CUERVO Y SOBRINOS "PADELLONE" 38 mm | One-of-a-Kind | Dato Compax Chronograph | Full Calendar - Triple Date | Moon Phase | Authentic Collectible -- Cuervo's initial design dated 1948 -- one year prior to Rolex Ref. 8171 | 1940s / 1950s

CUERVO Y SOBRINOS - "PADELLONE" Chronograph - Dato Compax Triple Calendar Moonphase Initial "Padellone" Design Big Oversize 38 mm 100% Authentic 1948 / 1950s For your collection of incredibly one-of-a-kind 1950er Havanna Collectibles, there is one of the most legendary, complex, and sought-after vintage wristwatches in the history of Cuervo y Sobrinos | The original Padellone, designed & manufactured from the year 1948. In the year 1949, Rolex began production of its famous Reference 8171 - affectionately known among collectors as the “Padellone” (Italian for “large frying pan”) due to its large size. In other words: A year before Rolex, Cuervo y Sobrinos had already developed the design for the famous “Padellone” and produced this legendary masterpiece as a few one-of-a-kind, Havana-born timepieces crafted from gold for its most exclusive clientele - marking the birth of this legend by Cuervo y Sobrinos. This masterpiece is the one and only available Cuervo y Sobrinos Triple Calendar Moonphase “Padellone” (38 mm oversize case) on the world`s market in this combination & original preserved condition. A once in a lifetime acquisition! __ The timemachine from Cuervo y Sobrinos shown here was most likely manufactured in 1950 (see below for details). This masterpiece is an exceptionally rare variant, made from an alpaca nickel silver alloy, with a noticeably warmer, slightly yellowish-brownish undertone that appears softer than stainless steel and is reminiscent of the hue of very light champagne or white gold. Despite its name, the alloy contains no actual silver; rather, it owes its name to its elegant, silvery-white appearance. It is excellent to work with, is harder than pure copper, and was the premium choice in the 1950s. The case back, on the other hand, is stamped on the inside with “FOND ACIER,” French for “steel case back.” This combination of materials was the industry standard in the 20th century, and there were solid reasons for this: First, protection against corrosion, as the case back rests directly on the skin. Stainless steel is completely resistant to sweat and acids. Second, skin compatibility, as stainless steel generally does not trigger allergies. Inside this masterpiece beats the legendary full-calendar movement of that era from “Nimer,” the brand “Nimer Watch Co.”, which was founded by the Meyer/Marc Favre family in Switzerland - a superb, refined movement finished with a red gold galvanization, often referred as “red-gilt.” This vintage treasure has a beautiful, original patina across all its components - from the signs of use on the pushers, to the patinated areas on the case and the hands, all the way to the dial, which features a lovely, smooth cream-colored patina. All lettering, colors, full-calendar discs, and the moon phase are in outstanding, 100% original condition. An absolute incredible masterpiece! __ Cuervo y Sobrinos | Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship & the Cuban spirit of the 1950s. Havana is still today considered a fascinating place of longing because time there seems to have stood still in the 1950s. During that era, Havana was the undisputed metropolis of glamour, entertainment, and vice & excess in the Western Hemisphere. It was an explosive and fascinating mix of extreme wealth, the American lifestyle, Caribbean culture, Mafia influence, and world-famous show business. On the history of the ’50s.. Las Vegas of the Caribbean | At times during the 1950s, Havana generated higher revenues than Las Vegas. The city boomed thanks to the building of luxurious casinos, glamorous nightclubs (such as the world-famous Sans Souci and the Tropicana), and state-of-the-art luxury hotels in the Vedado district. Hotspot for Celebrities & the Mafia | For stars from Hollywood and the music scene—including Frank Sinatra, Ava Gardner, and Clark Gable—Havana was the ultimate playground for escaping the prudish daily life of the United States. At the same time, American mob bosses like Meyer Lansky and Santo Trafficante built a massive gambling and entertainment empire. Cultural & Economic Boom | Cuba had one of the strongest currencies in Latin America (the peso was linked to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio). Havana was a hub of innovation: Latin America’s first television program went on the air here in 1950. Musically, styles such as the mambo, the cha-cha-cha, and Afro-Cuban jazz conquered the world from Havana. Legendary U.S. Street Cruisers | In the 1950s, Cuba was the largest export market for American cars. In 1954, more Cadillacs were sold in Havana than in New York City. Legacy of the 1950s | It continues to shape Havana to this day, because the victory of the Cuban Revolution under Fidel Castro on January 1, 1959, brought the era of the glittering mafia and casino paradise to an abrupt end. The U.S. trade embargo imposed shortly thereafter effectively “froze” the city in the 1950s. That’s what makes Havana so unique today: the countless Cadillacs, Buicks, and Chevrolets from the ’50s—lovingly preserved—together with the run-down but magnificent colonial and Art Deco buildings, shape the world-famous, nostalgic street scene. Cuervo y Sobrinos | Almost nothing reflects the fascination of Cuba and the glamour and flair of Havana more intensely than an original, well-preserved masterpiece from that era by Cuervo y Sobrinos. History & Origins | The brand traces its origins to its founding in 1882 in Havana, Cuba, by the Cuervo family, following the opening of their jewelry store in 1862. The luxury brand’s heyday was in the 1940s and 1950s—during this time, the boutique in Havana was a gathering place for famous figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, and Albert Einstein. >> If that sounds interesting to you, take a look at the descriptions of Cuervo y Sobrinos’ other vintage timepieces here and you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the company’s history. Enjoy reading. __ This legend of a vintage watch by Cuervo y Sobrinos was manufactured from the late 1940s to the early 1950s (approx. 1948–1953). During this era, the prestigious Cuervo y Sobrinos jewelry store in Havana, Cuba, was at the absolute peak of its success. The family did not manufacture watches themselves but imported high-quality Swiss movements and cases to distribute them exclusively in Cuba under their own design and branding. 1. Background of this Cuervo y Sobrinos “Padellone” and its Movement The Movement | The “Nimer” movement in this case refers to the Nimer Watch Co. brand (founded by the Meyer family and Marc Favre in Switzerland), which was known at the time for its highly sophisticated and precise full-calendar and chronograph movements. A Comparison with the Rolex 8171 “Padellone” | The Rolex 8171 was produced between 1949 and 1952 and, just like this model from Cuervo y Sobrinos, was characterized by an unusually large diameter of 38 mm (huge by the standards of the time) as well as a striking case shape with a hand-set date indicator and the day-of-the-week and month windows positioned above the moon phase mechanism. It was precisely during this brief period that this specific design became the absolute trend in Swiss haute horlogerie. In fact, the first model—and thus the concept and orignal design for this legend—dates back to 1948 and was created by Cuervo y Sobrinos. 2. Characteristics and highlights of this Cuervo y Sobrinos “Padellone” Caliber and its Special Features | The “Nimer” Signature: The engraving “NIMER / 17 RUBIS” confirms the historical connection to Cuervo y Sobrinos. Nimer sourced these ébauches from Felsa, refined their quality, and branded them with its own name. In the 1940s and 1950s, Felsa was one of the absolute pioneers of complication movements in Switzerland. Nimer fully galvanized this outstanding movement—a masterpiece of craftsmanship—with a red gold finish (copper finish) and marked it “Nimer,” then shipped it to Cuervo y Sobrinos in Cuba, where the movements were finally assembled. Originality and Condition of the Movement | The movement gives an extremely authentic and unaltered impression. The engravings are sharp and contemporary. The movement components feature the exact same beautiful red gold or copper galvanization (often called “red-gilt”). This indicates that all main plates and bridges originally belong together and are exceptionally well-preserved in their original state. Screws & Condition: The screw heads show only minimal signs of earlier work on the mechanism and the tools that were used. These minimal signs indicate that, without exception, this mechanism has been maintained to this day with the utmost expertise and to the highest quality of craftsmanship. 3. Exact Production Period This outstanding collector’s item of Cuban-Swiss horology is in exceptional, fantastic condition—both visually and technically! The 100% original dial is absolutely fascinating and confirms this watch’s extremely high collector’s value. It is an fully authentic, highly complex multicolor dial intended for the Latin American market, featuring a beautiful patina of age. | Detailed information on the dial’s features and characteristics: A. Inscriptions, History, and Chronological Context • The Inscription: The highlight is the “Cuervo y Sobrinos / HABANA” lettering below the calendar windows, which is preserved in pristine quality. The typography corresponds exactly to the historical specifications of the famous Havana jeweler. • Spanish calendar discs: The weekday and month indicators in Spanish are extremely rare and valuable. In the left window, SAB stands for Sábado (Saturday), and on the right, LUG stands for Julio (July). This proves without a doubt that this watch was originally shipped directly to the Cuban or South American market and was never retrofitted with European replacement parts. • The “Antimagnetic” lettering: The curved “Antimagnetic” lettering is prominently displayed above the moon phase. This was an important quality feature in the early 1950s, as watches were increasingly being magnetized by new household equipment at that time. B. Design and Features • The Pointer Date: The blue date scale runs from 1 to 31 along the outer edge. The streamlined pointer with its distinctive red tip indicates the current day. • The Dial Layout: The combination of applied Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, paired with the delicate, elegant stick indices, is typical of these luxury watches from the late 1940s and early 1950s. • The moon phase: The charming “face in the moon” (moon phase with stars) is a classic design element of this