Just like the three Filipino mountaineers who recently stood on the summit of Mount Everest, Alpiner timepieces from Alpina remain the choice of adventurers and sportsmen determined to conquer the world.
Last May, Filipino mountaineers Ric Rabe, Jeno Panganiban, and Miguel Mapalad etched their names into history by conquering the world’s highest peak. On May 15, 2025, Rabe became the first Filipino to summit Mt. Everest since 2007, followed days later by Panganiban and Mapalad in a separate expedition on May 18. Together, they pushed the boundaries of human endurance and reignited national pride, proving once again that Filipinos can stand among the world’s greatest climbers.
This spirit of ambition and perseverance resonates with Alpina, the Swiss heritage watch crafted for those who dare to go higher—and with its Alpiner collection, purpose-built for mountaineering, it stands as the essential partner for reaching the world’s highest peaks. As Alpina returns to the Philippines through The Watch Store, it not only marks a new chapter in Philippine mountaineering, but also a renewed commitment to being the trusted timekeeping companion of adventurers and sportsmen—milestones captured by its newest campaign in partnership with the three Filipino mountaineers.
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Alpina, Over A Century Of Trust
Founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, an independent Swiss watchmaker driven by the pursuit of the perfect timepiece, Alpina was born out of both vision and necessity. Faced with the challenge of sourcing reliable parts, Hauser brought together a union of like-minded Swiss watchmakers who pooled their expertise and materials. This collective became known as the Alpina Swiss Watchmakers Corporation, and its members were referred to as the Alpinists. In time, the brand adopted the name Alpina, establishing itself as an industry pioneer by producing its own chronographs and movements entirely in-house.
The brand quickly gained worldwide recognition for its precision and reliability, even in the most demanding conditions. By 1913, it became the official supplier of chronometers to the German Navy, and by 1921, it was providing time instruments to air forces worldwide. But it was in 1933 that Alpina truly marked a milestone, unveiling its first sports watch, the Block Uhr—an innovative model distinguished by a crown designed to withstand tearing.
The Block Uhr would eventually evolve into the Alpina 4, now regarded as one of the world’s first true luxury sports watches. Alpina defined the essence of a great sports watch through four essential qualities: anti-magnetic, shock resistant, stainless steel case, and water-resistant—standards that remain integral to the brand’s philosophy and continue to define all of its timepieces today.
This commitment transformed watchmaking and established Alpina as the trusted companion of adventurers, explorers, and athletes who brave the most demanding environments. Every Alpina timepiece is engineered with purpose, built to perform at high altitudes, in the depths of the sea, and across the extremes of land and air, ensuring reliability wherever ambition leads.
A New Generation Of Adventurers
Alpina crafts timepieces for those who push beyond limits—just as Ric Rabe, Jeno Panganiban, and Miguel Mapalad relied on precision and resilience to reach the world’s highest peak. With select models now available at The Watch Store, a new generation of Filipinos can embrace the same spirit of adventure embodied by our fearless mountaineers.
The Watch Store presents a curated selection of Alpina collections, led by the Alpiner—the definitive mountaineer’s watch, engineered to withstand the harshest conditions. Each timepiece is meticulously crafted by Swiss artisans, ensuring flawless precision and enduring reliability. For Filipino watch enthusiasts, these pieces offer more than unrivaled accuracy and athletic functionality: they embody a timeless elegance designed to stand the test of time.
The story of Alpina is far from over. In truth, it’s still being written each time an adventurer conquers the world, one mountain peak at a time. As we continue to boldly discover and explore, a timepiece like Alpina reminds us that true exploration begins the moment you wear it. For Filipinos, the summit of Everest was only the beginning. Where will time take us next?
Alpina is exclusively available at The Watch Store website or any of the following stores:
Alpina, The Podium
Tempus, Ayala Center Cebu
Tempus, SM Mall of Asia
The Watch Store, City of Dreams
The Watch Store, SM City Cebu
The Watch Store, SM City Fairview
Visit their Facebook and Instagram pages for more.
Photos courtesy of Alpina
