Cuervo Y Sobrinos Torpedo Historiador Semanal

One of my favourite and eclectic brands, Havana-based Cuervo Y Sobrinos, have announced their new Cuervo Y Sobrinos Torpedo Historiador Semanal in anticipation of the 2010 BaselWorld industry exhibition in March.  

Well, when I say 'new', it is in fact a modern interpretation on one of the marque's distinctive 1940's models. The Torpedo Historiador Semanal, according to the company themselves, uses a movement only slightly modified from the 1945 original and reflects the style of the brand's watches in this era - at which time Cuervo Y Sobrinos were enjoying their best years until the 1959 revolution in Cuba which saw anything associated with the trappings of wealth fall from favour with the new socialist rulers.

This new release from the brand is an eyecatching piece indeed. There's a lot going on in that dial. The watch face features five scales which display (from centre to bezel) arabic numerals, a continuous day of week (which means that the red 'horseshoe' pointer only completes a circuit once a month), then date, month and finally, at the bezel the week number.

The 40mm round stainless steel case (rose gold is an option) features a crown at the expected 3 o'clock position as well as two further crowns at the 8 (for setting the week and month) and 10 (date) positions.

Cuervo Y Sobrinos are inherently proud of their Cuban roots and if the styling is a little more flamboyant than many of their Swiss counterparts, it is no more than an expression their latin culture, and is something the brand does as  naturally as they would breathe in the Havana air.

Technical Specifications (from Cuervo Y Sobrinos press release)

Highlights	Classical and timeless product inspired by an original CyS design from the fifties
	Vintage timepiece
	CyS in-house caliber based on a patented original CyS caliber from
	the sixties
	Functional movement with indication of date, day of the week, month and week of the year
Movement	Automatic CyS 2853
	Diameter: 38 mm
	Height: 6.15 mm
	27 jewels
	Power reserve: 44 hours
Functions	Hours, minutes and small seconds
	Date, day of the week, month and week of the year
Case	Stainless steel
	Sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides
	Water resistant to 3 atm
	Case diameter: 45 mm
	Height 13.55 mm
	Case back: screwed see-tourgh back
Strap	Louisiana alligator strap
	Stainless steel folding buckle