Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

1 0 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T here is no city on Earth quite like the capital of Cuba. Havana is a unique destination, undergoing constant change and still beguiling residents and visitors alike in its long history. The discovery of Cuba by Christopher Columbus in 1492 was the prelude for the official founding of Havana by Diego Velásquez de Cuéllar in 1519. The watch manufacturer Cuervo y Sobrinos, which was established in 1882, has deep roots in Havana, and so it has fittingly decided to commemorate the city’s 500th anniversary this year with a special timepiece – the Historiador 1519. The aforementioned connections date back to when the Cuervo family started out in business by importing Swiss watches before developing their own Swiss-made collections, which became must-have stylish timepieces. Famous luminaries of the 20th century who visited the Cuervos y Sobrinos Havana boutique included the likes of Hemingway, Churchill, Pablo Neruda, Einstein and Caruso. Hemingway lived in the city for 20 years and was to write some of his greatest works there, including ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ and ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ for which he received a Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Like Havana itself, the Historiador 1519 is rich in symbolism and is both distinctly Latin and resolutely classic. It features a GMT dial, providing the time in two different time zones, and symbolising the New and Old Worlds and their respective two cultures merging. It also features a key which can be found on the flag of Havana. This is a nod to the Europeans unlocking and discovering the NewWorld in the 15th Century. The back of the watch also reveals some more symbols, such as the three castles – The Fuerza, The Morro and the Punta – which make up the Havana flag. The city’s historical defence can also be admired through special coloured printing on the oscillating weight. The Historiador 1519 comes in stainless steel with a blue dial, which was inspired by the same hue on Havana’s flag, and the signature champagne-cream dial of Cuervos y Sobrinos. The stainless steel version is limited to 500 pieces. To celebrate the 500th anniversary in style, the brand also created a limited edition of 20 pieces in 18-carat gold with a stunning silver dial. At the heart of the dial the chronograph also features an elegant art deco design and hallmark – for the discerning collector, this is a mark of the upmarket Cuervos of the 1950s and in high demand. CUERVO AND SOBRINOS HISTORIADOR 1519