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Back in 2015 we learned that cruise ships would soon be sailing from Miami to
Havana. We work closely with cruise ship boutiques and needed to develop an
amazing souvenir for what was going to be a very exciting trip. As we searched for
ideas the legendary brand Cuervo y Sobrinos sprang to mind……
Cuervo y Sobrinos
Cuervo y Sobrinos (Translation: Mr. Crow & Nephews) was founded in Havana in
1882 and by the early twentieth century had become a prestigious watch-maker
and jewelry store. During the 1930’s the brand thrived, living a golden age, and
even developing double branded watches with Rolex, Longines and Patek
Philippe. The store’s guest book documented an illustrious clientele that would
include Albert Einstein, Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway and even Winston
Churchill.
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With the help of a local historian Marzio’s team was able to access the Cuervo y
Sobrinos vault and find a selection of designs, cases and movements that would
become the inspiration for the modern day Cuervo y Sobrinos designs. The vault
can still be seen today in Havana inside the old Cuervo y Sobrinos headquarters
that today is a clothing store called Praga.
Today Cuervo y Sobrinos’ Swiss Manufacture and Latin Heritage set it apart from
every other watch brand; every watch is assembled overlooking Lake Capolago in
Lugano Switzerland yet every single watch draws inspiration from a classic from
the brand’s golden age.
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Provenance Gems
So in 2015 we travelled to Lugano in Switzerland with the goal of making sure that the first
cruise ship to sail to Havana from Miami in over 50 years would have Cuervo y Sobrinos
onboard. We met the entire Cuervo y Sobrinos organization in Capolago, fell in love with every
aspect of the brand and became official distributors of Cuervo y Sobrinos.
Several months later we could proudly display Cuervo y Sobrinos onboard the Fathom
(previously the P&O Adonia), the first cruise ship to sail from Miami to Havana in a very long
time.
Cuervo y Sobrinos proved to be an instant hit with the passengers, especially as they were able
to trace Cuervo y Sobrinos’ history for themselves in old Havana.