Alpina is a discreet brand that offers very well-made models. This Startimer Pilot Chronograph Heritage is proof of this. The neat design with vintage and atypical notes, a quality manufactured movement and an unusual single-pusher complication make it a niche watch. Perfect for standing out from the mainstream watches flooding the watch market.

A panda chronograph like no other

The Alpina brand was created in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser in Winterthur, Switzerland. Originally known as the Corporation of Swiss Watchmakers, it brought together several companies in the sector (manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers) with a simple objective: to consolidate purchases and reduce costs to develop new movements. The concept met great success and the Corporation quickly developed its own calibers.
<h2 dir="ltr">History of the Alpina brand</h2>
However, it was not until 1908 that the name "Alpina" was registered by its members as a watch brand in its own right.
The brand's logo is inspired by the shape of the Matterhorn, an alpine peak that rises to an altitude of 4,478 meters. Alpina is recognized as one of the pioneers in the production of modern sports and adventure watches, particularly for activities such as mountaineering, scuba diving and skiing. Indeed, it offers a concept of accessible luxury watches for robust and quality sports watches.
The range includes models such as the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/alpina/alpiner_extreme">Alpina Alpiner Extreme</a>, l'<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/alpina/alpiner_extreme_regulator">Alpina Alpiner Extreme Regulator</a>, l'<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/alpina/alpiner_4">Alpina Alpiner 4</a>, l'<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/alpina/seastrong_diver_300_heritage">Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 Heritage</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/alpina/startimer_pilot_chronographe">Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronograph</a>. The Alpiner 4, launched in 1938, was the favorite watch of mountaineers, air force pilots, divers, sailors and soldiers in general.
The brand is also known for signing partnerships with many players in the mountain world, such as the partnership with the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc ski resort.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does an Alpina watch cost?</h2>
The prices of new Alpina watches change regularly and vary depending on the model. Most cost between $ 1,000 and $ 1,500. An entry-level Alpina like an Alpina Startimer Quartz costs $ 950, while an Alpina Alpiner Heritage Carr&eacute;e 140th anniversary is offered at $ 5,400. Prices also fluctuate depending on the distributor, and promotions sometimes allow you to benefit from a more competitive price. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Alpina.
<h2 dir="ltr">Alpina: A historic brand that has everything of a great</h2>
Alpina belongs to the group<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/citizen"> Citizen</a>, in the same way as brands<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/frederique_constant"> Frederique Constant</a>,<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/bulova"> Bulova</a> And<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/arnold_&amp;_son"> Arnold &amp; Son</a>, and produces around 15,000 watches per year, all models combined. To choose one that suits you best, the Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
Check out the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands</a>, including Alpina.
(Updated March 2024)

La marque Ollech &amp; Wajs a &eacute;t&eacute; cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 1956 par Joseph Ollech et Albert Wajs &agrave; Zurich en Suisse. Albert &eacute;tait charg&eacute; de la conception, de l&rsquo;ing&eacute;nierie et de la fabrication des montres, tandis que Joseph s&rsquo;occupait du marketing et de la vente au d&eacute;tail. Avant de cr&eacute;er leur propre montres sous la marque Ollech &amp; Wajs, ils ont commenc&eacute; leur activit&eacute; en 1954 en fabriquant des bracelets en acier pour d&rsquo;autres marques.
La marque est connue pour avoir distribu&eacute; des montres &agrave; des unit&eacute;s de l&rsquo;arm&eacute;e am&eacute;ricaine pendant la guerre du Vietnam et pour avoir gagn&eacute; sa renomm&eacute;e aupr&egrave;s des plongeurs et pilotes du monde entier.
Apr&egrave;s 12 ans de n&eacute;gociation et apr&egrave;s avoir &eacute;t&eacute; son distributeur pour le march&eacute; fran&ccedil;ais, en 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, un passionn&eacute; d&rsquo;horlogerie, rach&egrave;te la marque. La gamme actuelle comprend des mod&egrave;les comme la Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 et la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104">Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000">Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, la <a title="Page Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph" href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph">Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> et la Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2>Combien co&ucirc;te une montre Ollech &amp; Wajs ?</h2>
Les prix des montres Ollech &amp; Wajs &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre CHF 1,500 et CHF 2,000 selon les mod&egrave;les et les finitions. Comptez CHF 1,456 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI et pr&egrave;s de CHF 2,300 pour une Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronographe. Le march&eacute; de l'occasion est &eacute;galement une opportunit&eacute; &agrave; regarder pour acheter une Ollech &amp; Wajs moins ch&egrave;re. Les mod&egrave;les Vintage notamment les Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron et&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron">Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, sont tr&egrave;s pris&eacute;es des collectionneurs et ils convient de bien se renseigner sur le vendeur avant de franchir le pas de l'acquisition d'une vintage.
Ollech &amp; Wajs est une marque de montres ind&eacute;pendante et produit plusieurs centaines de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir une Ollech &amp; Wajs qui vous correspond le mieux,&nbsp;les avis clients Dialicious sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer chacun des diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients.
Consultez le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_suisses">Classement des meilleures marques de montres suisses</a> dont Ollech &amp; Wajs fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Octobre 2024)

The brand Ollech &amp; Wajs was created in 1956 by Joseph Ollech and Albert Wajs in Zurich, Switzerland. Albert was responsible for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the watches, while Joseph handled marketing and retail sales. Before creating their own watches under the brand Ollech &amp; Wajs, they started their business in 1954 making steel bracelets for other brands.
The brand is known for distributing watches to units of the American army during the Vietnam War and for having earned its reputation among divers and pilots around the world.
After 12 years of negotiations and after having been its distributor for the French market, in 2017, Charles Le Menestrel, a watchmaking enthusiast, bought the brand. The current range includes models like the Ollech &amp; Wajs P-101 and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/p-104"> Ollech &amp; Wajs P-104</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/c-1000"> Ollech &amp; Wajs C-1000</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/ocean_graph"> Ollech &amp; Wajs Ocean Graph</a> and the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does an Ollech &amp; Wajs watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Ollech &amp; Wajs watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,000 depending on the models and finishes. Expect to pay CHF 1,456 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs 350CI and close to CHF 2,300 for an Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron Chronograph. The second-hand market is also an opportunity to look at to buy a cheaper Ollech &amp; Wajs. Vintage models including the Ollech &amp; Wajs Navichron and<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/ollech_&amp;_wajs/astrochron"> Ollech &amp; Wajs Astrochron</a>, are very popular with collectors and they should find out about the seller before taking the step of purchasing a vintage one.
Ollech &amp; Wajs is an independent watch brand and produces several hundred watches per year, all models combined. To choose an Ollech &amp; Wajs that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
Consult the<a href="https://preprod.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands"> Ranking of the best Swiss watch brands</a> of which Ollech &amp; Wajs is part.
(Updated October 2024)

Alpina Startimer Pilot Chronographe Owner Review : Atypical, confidential and singular

A panda chronograph like no other