I won’t hide it: devoting my first hour-long review of a model from the Cuervo y Sobrinos brand is a real pleasure! After all, this brand is a full-fledged player in the “major league” of Haute Horlogerie, and its history (as well as its present) is full of fascinating exoticism.
Place of birth: Havana, Cuba.
Year of birth: 1882.
The year, so to speak, of conception: 1862, when Ramon Fernandez y Cuervo opened a jewelry store in Havana. Well, in the aforementioned 1882, several relatives (generally nephews, in Spanish “sobrinos”) joined Don Ramon, after which the Cuervo y Sobrinos company was officially registered.
In 1928, the brand entered the world of watchmaking by opening a factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. But Havana remained the center. The local Cuervo y Sobrinos boutiques were visited (and left memories) by Enrico Caruso, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Einstein and many others.
Then there were difficult times - revolution, nationalization, decline, almost complete oblivion. But in 1997, thanks to the efforts of the Italians Luc Muzumeca and Mazio Villa, a revival came. Soon a new watch factory, Cuervo y Sobrinos, was opened.
Completing the “questionnaire” part of the brand data, we inform you: place of residence – Capolago, Switzerland. And we note that this building is designed in a characteristic “colonial” style, being, as it were, a fragment of Cuba in the Alps.
The latter is generally characteristic of modern Cuervo y Sobrinos. Considered a true grandee of the Swiss watch industry, the brand at the same time cultivates a unique style that combines deceptive Caribbean relaxation and really frantic energy.
Today we focus on the Robusto Churchill Sir Winston model.
First impression
In truth, this impression is not only a first impression: it does not fade into the background as you get acquainted with the model. Because the idea of “one is greeted by their clothes” is manifested to the maximum here.
The watch comes in a real humidor! Let us remind you: a humidor is a special box for storing cigars. Well, of course, because the homeland of the brand is Havana, famous (among many other things) for its cigars! And Sir Winston Churchill, to whom this watch collection is dedicated, was a passionate cigar lover!
A cigar is not an easy thing; there are strict requirements for its storage. Accordingly, they are also presented to humidors. And here we have before us a product of Cuervo y Sobrinos’ own production (the brand does not use third-party services), labeled PE-110 and made, as expected, from Spanish cedar (this is the official name of the tree, which mainly grows in Brazil).
The set includes a pair of humidifiers and a dial hygrometer. For all this, there are special slots in the lid on the inside. Just in case, we note: if you decide to use the humidor for its “title” purpose, then first of all ensure that the relative humidity in it is 70 ± 5%. Fill the humidification cartridges with distilled water (you can also use a 50% propylene glycol solution), install them and the hygrometer in their places, close the humidor lid and open it from time to time to take a look. Is the humidity normal? This means you can load cigars... And don’t forget to calibrate the hygrometer once a year.
However, let's return to our main business - sentries. The Cuervo y Sobrinos PE-110 humidor has three more slots. Two on the right - they contain two parts of an additional strap made of Louisiana alligator skin and equipped with a classic-type proprietary clasp. And finally, on the left: a brown leather case, and in it, on a cushion, a watch on a bracelet with a folding clasp.
Let's take a closer look at them.
Mechanism, functionality
The Cuervo y Sobrinos Robusto Churchill Sir Winston watch is powered by the automatic caliber CYS 8127, based on the proven Sellita SW240-1 movement. Caliber diameter 29 mm, thickness 5,05 mm, built on 26 jewels, balance performs 28800 vibrations per hour, guaranteed power reserve of 38 hours. Of course, there is a shockproof module and a stop-second option. The automatic winding rotor bears the signature Cuervo y Sobrinos engraving.
The differences from the Sellita base are small and boil down mainly to the placement of calendar indicators. The mechanism counts hours, minutes and seconds, and also provides an indication of the date and day of the week (both in the CYS 8127 are placed at the 6 o'clock position).
Case, bracelet
The case has a diameter of 43 mm and a thickness of 12,45 mm. Its design is a classic three-part design, with the elegantly curved sides made of titanium and the remaining parts made of stainless steel. The water resistance of the case is 100 m (you can swim and even dive, although shallow). The glass on the front and back is naturally sapphire. The front is with an anti-reflective coating, and on the back is one of the sayings of Winston Churchill (to whom, we remind you, the model is dedicated), which reads (translated into Russian): “Attitude towards something seems like a trivial thing, but in reality it is of paramount importance.” .
And so, the main feature of our model’s case is the crown. It is extremely unusual, because it is made in the form of a folding bracket. Ease of use and grip are beyond praise! In addition, it is screw-down – as it should be for a watch with decent water resistance. In the non-extended position, manual winding is possible; when pulled out one click, you can set the date (by rotating “towards you”) and the day of the week (“from you”), by one more click the second hand freezes and you can set the time. Do not forget to screw the head and lower the bracket after all these procedures!
Finally, the bracelet: integrated, three-row, steel, equipped with a signature skeleton clasp. Everything is very comfortable on the hand. As already mentioned, a Louisiana alligator leather strap is also included: dark blue, glossy, with a signature Cuervo y Sobrinos buckle.
Clock face
This is a true work of watchmaking art. Magnificent Clou de Paris (“Parisian nails”) guilloche and impressive color – the manufacturer defines it as petrol blue (“deep blue with a barely noticeable greenish tint”). It’s difficult to describe in words, you have to see it... Beautiful! And together with the hands (luminescent), numbers, marks, calendar apertures, markings - perfection itself.
What did the express test show?
It showed excellent accuracy - within 6 hours the watch moved forward by 8127 seconds, this meets the COSC requirements for chronometers (although the caliber CYS 240, like the base SW1-38, is not certified as a chronometer). As for the power reserve, after full (it seems) winding, this sample in these specific conditions took 57 hours 38 minutes to stop - i.e. more than the guaranteed XNUMX hours. Here we note that by modern standards this power reserve is not particularly impressive, but, on the other hand, the mechanism is extremely reliable. In addition, it is still automatic - so the power reserve at rest is not too important.
Сonclusion
A magnificent thing in all respects! And it’s not for nothing that it was released in a limited edition - only 200 copies. As for the sacred “total” – about 5 thousand euros. Yes, not cheap. But this is such a class model – top-notch!
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