The Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Hemingway Collection

Cuervo y Sobrinos, the only Swiss watch brand with Cuban roots, has a treasure trove of illustrious clients harking back to its heydays in Havana during the 1950s. One of these clients was Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), the American journalist and writer who moved to Cuba in the late 1930s and spent the last twenty years of his life writing, deep-sea fishing and enjoying life on the island. Hemingway’s close ties to Cuba have inspired a new Historiador sub-collection named after the writer, comprised of four models with warm vintage tones. Developed in close collaboration with Hemingway Limited – the organisation founded by Ernest Hemingway’s son – Cuervo y Sobrinos becomes the first Swiss watch brand to have an officially licensed Hemingway watch.

Ernest Hemingway

Writing from the seclusion of his Cuban home at Finca Vigía between 1939 and 1960, Hemingway produced seven books, including his novella The Old man and the Sea. Hemingway’s novella about a Cuban fisherman won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953 and the Nobel Prize for literature in 1954. In gratitude to Cuba, Hemingway dedicated his Nobel Prize to the nation. Known as Papa by the locals, Hemingway was an assiduous client of the Floridita and its famous daiquiris and the Cuervo y Sobrinos shop in Havana, where prestigious imported Swiss timepieces could be bought. Founded in 1862 by a Spanish immigrant, Don Ramón Cuervo, the jewellery and watch shop prospered in the 1950s as the rich and famous flocked to the island in search of fun in the sun. Caruso, Gary Cooper, Einstein, Neruda and Hemingway were some of Cuervo y Sobrino’s illustrious clients.

Historiador Hemingway

The four models released belong to the Historiador collection. The standout feature of the Historiador is the distinctive lugs that could have been inspired by the tailfins of American cars cruising down the Malecon in the 1950s. Crafted in stainless steel and polished, the 100m water-resistant case measures 40mm across and has a height of 11.75mm. It is protected by a double curved sapphire crystal to consolidate the retro mood, and the caseback is engraved with the word ‘Hemingway’ and a large H with a marlin.

Available in four dial colours – cream, brown, black and silver – the dial’s flange is inscribed with a Heminway quote: “In order to write about life, first you must live it”. Both the Arabic numerals and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova, and the brand’s coat of arms is applied at noon. The minute track features red numerals at 5-min intervals to match the inscription ‘Ernest Hemingway’ at 6 o’clock.

The cream and brown dial models are limited editions of 140 pieces, have a silver limited-edition plate on the case side and come in a humidor box with the brand name and Ernest Hemingway on the top. However, the silver and black dials are sold as a set, limited to 30 pieces. The two-piece set models also have an 18k limited edition gold plaque on the side of the case and are presented in a travel humidor case with two additional black straps and watch rolls.

Automatic movement

The Historiador Hemingway is powered by the CyS 5121 automatic calibre, a Sellita SW200-1 base with an engraved rotor, a frequency of 4Hz and a power reserve of 38 hours.

Presented on handsome leather straps with Ernest Hemingway’s signature, the straps can be changed thanks to the easy-to-use sliding mechanism.

Availability & Price

The cream and brown dial models are limited to 140 pieces and retail for CHF 2,500 and CHF 3,000, respectively. The two-piece silver and black dial set is limited to 30 sets and retails for CHF 6,000, including the travel humidor case.

For more information, please consult cuervoysobrinos.com.