Alpina

Alpina is a watchmaker with a history dating back to 1883. The company has been developing pilot watches since the 1920s, making aviation an established part of its work. Its Startimer Pilot collection continues that connection today. Alpina also makes sports watches, including models for outdoor activities, diving and people interested in traditional watch designs.

Alpina Startimer Pilot Watches

The Startimer Pilot collection represents Alpina's connection with aviation.

The company began developing watches for aviators in the 1920s. This gives the collection a background in pilot watchmaking rather than simply using aviation as a design theme.

One of the models in its current range is the STARTIMER Pilot Solarmetre.

The Startimer name is part of Alpina's aviation collection, while its other watch families focus on different activities and styles.

For someone interested in aviation watches, the Startimer Pilot range is a natural starting point when looking through Alpina's products.

It also shows how aviation remains part of a company that makes watches for several kinds of use.

A History of Sports Watchmaking

Alpina has been associated with watchmaking development since 1883.

An important point in its history came in 1933, when the company introduced the Alpina 4 sports watch.

That watch brought together four features:

• Antimagnetic properties
• Protection against shocks
• Water resistance
• Stainless steel construction

These were practical features for a watch intended for active use.

Alpina marked its 140th anniversary in 2023. As part of the celebrations, it appeared at the Watches and Wonders watchmaking show in Geneva.

The anniversary also brought a collection focused on the company's history, along with additional mechanical movements.

Alpina Watch Collections

Beyond its aviation watches, Alpina offers several other collections.

The Heritage range includes the Tropic-Proof Handwinding, Carrée Automatic 140 Years and Diver 300 Heritage.

The Alpiner range includes the ALPINER Date Manufacture and ALPINER Extreme Automatic Titanium.

There is also an ALPINER Extreme Automatic Freeride World Tour Special Edition.

These models give customers a choice between watches linked to the company's past and watches developed around outdoor sports.

The listed examples on Alpina's site range from $1,332 to $2,670.

Alpina and Outdoor Sports

Alpina also works with organisations involved in demanding outdoor activities.

The company is an official timekeeper of the Route du Rhum sailing race. This partnership connects its watchmaking work with skippers crossing the Atlantic.

Alpina is also the Official Watch of the FFS and has a connection with Val Thorens.

These activities fit the company's wider focus on sports watches and performance in challenging conditions.

For pilots and aviation fans, Alpina offers a direct link to aviation watchmaking through the Startimer Pilot range. Its long history and wider sports collections also make it interesting to people who enjoy mechanical watches and outdoor activities.