Show us your ALPINA

Tony C.

While we agree completely that the cases were of the highest quality, that is not an entirely accurate representation of what occurred. Yes, Taubert was happy, especially early on, to market some of their cases as Borgel/FB. But those that Mido employed, to use one example, were not marked "FB".

More importantly, while Taubert did use some of the original designs without modifications, they made modifications to others, and to characterize those as "Borgel" is simply inaccurate. Ironically, you mention the Patek ref. 565, yet the case used in that model was patented in the 1930s, well after Taubert had absorbed Borgel. So that was clearly a Taubert case, albeit obviously derivative in some ways.

The most obvious modification was the adoption of the ten-sided (decagonal) design around the edge of the case back. It is one of the most easily identifiable hallmarks of the Taubert/Borgel cases that are held in such high regard, yet Borgel had nothing to do with it!

The brilliant cork-sealing crown system in Mido models was another important Taubert innovation.

So I make the distinction between the two manufacturers not only for semantic purposes.

nashvegas

So this one was my grandfather’s watch from wwII. He was an airplane mechanic in the Pacific. When I pulled this out of an ammo case in the shed over the winter, it was illegible because of scratches and did not run. Hands moved... I cleaned it up with micromesh and metal polish. Polished out the crystal with micromesh and plastic polish. It ratchets and slips when winding, and the rotor only makes one click per cycle. The rotor seems like it needs to be tightened, and It will not hold a wind so I am taking it to a local repair shop to see how much to get it running. It will never be waterproof again because of the case corrosion... but I don’t care. I will get it working and wear it with pride. Just not in the rain 😀

it is a bumper 582 movement and is pretty clean. Of course all original. My grandfather had obviously opened it a few times telling from the scars in the case back. it is marked “Alpina watch Corp. of America”.

Don’t care what it’s worth. It will be my daughters one day and in good running order. The man kneeling in the picture near the propeller is my grandfather. In training. Wearing this watch. 194?something? My dad has passed and my mom does not know about the war at all- so I dont know when he went in. He never spoke of it. All of his military stuff was in the one ammo can.

I was surprised to see the gold movement- my grandfather was frugal- I always knew him to wear a quartz timex. This was the indulgence of a young man going to war and with his first decent money in his pocket...

Do any of the resident experts know anything about this watch? Or it’s manufacture in America? I can’t find any others with this face- close, but not with Roman numerals... nothing about the American manufacture of this watch at all...

Tony C.

Thank you for the background, and related photos of your grandfather's watch. Obviously it is a fine, and meaningful keepsake.

The “Alpina watch Corp. of America” reference is related to import/Customs issues during that period. In order to reduce expenses, various manufacturers employed similar tactics. There was even an "American Rolex Watch Corp." at the time!

With regard to originality, I'm afraid that the dial has been refinished. It is not an important issue, as the watch will be retained for sentimental reasons, but there are clear indications, obvious to the eyes of seasoned collectors, that it is not the original finish.

nashvegas

So this one was my grandfather’s watch from wwII. He was an airplane mechanic in the Pacific.

nashvegas

Thank you! I was wondering about the dial as I had only seen it on the internet with Arabic, not Roman numerals. I cleaned the crystal and case, but have not had the movement out. Hard to imagine when that would have happened unless he bought it that way? What tells you it is refinished? I should be looking for things like that on my search, but I’m a novice of a newbie.

Tony C.

You're welcome! Actually, the Roman Numerals are likely original, as they do not appear to have been printed. The clues are the "Alpina" signature, and sub-second dial. If you compare the signature with others on this thread, you will be able to see that it is rather crudely executed. The sub-dial is clear because originally, the hash marks would have been much closer to the outside, where there point of the sub-second hand would have reached.

Also, the "AUTOMATIC" appears to be poorly centered.

nashvegas

I was surprised to see the gold movement- my grandfather was frugal- I always knew him to wear a quartz timex. This was the indulgence of a young man going to war and with his first decent money in his pocket...

Modest_Proposal

The movement is not gold but a mixture of steel and brass. It's a caliber 582 - an early bumper movement. Enjoy the history.