Cuervo y Sobrinos Brings Havana’s Racing Past Back to the Wrist

Cuervo y Sobrinos has a rare claim in watchmaking, with a Cuban identity that gives its vintage references a different texture from the usual European racing nostalgia.

Its Gran Premio de Cuba Chronograph Trilogy leans into that history with three limited-edition watches inspired by Havana’s brief but glamorous Grand Prix era.

Each model takes its palette from period race posters, while the production numbers nod to the distances covered in the 1957, 1958 and 1960 events.

At a glance

Havana’s short-lived Grand Prix era

Before Havana became defined by politics in the global imagination, the city was one of the Caribbean’s most magnetic destinations for entertainment, culture and sport.

The Gran Premio de Cuba sat at the centre of that moment, attracting major names from the racing world and giving the island a brief but vivid place in motorsport history.

The 1957 race was won by Juan Manuel Fangio, while Stirling Moss won the 1958 and 1960 editions.

The 1958 event remains especially charged because Fangio was kidnapped on the eve of the race by Fidel Castro’s men in an attempt to embarrass the Batista government, before being released unharmed after 29 hours.

Cuervo y Sobrinos previously explored this territory with the Historiador Gran Premio de Cuba 1957 in 2023, but the new trilogy broadens the idea into a set covering all three Cuban Grand Prix races.

Poster colours on a 41mm racing chronograph

The three watches share the same case architecture but carry distinct dial treatments tied to the graphics and colours of the race posters.

The Gran Premio de Cuba 1957 pairs a warm brown dial with mustard-coloured counters, giving it the most restrained and vintage-leaning character of the trio.

The 1958 edition moves in a more extroverted direction with a yellow dial and green counters, a combination that suits the drama attached to that year’s race.

The Gran Premio Libertad 1960 has the sharpest contrast, using a white dial with vivid red counters inspired by the geometric poster created for the final Cuban Grand Prix.

All three models are housed in stainless steel cases measuring 41mm across and 15.25mm thick, with rectangular chronograph pushers and a double-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.

The chronograph layout is classic Valjoux 7750, with small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, and a 12-hour totaliser with date display at 6 o’clock.

Leaf-shaped hands handle the timekeeping, while red arrow-shaped hands are used for the chronograph indications.

A Valjoux 7750 with a steering-wheel rotor

Inside each watch is the automatic Valjoux 7750, a long-serving chronograph calibre known for durability and straightforward reliability.

It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides a 48-hour power reserve.

Cuervo y Sobrinos adds a thematic flourish through the sapphire display back, where the rotor has been customised to resemble a classic steering wheel and carries a gold-coloured brand emblem.

The caseback is also engraved with the relevant race year, keeping the three editions clearly separated beyond their dial colours.

Each watch is fitted to a black perforated calfskin strap inspired by vintage driving gloves, with contrast stitching and lining matched to the colour of the subdials.

Details & Specifications

The trilogy should appeal to collectors who like historically framed chronographs but want something less predictable than another European circuit tribute.

With its Cuban racing story, bold poster-derived colours and proven mechanical base, the Gran Premio de Cuba Chronograph Trilogy gives Cuervo y Sobrinos a lively way to connect its identity with a fascinating corner of motorsport history.