DUGENA's history reaches back to the Swiss watch industry of the nineteenth century. The German general agency for the Alpina watch brand, established in Berlin in 1899, gave rise to the Deutsche Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft Alpina in Eisenach in 1917. Its aim was to distribute high-quality timepieces at affordable prices. In 1927, the cooperative moved its headquarters to Berlin. On 24 July 1942, DUGENA was established as the brand's future name, derived from Deutsche Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft Alpina. After the Second World War, the company moved its headquarters to Darmstadt in 1949. Under Willi Tempel's leadership, DUGENA developed into one of Germany's best-known clock and watch brands. In the 1960s, its timepieces were sold through a network of more than 2,000 specialist retailers. Alongside wristwatches, the range included wall clocks, table clocks and other domestic clocks. After several changes of ownership, DUGENA became part of the EganaGoldpfeil Group in 1993. In 2009, the newly founded Nova Tempora Uhren und Schmuck GmbH took over the brand. DUGENA continues to exist today.