Cuervo y Sobrinos Watches

Cuervo y Sobrinos: Swiss Mechanics with Cuban Soul

There’s no other watch brand like Cuervo y Sobrinos — and I mean that in the best way possible.

This is a brand that blends Swiss watchmaking precision with Old Havana flair, dripping in vintage elegance, Latin swagger, and just the right amount of rum-soaked romance.

They're not trying to be the next tech-forward microbrand. They’re trying to make you feel like it’s 1947, you're sipping a mojito in a linen suit, and the only thing on your schedule is not having a schedule.

Brand History: Havana Roots, Swiss Revival

Cuervo y Sobrinos started in 1882 in Havana, Cuba — back when the city was a global crossroads for wealth, style, and high society. The original boutique catered to diplomats, celebrities, and jet-setters before jet-setting was even a thing.

They imported Swiss movements, but cased and sold them in Cuba with a distinctly Latin style — Art Deco flourishes, tropical colors, and curved cases that wore like jewelry.

Fast-forward to post-revolution Cuba: the brand faded out… but the legend remained. And in the early 2000s, Cuervo y Sobrinos was reborn in Switzerland, picking up where it left off — combining heritage design cues with modern manufacturing.

Today, every Cuervo y Sobrinos watch still nods to its Havana roots, even if it’s now produced in the Swiss Jura.

Collector Highlights: Vintage Vibes, Unique Shapes, and Cuban Heat

  • Historiador – Their flagship collection. Tapered lugs, domed crystals, Deco fonts. Feels like it walked out of a 1950s jazz club and onto your wrist.

  • Prominente – Big, rectangular case. Pure Havana dress watch energy. Think: tank watch meets cigar lounge.

  • Espléndidos – Curved case, elongated design, unapologetically elegant.

  • Robusto – Their sportier offering. Rounded barrel case, mechanical reliability, and still loaded with Latin flair.

  • Lonsdale & Churchill editions – Yes, they named collections after cigars. The branding is on-the-nose — but it works.

Movements are mostly ETA-based or Sellita, sometimes modified. And while they’re not haute horology, the casework, dials, and aesthetic detail are consistently impressive.

Why Collectors Should Care

  • Unique design language – Nobody else makes watches that look quite like this.

  • Real historical heritage – Not a marketing invention. This was the luxury watch name in Havana’s heyday.

  • Strong finishing for the price – Especially on the lugs, dials, and casebacks.

  • Conversation starters – You’ll rarely see another one in the wild.

  • Lifestyle match – If you collect cigars, vintage suits, or vinyl jazz records, this is your watch brand.

If you're into personality-driven collecting — not just specs — CyS hits different.

What They’re Making Now: Vintage Revival with Caribbean Energy

The current Cuervo y Sobrinos lineup includes:

  • Historiador Landeron – Featuring vintage chronograph movements (yes, actual Landerons) for serious collector appeal.

  • Historiador Hemingway Edition – A tribute to the most famous Havana expat of all time. Clean, masculine, and subtly literary.

  • Robusto Day-Date & GMT – Travel-ready with flair.

  • Espléndidos Dual Time – Think Deco meets dual timezone function. Business class, 1940s style.

Many pieces come in wooden humidors instead of standard boxes — because of course they do.

Fed’s Take

Look, I’ve handled a lot of watches over the years — and I’m always impressed when a brand stays true to its DNA. Cuervo y Sobrinos has done that better than most.

These watches aren’t for everyone. But if you want a timepiece that says, “I care about style, stories, and a little bit of slow living,” this brand delivers. Great proportions, warm finishing, and an undeniable sense of identity.

And let’s be real — sometimes you want a break from integrated steel bracelets and monochrome dials. Sometimes, you want a watch with some flavor.

Cuervo y Sobrinos brings it. Straight up. No chaser.

Havana in a Case

If you’re looking to add some character, culture, and class to your collection — and maybe feel like the best-dressed guy in a rum bar — Cuervo y Sobrinos is the move.

Delray Watch has a rotating selection of pre-owned Cuervo y Sobrinos watches — pieces you won’t find sitting in mall boutiques or flexing on billboards.

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