Alpina  Comtesse  Watches

Alpina Comtesse: Swiss, Sporty, and Chic

Alpina started making watches in the late 1880’s. Not long after, in the 1920s, the brand introduced its own line of ladies’ watches. This idea became a hit and spread like wildfire. By the 1960s, Alpina introduced yet another ladies’ watch brand. Known as the Alpina Comtesse, this line of watches was designed to capture the simplicity, character, and elegance of Swiss watchmaking. It also aimed to intertwine sporty disposition with feminine design. 

The Alpina Comtesse collection was and still continues to be a success. This is a line of watches with high-performing AL-240 calibres and distinctly simple but feminine styles. 

Prices at a Glance: The Most Popular Alpina Comtesse Watches

How much does an Alpina Comtesse watch cost?

The Alpina Comtesse collection debuted in 1963 to much success. Having struck a balance between sporty and opulent, the Comtesse collection understood the multifaceted nature of women. As such, it makes sense for this line of watches to keep growing. There are many ways a woman can timekeep; they may want to do this while climbing a mountain, going on an oceanic adventure, or even just while settling a board meeting. This collection has a watch for all of these scenarios. 

Prices for the Alpina Comtesse Classic Watches 

Resting inside a 34mm casing is Alpina’s reliable and stylish timepiece. A classic Alpina Comtesse watch like the Alpina Comptesse AL-240MPW2C6B boasts an Alpina AL-240 calibre and a water resistance of 100 meters. Capturing the very essence of the Alpina Comtesse collection’s sporty nature, this watch can be worn anywhere and everywhere. 

Unabashedly feminine, this watch also features a white Mother of Pearl dial and silver indexes. The AL-240MPW2C6B also comes with a stainless steel bracelet and a date window, aptly balancing luxury and sport. A classic Alpina Comtesse Quartz White Dial Ladies Watch costs around $400 USD. This cements Alpina Comtesse as a luxury sports collection made for a classy lady. 

Prices for the Alpina Comtesse Horological Smartwatches

Beyond this, the Alpina Comtesse collection also takes pride in its line of Horological Smartwatches. Released in 2017, these watches are Alpina’s take on the rise of modern digital watches. 

An Alpina Comtesse Horological Smartwatch has a different set of features. These timepieces are cased in 36mm fibreglass, have luminous hands, and can resist up to 100 meters of water. Made to last, these also have a stainless steel undercase. While it does boast a bigger diameter, this watch is still stylish and lightweight. It also has the typical features of a smartwatch. This can track your sleep, activities, and total calories burned. For extra features, this watch can also connect via Bluetooth. 

These watches come in black (Alpina Comtesse Horological Smartwatch AL-281BY3V4), Mother of Pearl (Alpina Comtesse Horological Smartwatch AL-281MPWND3V6), and Rose-Gold Tone (Alpina Comtesse Horological Smartwatch AL-281WY3V4). Their prices range from $500 USD to $610 USD, depending on which variant you choose. 

Prices for the Alpina Seastrong Diver Comtesse Watches

As a sport women's watch, the Alpina Comtesse also had to cater to an audience of female divers. More often than not, divers’ watches are a true test of sports watches. Alpina already proved itself worthy by releasing the first water sports watches for women decades ago. However, the tides are changing. With this, the Alpina Comtesse collection changes with it — specifically their Alpina Seastrong Diver Comtesse line. 

Produced in the 21st century, these watches have a whopping 300-meter water resistance. A true diver’s watch, they also boast a powerful AL-240 Quartz Caliber, unidirectional bezel, and luminescent hands. These features make the Seastrong Diver Comtesse line of watches easy to use and high-performing. 

Like the Horological Alpina Comtesse Smartwatches, these come in two different colors: Mother of Pearl Navy and White. You can also get either steel or rubber straps to match your watch’s face. The latest watches under this collection are 34mm in diameter. 

The Seastrong Diver Comtesse watches are made for diving. Beyond this, these watches carry the proud history of the Alpina Comtesse collection. These timepieces are luxurious, sporty, and simple. Alpina caps this off with their iconic red triangle on the watch’s seconds hand. A Seastrong Diver Comtesse watch costs around $1,100 USD. 

Prices for the Alpina Alpiner Comtesse Watches

Following watches from the Alpina Seastrong Diver Comtesse line are the Alpina Alpiner Comtesse watches. Possibly the brand’s high-end luxury sports watch, these cost around $875 USD to $900 USD. 

These are definitely more lavish than the classic white AL-240MPW2C6B. Its faces are studded with a sunray decoration that gleams enough for people not to miss. Alpiner Comtesse watches also boast a 6 o’clock date window and polished dials. 

