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| Date/Report
Number …..03102011.LC-UrR9 Item: WWI ALPINA
PIN-SET POCKET WATCH |
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Description of item: THE FIRST WORLD WAR
PERIOD PIN-SET ALPINA POCKET WATCH, 4 PIECE 875 SILVER CASE WITH ORIGINAL PORCELAIN DIAL
WITH NO NO DINGS & SIGNED ALPINA UNION HORLOGEREORIGINAL ROSE GOLD LOUIS XV HOUR &
MINUTE HAND ORIGINAL STICK WITH TAIL SUB-SECONDS HAND SIGNED UH [Union Horlogère] 107410
0.875 [SILVER PURITY HALLMARK] STANDING BEAR HALLMARK [BEAR IS SWISS EXPORT MARK FOR 87.5%
+/-5% SILVER] [SILVER] HALF MOON & CROWN [GERMAN MARK FOR SILVER] 44 MM BOTTOM TO BOW
TOP WITH DUAL HINGED BACK COVERS OUTER & DUST CASE BACK COVER IS STUNNING A
CONSTANTINOPLE INSPIRED DETAILED HAND ENGRAVED VIRGIN MARY AND BABY JESUS WITH STIPPLING
OUTER RING FANCY BORDERED CHASING STAR/SUN RAYS CENTER MOVEMENT CASE FRONT HINGED
COVER
WITH ORIGINAL GLASS CRYSTAL INNER DUSTCOVER SIGNED STANDING BEAR HALLMARK [SWISS 875 +-
5%% SILVER] 0.875 (SILVER 87.5%) 84 SMALL LION MARK 107410 Estimated Retail Replacement
Value $580.00 |
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time of the examination of the jewelry. This report is for customers use only for the
following two purposes, indicating estimated retail replacement value to obtain insurance
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information on the carat weight, clarity grade, color grade on the report is approximate
due to the limitations in jewelry grading. The item was tested, graded, and examined under
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including fully corrected triplet loupe, binocular microscope, master color comparison
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measuring device, and ancillary instruments necessary at the time of Exam |
Alpina
1883
1883 and German Watchmaker Gottlieb
Hauser
The Union Horlogère (UH) or Vereinigte
Uhrmacher Alpina (VUA) was founded by Gottlieb Hauser1883 as an association of leading
manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to unify the purchase and distribution of watch
and clock parts. Soon genuine calibres were designed, and manufactured by the Alpina
*Ebauche Factory of Duret & Colonnaz in Geneva.
* Ébauche:
an incomplete watch movement which sold sets of loose parts, comprising the main
plate, bridges, train, regulator, winding and setting mechanism without the timing system,
escapement and the mainspring.
1888
Alpina Glashütte 1909-1922
In order also to participate in the German watch-manufacturing
base, Alpina Union Horlogère founded the "Präcisions-Uhrenfabrik Alpina" in
Glashütte in 1909. The Union's factories were now located in Geneva, Bienne, Besançon
and Glashütte and by 1913 the Alpina Chronometer Glashütte equipped with an Alpina
chronometer ebauche with Glashütte escapement instead of the typical Swiss anchor
escapement dialed the 21'' marine watch was purchased by the German navy at the time.
The First World War
During the First World War, major capital flow restrictions and
import/export restrictions restricted cused problems for Alpina. Finally in 1917, towards
the end of the war, the Association "Union Horlogère" was dissolved. Two
separate anonymous societies were incorporated: the Union Horlogère SA in Bienne,
Switzerland and the Alpina Deutsche Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft G.m.b.H. in Berlin, Germany.
After WWI
The representatives of Union Horlogère sold
high quality watches primarily under the Alpina brand. Each watchmaker, manufacturer or
specialized shop that wanted to become a member had to apply. Membership allowed each
representative to benefit from the purchase of Alpina watches. Each member was guaranteed
to be the only Alpina representative in his or her town with the exception if the town was
large enough to support more than one representative.The Association fixed retail prices.
Advertising was entirely paid the Association from its common funds coming from
subscriptions, entry fees and subsidies calculated on suppliers' turnover.
The Alpina Gruen Gilde 1929-1937
In 1929 the American brand Gruen merged with Alpina forming
"Alpina Gruen Gilde SA", the largest community of interests that ever existed in
the horological field. The quality of Alpina and Gruen watches improved. Models such as
the "Doctor's Watch" produced by the Aegler factory -- Rolex later bought the
Aegler factory-- and was distributed under the names of Alpina, Gruen, Alpina-Gruen and
Rolex ("Prince"). But the merger was of short duration. Gruen restricted
Alpina access to its USA members and attempted to sell watches higher priced than Alpina,
the two brands separated in 1937 and Alpina Union Horlogère SA continued
alone.
Alpina's best sellers
In 1933, Alpina presented its first "sports-watch", the
"Blockuhr" in steel- patented a new type of crown (Brevet 1464).-
the "Alpina 4" in 1938 1) anti magnetic, 2) waterproof 3)
Incabloc anti-shock system, 4) stainless steel.
The Second World War
While the Union Horlogère had separated in three legally independent
companies during the First World War, relationships were again under intense scrutiny
during World War II. Import and capital flow restrictions as well as travel problems
suppressed many of its activities. Eventually, the Allied Forces pressed the Swiss Alpina
Union Horlogère to drop usage of the Alpina name in Germany. The German association then
adopted the name Dugena (Deutsche Uhremacher-Genossenschaft Alpina), which became their
new trademark
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