Introducing the Robusto 1935 and Sans Souci Watches from Cuervo Y Sobrinos

Harking back to a bygone era in Havana’s history, these Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto watches are a perfect balance of vintage Cuban style and Swiss excellence.

Watches With Cuban Roots

Cuban watchmaker, Cuervo Y Sobrinos was founded back in 1882 in Havana and is among some of the oldest watchmakers in the industry. The prestigious company is synonymous with quality craftsmanship and authentic, true Haute Horlogerie. Since day one, it has been furnishing many elite wrists and back in its heyday in Havana, it garnered a reputation for supplying some of the most prolific and wealthiest clientele with exquisite timepieces, some of which were double-signed watches that became highly collectable on the pre-owned market. During the roaring 1950s, Cuervo Y Sobrinos became a must-visit boutique by illustrious visitors like Winston Churchill and Gable Hemingway. After a period of supplying military watches to the Cuban Army, the brand became dormant in the 1990s.

Then, in 1997, Luca Musumeci and Marzio Villa revived the company, injecting each timepiece thereafter with a strong Latin spirit. The company was relocated to Switzerland, first to La Chaux de Fonds and then to Le Noirmont. The brand anchored itself right at the heart of quintessential Swiss watchmaking expertise, sowing the seeds for many innovations to come.  

What Makes Cuervo Y Sobrinos Watches So Special?

Just two years ago, Cuervo Y Sobrinos celebrated its 140th anniversary. The brand also offers a huge portfolio of classic, authentic timepieces that are loved the world over for their supreme, quality craftsmanship, luxurious materials and vintage-inspired aesthetics. As the only watchmaker in operation with a true Latin legacy, Cuervo Y Sobrinos watches evoke flamboyancy, animating Havana’s golden years and bringing to life the magic of the bustling district during a time when the company was experiencing the height of its success. The beauty of a Cuervo Y Sobrinos watch is in the finer details. These timepieces give collectors something significant to appreciate about the history of the brand – a history that still feels relevant and present in today’s watch-collecting society.

Indeed it is the heritage of Cuervo Y Sobrinos that makes the brand so special and its watches so sought-after. These timepieces combine Swiss craftsmanship with Latin heritage. From strikingly vintage Historiador watches to the brand’s special Churchill collection and the stylish Lunsdale, not to mention the robust Buceador dive watch – there is a style and a design that suits every kind of collector. One particularly popular collection is the Robusto. 

Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto Timepieces

The Robusto watch design by Cuervo Y Sobrinos captures the nostalgia of the 1920s through to the 1950s. In particular, the collection is home to two designs; the Sans Souci and the Robusto 1935. These watches celebrate the brand’s rich heritage and both present the time on a classic and simple layout.

The Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto 1935

The Robusto 1935 watches, for example, feature colourful displays with a date window at 6 o’clock, luminous central hour and minute hands, a super slim second hand and a legible minute track around the edge of the track. These models come on a refined stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp and brushed links. Dial options include deep green (Verde Manzana), rich blue (Azul Marino), silver (Ceniza), and rust brown (Habana). These models celebrate the Art Deco aesthetics and architecture that represented Cuba during the 1920s and 1930s. One particular model from Cuervo Y Sobrinos’ catalogue has inspired these watches – a reference from 1935. The dials all featured faceted hour markers, as well as crisply carved hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova inserts that glow richly in the dark. The 6 o’clock location is where you can reference the date in a very legible format. The numerals are displayed on a contrasting white background to aid legibility.

These stunning Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto 1935 watches all measure 40mm in diameter and have been crafted from stainless steel with crisp sapphire crystal glass fronts that protect the surface of the dial from denting, scratching, heat, moisture and debris. Inside these watches is the Calibre CYS 8130, which comprises 23 jewels and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations, promising a power reserve of 44 hours once fully wound.

The Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto Sans Souci Watches

The Sans Souci watches of the Robusto collection celebrate the glamorous side of life in Cuba during the 1950s, in particular, the Sans Souci nightclub in Havana. The watches capture the charm and allure of this bygone era, including the cabaret productions, the cigars, the liquors and the dining. Three exquisite dial finishes make up the Sans Souci variations.

Each one boasts a brushed finish with generously sized hour and minute hands, Arabic-style hour markers, and Super-LumiNova-coated elements that make timekeeping at night incredibly easy. At the 6 o’clock location is a small second sub-dial, adorned in a snailed finish, which adds a subtle vintage charm to the display. The “chemin de fer”, period style features bring the entire design together, injecting the display with a sense of old-world sweetness. Smaller in size compared to the Robusto 1935 watches, these Sans Souci models in sunray black, vertical brushed champagne and sunray brushed blue measure 38.5mm and have also been crafted from stainless steel. These models come in a choice of a stainless steel bracelet or a leather band that coordinates with the colour of the dial. One particularly attractive feature of these watches is the signed crown, which nestles neatly into the recessed section of the case. Turn the case over, however, and you’re also treated to a beautifully engraved Sans Souci image, capturing the historic venue. These models are powered by the automatic Calibre CYS 5159, which bears 31 jewels and provides a power reserve of 38 hours.

If you’d like more information on any of the Cuervo Y Sobrinos Robusto watches we’ve featured in this article, call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or email us at help@jurawatches.co.uk