The brand Cuervo Y Sobrinos is famous for its "must have" sets desirable and necessary for every man and consisting of an elegant Swiss watch and a humidor, which have been created already for 116 years. But this is only "the tip of the iceberg" of one of the most philosophic companies succeeded in placing "slow time of Cuba" into a luxury Swiss watchcase.
It happened in Havana…
The story of Cuervo Y Sobrinos began in Old Havana at the end of the 19th century when this important port city was radiant with its elegance, chic and truly ability to enjoy life. Here Armando Río y Cuervo together with his brothers started manufacturing watches in 1882. The founder was uncle Ramon, hence appeared the name Cuervo Y Sobrinos ("Cuervo and nephews"). Their boutique at the 5th Avenida of Havana quickly acquired the reputation of a modern place. Among their visitors were Albert Einstein, Enriko Karuzo, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Eleonora Duse, Pablo Neruda. A half of the century after Cuervo Y Sobrinos opened 3 new branches: in Pforzheim (Baden, Germany), in Paris at the elegant rue Meslé and in Chaux-de-Fonds - a heart of the Swiss watch industry.
A trap for watches
A "slow time" culture, so typical for Old Havana when the words "linger you now, you are so fair!" become a reality, is an underlying concept for all Cuervo y Sobrinos products. This philosophy, born in tropical heat requiring sluggishness and contemplation, has become a style of life long ago. While sitting in an arm-chair slowly smoking a robusto cigar, savouring rum and listening to the lapping of Caribbean Sea waves, the thoughts about stopping time and making this moment of true pleasure last forever come to the mind. Cuervo y Sobrinos have succeeded in reflecting this wonderful atmosphere of free Havana in their products.
All the watch models by Cuervo y Sobrinos are delivered in a special packing made-to-order for the company from the same kind of wood as cigar boxes. The special wood of a tropical or Spanish cedar of Meliaceae family, the only material except tobacco itself having a delicate aroma enriching cigars’ taste, is used for interior decoration of cases. In addition neither glue nor any other chemical substances are used, because they emit odours which can not be smelled by us, but mixing with tobacco they do it toxic. Cover hinges and all other metal parts inside a box are gilded to prevent corrosion.
A personal humidor made especially for Cuervo y Sobrinos and supplemented to each watch of the brand, can be used for cigars to enjoy the old but fashionable smoking ritual. Even the collections by Cuervo y Sobrinos are named after the famous cigar’s formats: Torpedo, Espléndidos, Prominente, Robusto, Robusto Cronómetro produced in Swiss Lugano. 
Massimo Rossi, the managing director of Cuervo y Sobrinos: "In elegant and glamourous Old Havana of those days people enjoyed every minute of their life. The fantastic island Cuba with its beaches, sea and mochito cocktail was a territory of the real eternal joy. Where else the desire to stop time can appear? That’s why the term “slow time” was made up there. For me the meaning of the term "time" is a balance between work, family and myself. Cuervo y Sobrinos is a company reflecting such an elusive harmony. Interiorly, men do not like jewellery preferring watches, and exactly luxury mechanical Swiss wristwatches. It is a real pleasure to possess such a watch. However smoking cigars is no less enjoyable. These emotions are real, unlike questionable emotions of drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. The smoking cigars is something more, it is a style of life."
Pirates of the Caribbean
The new collections by Cuervo y Sobrinos are permeated with pirates’ love of freedom. Massimo Rossi: "It is a very popular theme, especially after Pirates of the Caribbean with Jack Sparrow at the head was released. This image is suitable for our watches not only because of geographic reason but also because of the sailors’ spirit of romance and adventure. The watch models have a large case and expressly manly but elegant design".
The line Prominente ("prominent") was replenished with two new models: Chronograph and Dualtime. The latter is made in steel or in pink gold; it can be called "double time", because the clock-face has two dials of roman and arable numerals. The rate reserve is 48 hours. After the line Prominente Chronograph with limited edition of 125 copies had a great success, it has been replenished with a new model in pink gold and steel this year. There are 3 chronograph indicators on the clock-face: hour hand, 30-minutes hand and a second counter. The rectangular shape and elegant design are a speciality of the models by Cuervo y Sobrinos.
Robusto Tricalendografo Luna Squelette is another new product by Cuervo y Sobrinos this year. This is a collection watch produced in two limited series in 28 copies each (with a black and a white face). A complex mechanism capable to show moon phases and the eternal calendar, can be seen through a transparent case. The watches have the Dubois Depra’s gauge. The round case of big diameter from pink gold is referred to the favourite shapes and design by the Havana masters.
The new model Retrograde has appeared in the line Esplendidos in traditional Cuervo y Sobrinos elegant rectangular golden case. A display of retrograde date is arched: at the end of each month the hand goes back to its initial position. A very useful function is the indicator of rate reserve in position 6 of the watch. A colour gamut of the model is strikingly harmonious: combination of black, cream and tobacco yellow with gold. All the models have a wristlet from crocodile leather.
Natalia Andrianova
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