, steel bracelets, and rubber ones. Another feature I love? The exhibition case back, of course.
Pilot Quartz Worldtimer
Alpina’s pilot watches are quite popular. The Startimer Pilot Worldtimer is a perfect example of how quartz watches can be solid choices even for horology buffs. This is especially so if you love sports watches.
The layers of the outer dial and stout crown and pusher deliver a brawny aesthetic. But, like the Alpiner, it’s only 41 millimeters. I think this watch really fulfills Gottlieb’s vision — technicians, science nerds, adventurers, sportsmen, and explorers would all love its design.
Heritage Collection
The Heritage Collection was launched in 2023 to celebrate the brand’s 104th birthday. This charming assembly debuted at Watches and Wonders and gained immense popularity. It celebrates Alpina’s origins and, best yet, serves up some excellent small cases. You can find square-cased models at 39 millimeters by 32 millimeters and classic, everyday watches at 38 millimeters.
FAQs
Do you still have questions about whether Alpina watches are good? No problem. Here are some of the most common!
Is Alpina a Luxury Brand Watch?
If you consider Swiss-made spec-forward timepieces luxury, then yes. Alpina is a luxury brand. They don’t flaunt Patek- or Rolex-level prices. However, their basic quartz pieces are in the ~$1,000 range. Meanwhile, their higher-end models can go as high as $5,000. Price aside, Alpina makes objectively solid watches.
Who Owns Alpina Watches?
Japanese watch and electronics company Citizen owns Alpina watches. They bought Alpina in 2016.
Do Alpina Watches Hold Their Value?
The truth is that very few watches hold their value. However, Alpina’s commitment to quality and lasting appeal makes their watches exceptionally and objectively high value. Consider limited editions and high-demand collaborations if you want a piece that’ll bring a return. If you want a piece that’ll last you forever, most Alpina watches fit the bill. They certainly hold their value in that sense.
Conclusion: More Diverse Than You Think
So, are Alpina watches good? Historically, many would have answered, “Yes, but only if you love sports watches.” Or, many others may have said, “Yes, if you have a bigger wrist.” However, look at the 40-millimeter Alpiner 4 and the sub-40-millimeter options in the new Heritage Collection. I think there are definitely models for us skinny-wristed gents to choose from.
And what makes a good watch brand? Heritage. Check. Horological innovations. Check. Brand identity? Check. On top of that, they’re Swiss-made, offer excellent calibers, and are in the mid-tier of pricing. That’s pretty solid.
Questions? Comments? Let us know in the comments below.
