WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 30, 2015
Cuervo y Sobrinos | "Cuban spirit in the heart of Switzerland." Unique models that will captivate discerning adults are arriving one after another this year.
Cuervo y Sobrinos
“Cuban Spirit in a Swiss Heart”
Unique models that captivate the adult imagination, arriving in droves once again.
Cuervo y Sobrinos, a unique presence in the watchmaking world with roots in Havana, Cuba, is popular for its Latin flair, which Swiss watches lack. In 2011, this momentum continues unabated. A succession of distinctive models has been unveiled this year.
Reporting and text by Yasuto Shibuya
Global Popularity with a Retro & Latin Flair
While many innovative models were certainly announced, the biggest trend at Baselworld 2011, regardless of the brand's history or scale, was undoubtedly the "retro taste" that evokes a sense of nostalgia and soothes the soul.
Cuervo y Sobrinos, which established its unique watchmaking world as a prestigious Havana watch retailer that flourished through collaborations with renowned Swiss watchmakers from the late 19th century to the 1940s. After disappearing for a time, it made a dramatic comeback in 2002 after approximately 40 years of dormancy. For Cuervo y Sobrinos, "retro taste" is an inherent part of the brand's DNA, a common flavor across all its products.
Alongside this retro taste, another significant charm emanating from this brand's timepieces is an open, un-Swiss-like aesthetic, with bold designs and color palettes, which can only be attributed to its Latin roots. Now in its ninth year since its revival, and growing into a globally popular brand, these two characteristics remain entirely unchanged.
This Year's Recommendation: A Divers Watch
Among its many collections, the new releases from Cuervo y Sobrinos this year, led by the "Historiador" model with its retrograde function—the most classic in taste—fully showcase the brand's inherent charm.
For example, the "Torpédo Pirata" series, an homage to Caribbean pirates, now features an all-black model with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating, a first for Cuervo y Sobrinos, released in a limited edition. The lineup includesChronographand a three-hand model. Both, as their name "Barbanegra" (Blackbeard) suggests, are filled with the brand's signature playful details, such as the crown and pushers shaped like pirate ship cannons.
However, what OPENERS readers should be most recommended this time is the "Robusto Bucanero Mambí 1882," a distinctive diver's watch with Cuervo's signature dual-time and big date functions. "Bucanero" refers to a peculiar fish with a face like a crocodile, native to Cuba. It is a national symbol of Cuba, depicted on the country's 1-peso coin. This model features its image engraved on the case back.
The dial and rubber bracelet come in two color options: black and white. With a rotating bezel and screw-down crown, it boasts a genuine 600-meter water resistance, but its appeal lies in its "sensual" design, setting it apart from purely functional divers' watches. The white model, in particular, offers a refreshingly light taste that is uncharacteristic of a diver's watch, and it's truly excellent.
Robusto Bucanero Mambí 1882
A "Chic Adult Diver's Watch" to Accent Your Weekend Style
This 600-meter water-resistant diver's watch, favored by writer Ernest Hemingway and acclaimed actor Clark Gable, embodies the elegant and alluring design characteristic of Cuervo y Sobrinos, deviating from the typical diver's aesthetic. It features a big date display at 12 o'clock and a second time zone display at 6 o'clock, readable just like a standard watch dial. The sapphire crystal is also treated with a double anti-reflective coating to enhance visibility.
Automatic movement, 43mm stainless steel, titanium, and rubber composite case, rubber strap, 714,000 yen (estimated retail price). Scheduled for release in August.