Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Doble Luna
The Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Doble Luna depicts the age of the moon as viewed in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. But beyond this functionality, this latest creation is imbued with a sizeable dose of Cuban style.
The way we see things is determined by where we are located at the time. For example, the Moon orbits close to the Earth’s equator, hence when viewing the moon from the Northern Hemisphere, we see the celestial body in the Southern sky because that’s the direction of the Earth’s equator. In the Southern Hemisphere the situation is reversed.
Most watches endowed with a moon phase portray the celestial body as it would appear in the Northern Hemisphere, however, what about those horophiles living in the Southern Hemisphere? Well, Cuervo y Sobrinos has the answer. The Historiador Doble Luna displays the moon phase both in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere simultaneously.
I contacted the Cuban-Swiss brand and requested a sample of the Historiador Doble Luna. If I am honest, I was drawn to the watch not because of the double moon phase but rather the dial colour and its texture, something I will return to later. The press sample arrived a couple of weeks ago and I have since spent several days wearing the watch.
The dial
The dial of the Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Doble Luna successfully blends blue and silver tones with the occasional smattering of red. Each hue happily coexists. The sapphire-toned sections of the dial are enriched with a Clous de Paris pattern granting the horological vista a sumptuously textured appearance.
A silver-coloured circlet occupies the central area of the dial and is embellished with a circular brushed finish. Within this section there are two apertures, one displaying the day, positioned adjacent 10 o’clock, and a second window, indicating the month, located near 2 o’clock. Cuervo y Sobrinos has depicted the day and month on a blue disc with silver-coloured text. The brand could have used a simple black text on white disc approach which would have been cheaper but, to its credit, it has chosen to adhere to horological etiquette matching the discs to the dial. Personally, I would have preferred the text size and apertures to be slightly larger.
The prevailing time is imparted with Breguet-style hour and minute hands. In addition, the watch features a central sweep seconds hand equipped with a prominent counterweight. The indexes are a combination of Roman numerals and diamond-shaped hour markers. At noon, the brand’s logo supplants a conventional index and encompasses a tasteful application of red.
At 6 o’clock, two circular apertures reveal the moon-phases, as seen within the Northern Hemisphere (positioned left) and the Southern Hemispheres (positioned right). The two circular openings are the same width as the previously mentioned silver-coloured circlet, further reinforcing the overall sense of cohesion.
A hand with a crescent-shaped tip points to a date track positioned adjacent to the edge of the dial.
The case
Housed in a 40mm stainless steel case, the Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Doble Luna should suit most wrist sizes. The watch has a height of 11.25mm, hence at no stage does it feel cumbersome. During my time with the Doble Luna, I frequently remarked to my wife about the model’s impressive wearer comfort. Consistent with other members of the Historiador collection, the case is endowed with the brand’s ‘ergonomic lug design’. The arcing profile of the lugs seems to sympathetically follow the shape of the arm.
All surfaces of the case are highly polished. Ordinarily, I favour a blend of satin brushed and highly polished surfaces as too much gleam can sometimes appear gaudy. Thankfully, no such criticisms can be levelled at this model. Indeed, everything appears wonderfully tasteful.
The caseband features four correctors for the date, day, month and moon-phase. Based on the number of indications, this seems an eminently sensible approach.
A pane of sapphire crystal is positioned to the rear of the watch, providing a view of the self-winding movement within.
My press loan was presented on a black high-gloss Louisiana alligator strap paired with a stainless steel folding buckle. Once again, there is a pervading sense of quality.
The movement
At the heart of this Cuervo y Sobrinos watch is the Calibre CYS 6331 which is based on the ETA 2892 A2. The oscillating mass is presented in a vivid shade of blue and adorned with numerous stars, emulating the appearance of a nocturnal sky. In addition, the brand’s emblem adds an additional dose of colour. The movement is embellished with perlage and colimaçon.
The balance has a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz) and the movement contains 31 jewels. Assuming the watch is fully wound, it will run autonomously for 42 hours.
Closing remarks
While there are other brands that make watches equipped with two moon phases, suited to wearers in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere, they are few in number. By creating this watch, the brand from Capolago, Switzerland, known for its distinctive designs and Cuban flair, has further differentiated itself from the mainstream brands.
The execution of the dial and the case are impressive, especially considering the model’s aggressive pricing (CHF 5,500 + taxes). I particularly like the blue oscillating mass which is enlivened with stars and the brand’s cheery logo. Furthermore, some of the dial details and the sumptuous alligator strap reinforce the sense of luxury. However, it is the sapphire blue dial, the brushed silver-toned circlet and the sublime Clous de Paris guilloché which are my favourite elements. I admired these details before I received the press sample and they continue to appeal to me now.
Further reading
https://www.cuervoysobrinos.com/
Technical specifications
- Model: Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Doble Luna
- Reference: 3194.1DL
- Case: stainless steel case; diameter 40mm; height 11.25mm; water resistance 3ATM (30 metres); box-shaped sapphire crystal to front; sapphire caseback.
- Functions: hours; minutes; central sweep seconds; day; date; month; moonphase indicators (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere)
- Movement: CYS6331; Self-winding movement; frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz); 31 jewels; power reserve 42 hours.
- Strap: Black Louisiana alligator strap with stainless steel folding buckle.
- Price: CHF 5,500 + taxes (RRP as at 1.3.2021)