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Alpina Watches International SA is a manufacturer of luxury wrist watches based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1883〔(Watch-Wiki:Alpina Watches )〕 by Gottlieb Hauser, a watchmaker in Winterthur who founded the Swiss Watchmakers Corporation ("Union Horlogère Suisse"). It is currently owned by Frederique Constant SA. == History == A number of watchmakers joined together as the ''Union Horlogère Suisse'' to purchase watch components and organize their manufacturing. All representatives of Union Horlogère depended on the Association, which aimed to sell high quality watches under the Alpina brand. Quickly, the new concept gained acceptance. Together with qualified manufactures, the Association started to develop its own calibres and to enlarge its distribution network. In 1912, the first Alpina Chronometer Glashütte was finalized and this model competed directly against the watch making artistry of the likes of A. Lange & Sohne who even went so far as to take Alpina to court – unsuccessfully. The company generally managed its business well until the 1970s, when quartz watch movements emerged and had a severe effect on the entire Swiss watch industry. Alpina was unable to counter the emergence of electronic watches. Other major brands got together to form groups (predecessor of the Swatch Group), but Alpina tried to fight it alone without really succeeding. In 1972, Alpina Watch International SA was incorporated with new German investors, which purchased all shares in Alpina Union Horlogère SA. Alpina was a respected maker that fell victim to the quartz crisis of the 80s, forced to shut its doors due to lack of demand in the face of less expensive, more precise timepieces. In 2002, Alpina Watch International SA was acquired by Frédérique Constant SA, and Alpina watches were relaunched worldwide.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 A Week On the Wrist )〕 Named "Régulateur 1883" in reference to the year Alpina was founded, Alpina introduced a new model in 2005. The "regulator" dial is distinguished by having an off-centred hour display at 10 o'clock – an exclusive Alpina feature.〔(Time )〕 In 2008, Alpina Genève celebrated its 125th anniversary with the inauguration of the first movement to be made entirely in its own workshops.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Alpina - A Brand History )〕 Alpina first introduced its "4" line of sports watches in 1938, bringing together four themes: anti-magnetism, anti-shock, water resistance, and stainless-steel construction. The Alpina 4 was one of the very first Swiss sports watches to appear, helping to set the tone for following generations. In 2014, Alpina brought this concept back with the introduction of the new Alpiner 4 watches, available in both GMT and chronograph models. The new watches cover all four of the original requirements first set forth in 1938.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Introducing The Alpina Alpiner 4 )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Introducing The Alpiner 4 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alpina Watches」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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