Compared to other Alpina Comtesse watches, these are bigger. Its diameter is 36.5mm, and has a stainless steel casing. Beyond these, an Alpiner Comtesse watch has the standard 30 meter water resistance and Alpina AL-240 Quartz Caliber. 

Vintage Alpina Comtesse — Are these good investments? 

As of late, there are only a handful of limited edition Alpina Comtesse watches. The AlpinerX Comtesse, for example, only has 500 pieces in circulation. For any watch collector, getting a limited edition piece may be a no-brainer. 

However, the case for many other Alpina Comtesse watches is different. These watches are relatively cost-effective compared to other luxury watch brands. However, these watches are just as high-performing. It also helps that there are many Alpina Comtesse watches that can suit any woman’s needs. 

There is no question on the Alpina Comtesse’s quality and historical relevance. In this light, getting an Alpina Comtesse watch, no matter what year, warrants you value. Ultimately, it is the wearer’s decision what that value is. 

History Behind the Alpina Comtesse Watch

Alpina’s history dates back to 1883. Its founder, Gottlieb Hauser, started what was then known as the “Alpina Swiss Watchmakers Corporation”. Here, he aimed to make a name for the craft of Swiss watchmaking. He and his team innovated and created timepieces, which led to making their own in-hour calibres. 

By the 1920s, over 2,000 watch outlets sold Alpina timepieces. Hauser was paving the way for Swiss horology, which was the main goal of Alpina to begin with.  The brand celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2013 and shows no signs of stopping. It has built an empire on high-quality, durable, and reliable sports watches. 

However, Alpina did not originally begin with sports watches. The brand slowly began specializing on them and there was no turning back come the “Alpina 4”. The Alpina 4 concept is Hauser’s watchmaking legacy. It refers to the four characteristics every sports watch must have: Antimagnetic, Antishock, Water-resistant, and Stainless steel. 

Through this, Hauser encompasses the needs of anyone with an active (and busy) lifestyle. You can be an athlete, a soldier, a technician, or a common adventurous soul — an Alpina 4 watch will be of use to you. 

The brand still adheres to these four principles today. Its principles are even followed by other sports watch brands. 

The Alpina Comtesse Collection arrived earlier than one may expect. While this line of female watches debuted in the 1960s, Alpina ladies’ watches date back about forty years. Nevertheless, the Alpina Comtesse Collection stuck. It struck a balance between a woman’s femininity and drive, and redefined what it meant to be ‘chic’.

Alpina ladies’ watches have four principles too: Swiss-made, Luxury, Character, and Simplicity. Its silhouettes are subtle yet elegant, unafraid to carry its style. Embezzled with diamonds and introduced in different color variants, Alpina Comtesse Collection watches are definitely for those with refined tastes. Its most opulent offerings include Seastrong diver watches with mother-of-pearl dials. 

Beyond style and diamond detailing, Alpina Comtesse watches are also known for their Alpina AL-240 quartz movement. This calibre is made in-house and timekeeps with precision and accuracy. High-performing, this calibre can run for four years at its original pace.

As seen above, there are many uses to an Alpina Comtesse watch. Women can use it for diving, mountain climbing, and more. While these watches will vary in style, size, and even features, Alpina guarantees top-of-the-notch watches in each one. 

Reasons to Buy an Alpina Comtesse Watch

1. Style and Function  

Alpina Comtesse watches promise style and function with each release. Currently, the line offers over four different color variants and many strap designs. Its most avant-garde piece is its two-tone Comtesse watch with diamond bezels (AL-240MPWD2C3B). The brand couples these with functionality. Its diving watches mostly use rubber straps, but still have powerful stainless steel casing. Its power reserve can run for over one day, and its water resistance can go as deep as 300 meters. 

2. Reliability   

You can be sure that a woman of various interests can find an Alpina Comtesse watch of their choice. These timepieces are robust and adaptable, at a cost-effective price. Using an Alpina Comtesse watch requires minimum effort, as the watch shines all on its own without you ever having to try. 

3. Historic Value  

Alpina ladies’ watches arrived at a period when ladies’ watches were not all too common. Moreover, the Alpina Comtesse Collection redefined what it meant to own a ladies’ watch. These watches are beautiful and feminine, but also daring and adaptable. Comtesse watches encapsulate the varied interest of women, and this made it into the success it is today. 

Alpina Comtesse: A Pioneer in Sporty Ladies’ Watches 

Thanks to its founder, Gottlieb Hauser, Alpina watches became one of the first leading Swiss watch brands in the world. The Alpina Comtesse, which descended from Alpina’s first ladies’ watch from the 1920s, joins its brand in making history. Sports ladies’ watches were not the most common during the 1960s, and the Alpina Comtesse paved the way for this type of watches to survive. Its focus on character, luxury, and simplicity resonated with many women then, as it still does to this day.