From the end of the nineteenth century through the late 1950s, Havana was one of the world’s most glamorous destinations for intellectuals, artists, and the elite. The allure of this exquisite and exclusive island was not lost on literary giant Ernest Hemingway.
Perhaps it was because time seemed to exist in another dimension there. Or because Hemingway lived his life by the principle that “time is the least thing we have.” Whatever the reason, time was always of the essence for the Nobel-prize-winning author, and he never went anywhere without a watch. Hemingway favored Rolex but also had at least two pocket watches — one by the famous Illinois Elgin National Watch Co. and another by French luxury watchmaker L. Leroy & Cie. Hollywood headliner and friend Ava Gardner gifted him a vintage Hamilton watch for his 55th birthday. But whatever watch he wore or pocketed, his brash, adventurous lifestyle demanded that the timepieces be rugged and reliable.
Flashback to Havana.
In 1882, Armando Rio y Cuervo and his brothers were managing their uncle Ramon’s jewelry and watchmaking shop. Located on Havana’s prestigious Avenida Quinto, the family’s “La Casa” boutique is renowned for representing some of the world’s most prestigious watchmakers and selling them for far less than the American manufacturers.
By the 1940s, Havana is a thriving destination with a booming economy: a perfect time for Don Armando Cuervo to produce his own line of watches under the brand name Cuervo y Sobrinos (“Cuervo and Nephews”).
It’s not long before the rich and famous discover Cuervo y Sobrinos. Considered the perfect expression of the Cuban lifestyle, the new watches make La Casa Boutique THE place to go during island visits.
For the next decade, business continues to boom for the Cuervo family. In addition to their own creations, they distribute and sell some of the most respected brands in global watchmaking.
The family achieves so much notoriety that some of their top brands begin engraving the Cuervo y Sobrinos name on the dials of their own watches. Throughout the years, loyal international A-Listers, including Ernest Hemingway, Clark Gable, Winston Churchill, and even Albert Einstein, frequent La Casa Boutique whenever they’re in town
Everything is swell until 1959, when Castro’s revolution eviscerates the family business and drives the Cuervo family into exile. Business crashes in a nanosecond, and the Cuervo y Sobrinos legacy all but goes up in smoke.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Fast forward to 2001, when Italian watchmaking enthusiast Marzio Villa partners with the heirs of Don Armando Cuervo to revive the legendary Cuervo y Sobrinos as a Swiss brand. They opened a new salon in Havana to rave reviews. With unusual case shapes and dial details, the new watches evoke nostalgic memories of the 1940s and pre-revolutionary Cuba.
Now a worldwide sensation, Cuervo y Sobrinos is attracting a new legion of followers. To celebrate their 140th anniversary, Cuervo y Sobrinos created the Historiador Ernest Hemingway Limited Edition. An elegant watch with a sporty touch, the Hemingway Limited Edition is an absolutely magnificent timepiece with classic 1940s styling, elegant looks, and a sapphire crystal. With a rugged 100m water-resistance and stainless steel case, it is emblematic of the man who inspired it. Best of all, you don’t have to fly to Cuba to get one.
Emeralds International is Key West’s exclusive retailer. Check them out at 104 Duval Street. Info: 305-294-2060; emeraldsinternational.com.
