Model: Cuervo y Sobrinos Prominente Doble Tiempo
Year: 2010s
Features:
The Name. In 1862, Ramón Fernández Cuervo, an immigrant from northern Spain, opened a jewellery and watch shop in Havana, Cuba. In the years that followed, he enlisted the help of his nephews to work at his prospering shop - hence the eventual company name Cuervo y Sobrinos, or Cuervo & Nephews.
The Country. Even after the passing of the titular Cuervo, his nephews continued to ensure the success of the company, eventually moving the store to the bustling heart of Havana’s shopping district. And as Cuba flourished, so did the brand. Prior to the 1960s, Havana was viewed as the capital of the Caribbean - as its vibrant nightlife, casinos, and adoption of Western culture saw it become a playground for American tourists.
The Change. But the 1960s brought about a sudden change. Under Fidel Castro, most reasonably-sized private businesses were nationalised and controlled by the Government. Cuervo y Sobrinos had become the central player in Cuban horology - not only as a watchmaker, but also as the country’s largest importer of Swiss watches - so in 1965 standard operations ceased and Cuervo y Sobrinos was required to make watches for the Cuban military instead.
The End. Record-keeping wasn’t exactly a priority during the widespread nationalisation, so the exact year isn’t known, but in the decades that followed Cuervo y Sobrinos slowly ceased to exist - both as a family-owned entity, and as a general name.
The Revival. Fortunately, the company was revived in the late ‘90s. Operating out of Switzerland, it unveiled its new collection at Baselworld in 2002. By 2005 it was making its own chronograph movements in-house, and in 2009 Cuervo y Sobrinos opened a boutique and museum in Havana. Don’t you just love it when a story comes full circle?
The Movement. The watch on offer today is perhaps just as intriguing as its company’s origin story. Looking at the extended tonneau-shaped case, and the position of the two sets of hands, you might have already guessed there isn’t an ordinary dual time movement inside the Prominente Doble Tiempo. Flip it over and its secret is revealed: two separate movements!
The Layout. Each movement is an in-house CYS 5024 calibre, which is a modified version of the ETA 2671. The top dial is a standard 12-hour setup, with central day and date windows, whereas the bottom dial is a 24-hour arrangement. Because each movement is totally separate, each dial is controlled by its own crown - allowing you to set the exact minutes and hours independently.
The Design. Not only is the dial beautifully textured, but its rich colour is wonderfully reminiscent of tobacco leaf - and if that reference to Cuba was too subtle, the box it comes in is a literal humidor. What can I say? It’s the perfect bow on this already unique watch - a delightful nod to its Cuban heritage.
Specifications:
Condition: In very good condition. Some hairlines on the case can be seen on close inspection.
Scope: Original box and papers
Movement: In-house CYS 5024 calibre
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 30.7mm
- Lug to lug: 51.8mm
- Case Thickness: 10.1mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