era. C. The Spanish Calendar Disc & Historical Context to the year 1950 • The abbreviation LUG for Julio (July) can be seen on the dial. In historical linguistics and the classical writing conventions of the era, the older, traditional word “Luglio”—or its abbreviation “LUG”—was used on calendar discs in the Caribbean region—specifically in Cuba—to denote July, before the modern spelling “JUL” (Julio) became widely accepted internationally. Watches with precisely this dial and disc configuration left the watchmakers' ateliers in Switzerland for export to Havana around the year 1950. D. Condition and Authenticity | “Patina” The dial features an even, “creamy” patina (discoloration of the lacquer caused by UV radiation and aging). The dial is 100% authentic and in its original condition. The fine minute track and the date numerals along the edge are printed with razor-sharp clarity. The “Cuervo y Sobrinos HABANA” lettering is complete and perfectly preserved, as is the finely and cleanly printed “SWISS MADE” lettering. The dial shows signs of aging and slight stains typical of its age — things collectors specifically look for in a genuine vintage watch from this era. The pushers show signs of wear that complement the patina of the hands. Overall, the watch is in an outstanding, consistently aged condition with a perfectly harmonious patina across all original components. Summary >> This Cuervo y Sobrinos is a magnificent, almost museum-quality masterpiece of watchmaking history. The combination of the legendary Felsa movement with Nimer refinements, the large 38-mm case, and the original Cuervo y Sobrinos dial featuring a Spanish-language full calendar makes this early timepiece an absolute treasure on the international collectors’ market. __ This beauty comes with its original packaging from Cuervo y Sobrinos, a stainless steel “Cuban link” bracelet with a quick-adjustment clasp, and a black leather strap of the finest quality. Our certified master watchmakers overhauled this masterpiece in year 2026. The timemachine is fully protected by our 1-year guarantee for you. The one and only available Cuervo y Sobrinos “Padellone” on the world`s market in this version and in its original, preserved condition – a collector's treasure of the highest value and ultimate significance in the fine art of horological history. __ In conclusion >> The legendary Padellone is a design by Cuervo y Sobrinos. And compared to its successor, the equally legendary Rolex Padellone, the original legend by Cuervo y Sobrinos is priced well below, but is a significantly harder to find Collectible. And in this particular version, a one-of-a-kind, statement timemachine. >> Take a look at the last two picture examples in this article description—the two Rolex Reference 8171 models—and make up your own mind about all of thes beautiful watches. In any case, the similarities are fascinating and offer a glimpse into the history of watchmaking in the late 1940s and early 1950s. __ Finally, there’s one tiny but significant difference - in every single manufactured timepiece - between these two rare “Padellone” models.. Have you noticed it, by any chance? >> Rolex gives the moon on its moon phase display a “serious face,” while Cuervo y Sobrino lights up with a bright “smiling face.” Havana, after all - the original! Manual movement refined by Nimer Diameter 38 mm without crown Technical indications | Keeping time +9 sec/day Serviced 2026 * For best performance, adjust this collector's masterpiece after shipping. | ** Upon request, we provide any service also prior shipping. Feel free to speak with us @ any time! *Illustrations for curation are not part of the sale, but serve for illustrative purposes, unless otherwise stated in the description. Differential taxation according to § 25a UStG. No taxes included. | Differenzbesteuerung nach § 25a UStG. Kunstgegenstände und Sammlungsstücke, Sonderregelung. From 1965 to 1996, Boutique Cuervo y Sobrinos was nationalized by the government. This caused the company to suffer a period of decline. It continued to produce military watches for the Cuban army. The brand became dormant shortly after and did not produce watches during this period. Nevertheless, the company's earlier models attracted a lot of interest from watch collectors. In 1997, Luca Musumeci & Marzio Villa revived the Cuervo y Sobrinos name and the beginning of a new era began. __ * The Rolex Reference 8171 “Padellone”, is one of the most legendary vintage wristwatches in Rolex history. It was produced during a very short production run between 1949 and approximately 1953. This historic Rolex model features a full calendar and moon phase complication. Due to its design and mechanical complexity, it is considered by experts to be the “Holy Grail” for vintage collectors. The “Padellone” Case - this distinctive nickname comes from its diameter of 38 mm, which was enormous by the standards of the time. In an era when men’s watches typically measured 32 to 34 mm, the watch appeared exceptionally large due to its very narrow bezel and flat case. An important note on preserving value: Because the case back is simply pressed on, many vintage models have suffered moisture damage. Additionally, the delicate Rolex crown (Coronet) and the serial number on the back were often erased during refurbishments. Fully original, unpolished examples fetch astronomical sums in the high six-figure range at auctions.