The New Colours Of The Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe (Live Pics & Price)

As the only Swiss watch brand with Cuban roots, Cuervo y Sobrinos is not shy about expressing its colourful and exuberant Caribbean personality. Introduced two years ago, the Buceador Caribe dive watch flaunts an original and complex case construction with attractive dials that capture the different shades of water lapping Cuba’s coastline. Three new colour variants join the Buceador Caribe family, and an attractive steel Milanese bracelet made by Staib, Germany, is added to the mix. 

Sharing identical specifications to the earlier versions, the new references revolve around three dial colours: navy blue, light blue and black. The colours are inspired by the different tonalities of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Ocean washing Cuba’s 5,745km coastline. With its well-preserved coral reefs, mangroves and abundant sea life, Cuba is a popular destination for scuba divers.

Robust Case

The Buceador Caribe has a robust, container-like case. By juxtaposing different shapes and placing the dive bezel on the dial, the unique personality of the Buceador (Spanish for diver) is a refreshing departure from conventional dive watch cases. Measuring 43mm across with a thickness of 15.8mm, the 200m water-resistant case, with its short stubby lugs, is octagonal and hosts a round polished raised bezel on the front and a dodecagonal screw-down caseback. The crown at 2 o’clock adjusts the internal rotating bezel before a dive, while the crown at 9 o’clock adjusts the time and winds the mainspring. The pusher at 4 o’clock is an extra safety precaution and unlocks the blue crown corresponding to the bezel. As Brice points out in his review, the high domed crystal over the dial attenuates the thickness of the case, and the short lugs help the large case lie flush on the wrist.

Bold Colours

The new Buceador Caribe references are not afraid of mixing different colours and have bold graphic displays. All models feature two-tone rotating inner dive bezels with a luminous pip at noon, large luminous indices and hands, an octagonal-framed date window at 6 o’clock and the brand’s coat of arms at noon. There is also a new Milanese stainless steel bracelet in the mix, available exclusively on the stainless steel models (not the black DLC model).

• The navy blue model (2860.1BL) has a high contrast red 15-min area on the dive bezel, followed by a lighter blue area. The profile of the indices is the same colour as the blue area of the bezel, and the minutes and central seconds hands are framed in red to match the 15-min area of the bezel and the Buceador inscription on the dial. The numerals on the dive bezel and dial are filled with sand-coloured Super-LumiNova. Presented with a seaworthy navy blue rubber strap and a more elegant dark blue calfskin strap, this reference is also available on the new stainless steel Milanese bracelet.

• The light blue reference (2860.1LB) is the only one with a gradient dial. The all-important 15-min countdown area of the dive bezel is picked out in white with red numerals, while the remaining area of the bezel is a bright light blue colour. The luminescence on this model is white, and the minutes and central seconds hands are also framed in red to match the Buceador inscription on the dial and the three red grooves on the pusher to unblock the crown. The light blue model is delivered with a matching rubber strap and a complementary blue calfskin strap and is also available with the new Milanese steel bracelet.

• The black dial reference (2860.3NY) is cased in a black DLC-coated stainless steel case and is not available with the Milanese steel bracelet. By far the boldest of the trilogy, the black dial is combined with yellow accents. The bright yellow section of the bezel is echoed on the outline of the minutes hand, the markings on the black area of the bezel and the Buceador inscription on the dial. Like the other models, the indices and hands are treated with Super-LumiNova. It is delivered with a black rubber strap and a complementary black calfskin strap.

Soprod automatic

Beneath the sealed caseback decorated with a diver surrounded by a shoal of fish in relief is the CYS 8126 automatic movement based on a Soprod P024, an alternative to the ETA 2824. Soprod is a division of the Festina Group. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph, the movement delivers a relatively limited power reserve of 38 hours for the hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Availability & Price

Killing two birds with one stone, Cuervo y Sobrinos also uses the launch of these new models to inform its fans that an earlier edition of the Buceador Caribe, specifically the turquoise Varadero (2860.1AZ), is also available on the new Milanese bracelet. In a strange twist for a dive watch but totally in keeping with the Cuban theme, the Buceador Caribe watches are delivered in a wooden humidor cigar case.

The price of the new models with the Milanese bracelet is CHF 3,100 (excl. VAT); the models delivered with two straps (rubber and calfskin) will retail for CHF 3,000 (excl. VAT). For more information and to ascertain delivery times, please consult cuervoysobrinos.com.