PREVIEW - RARE COLLECTION HEUER LEONIDAS CHRONGRAPH GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

SOLD TO MR LOKE FROM SUBANG

The TAG Heuer company has its roots in 1860 when Edouard Heuer founded Uhrenmanufaktur Heuer AG in St-Imier, Switzerland, patenting his first chronograph in 1882. In 1887 Heuer patented an 'oscillating pinion' still used by major watchmakers for mechanical chronographs.

Early 20th century

In 1911, Heuer received a patent for the "Time of Trip", the first dashboard chronograph. Designed for use in automobiles and aircraft, two large hands mounted from the center pinion indicate the time of day, as on a traditional clock. A small pair of hands, mounted at the top of the dial (12 o'clock position) indicates the duration of the trip (up to 12 hours). A top-mounted crown allows the user to set the time; a button mounted in that crown operates the start / stop / reset functions of the "duration of trip" counter.

Heuer introduced its first wrist chronograph in 1914. The crown was at the 12 o'clock position, as these first wrist chronographs were adapted from pocket chronographs. In 1916, Heuer introduced the "Micrograph", the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100 of a second. This model was soon followed by the "Semikrograph", a stopwatch that offered 1/50 of a second timing, as well as a split-second function (which allows the user to determine the interval between two contestants or events).

Timepieces of the 1930s and 1940s

In 1933, Heuer introduced the "Autavia", a dashboard timer used for automobiles and aviation (whence its name, from "AUTos" and "AVIAtion"). The companion "Hervue" was a clock that could run for eight days without being wound. Over the period from 1935 through the early 1940s, Heuer manufactured chronographs for pilots in the German Air Force, known as "Flieger" (pilots) chronographs. The earlier version featured a hinged-back case and one pusher (for start / stop / reset); the later version had a snap-back case and added a second pusher (for time-in and time-out). All these Flieger chronographs had two-registers, with a capacity of 30 minutes.

In the mid-1940s, Heuer expanded its line of chronographs to include both two- and three-register models, as well as a three-register chronograph that included a full calendar function (day / date / month). As the highest development of Heuer's chronographs, these "triple calendar" chronographs were offered in stainless steel, 14 carat gold 18 and 22 carat gold cases. Dial colors were white, black or copper.

1950s chronographs

In the early 1950s, Heuer produced watches for the American retailer Abercrombies & Fitch. The "Seafarer" and "Auto-Graph" were unique chronographs produced by Heuer to be sold by Abercrombie & Fitch. The "Seafarers" had special dials—with blue, green and yellow patterns—that showed the high and low tides. This dial could also be used to track the phases of the moon. Heuer produced a version of the "Seafarer" for sale under the Heuer name, with this model called the "Mareographe". The "Auto-Graph" was produced in 1953 and 1954, and featured a tachymeter scale on the dial and a hand that could be preset to a specific point on the scale. This allowed a rally driver or navigator to determine whether the car was achieving the desired pace, over a measured mile. Advertisements and literature also pointed out that this hand could be rotated to count golf scores or other events.

Late 1950s – new series of dashboard timers

From 1911, Heuer manufactured timepieces to be mounted on the dashboards of automobiles, aircraft and boats. These clocks and timers included a variety of models, designed to address specific needs of racers and rallyists. In 1958, Heuer introduced a new line of dashboard timepieces, which included the Master Time (8-day clock), the Monte Carlo (12-hour stopwatch), the Super Autavia (full chronograph), Sebring (60-minute, split-second timer) and Auto-Rallye (60-minute stopwatch). Heuer continued to manufacture these dashboard timepieces into the 1980s, at which time they were discontinued. Heuer also introduced timing devices for ski and motor racing events, including Formula One.

1960s chronographs

Autavia, 1962

Carrera, 1963

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Heuers were popular watches among automobile racers, both professionals and amateurs. Heuer was a leading producer of stopwatches and timing equipment, based on the volume of its sales, so it was only natural that racers, their crews and event sponsors began to wear Heuer's chronographs. Special versions of Heuer chronographs were produced with logos of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the names or logos of racing teams or sponsors (for example, Shelby Cobra, MG and Champion Sparkplugs.

The Autavia chronograph was introduced in 1962 and featured a rotating bezel, marked in either hours, minutes, decimal minutes (1/100th minute increments) or with a tachymeter scale. All manual-wind Autavias from the 1960s had a black dial, with white registers. Early cases had a screw-back and later models (from and after 1968) had snap-backs. The "Autavia" name had previously been used on Heuer's dashboard timers (described above).

">In 1962, Heuer became the first Swiss watchmaker in space. John Glenn wore a Heuer stopwatch when he piloted the Mercury Atlas 6 spacecraft on the first US manned space flight to orbit the earth. This stopwatch was the back-up clock for the mission and was started manually by Glenn 20 seconds into the flight. It is currently on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

">The Carrera chronograph, designed by Jack Heuer, was introduced in 1963. The Carrera had a very simple design, with only the registers and applied markers on the dial. The fixed inner bezel is divided into 1/5 second increments. The 1960s Carreras were available with a variety of dials, including all-white, all-black, white registers on a black dial, and black registers on a black dial. A three-register, triple calendar version of the Carrera was introduced around 1968. ">Most of Heuer chronographs from this period—including the Autavias and Carreras—used movements manufactured by Valjoux, including the Valjoux 72 movement (for a 12-hour chronograph) and the Valjoux 92 movement (for a 30-minute or 45-minute chronograph). The Valjoux 72 movement utilized a 'tri-compax' design, with three registers on the dial—one register for the chronograph hours (at the bottom), one register for the chronograph minutes (at the right), and a third register for a continuously running second hand (at the left). The second hand for the chronograph was mounted on the center pinion, along with the time-of-day hands.

Heuer acquired the "Leonidas" brand in the early 1960s, with the combined company marketing watches under the "Heuer-Leonidas" name. One of the designs that Heuer acquired from Leonidas was the "Bundeswehr" chronograph, used by the German air force. These "BWs" feature a 'fly-back' mechanism, so that when the chronograph is reset to zero, it immediately begins running again, to time the next segment or event.

World's first automatic chronographs

Commencing in the mid-1960s, Heuer was part of a partnership (with Breitling and Hamilton) that sought to introduce the world's first automatic chronograph. Seiko (a Japanese watch manufacturer) and Zenith (a Swiss watch manufacturer) were also seeking to be the first to offer these chronographs. These projects were conducted in secret, as none of the competitors wanted the other companies to be aware of their efforts. Most agree that the Heuer-Breitling venture was first to introduce their new line of automatic chronographs to the world wide market, with Heuer-Breitling-Hamilton holding lavish press conferences in Geneva and New York, on 3 March 1969, to show their new lines of chronograph line-height: 10px;">s.

The Heuer Monaco 40th Anniversary re-edition with Calibre 11, is a limited edition contemporary replica of the original Monaco.

Heuer's first automatic chronographs were the Autavia, Carrera and Monaco. These were powered by the Cal 11 and Cal 12 movements (12-hour chronograph); Cal 14 movement (12-hour chronograph and additional hand for GMT / second time-zone) and the Cal 15 movement (30-minute chronograph). Unusually, the winding crown was on the left, with the pushers for the chronograph on the right. The earliest of Heuer's Cal 11 chronographs (from 1969) were named "Chrono-Matic". In the early 1970s, Heuer expanded its line of automatic chronographs to include the Daytona, Montreal, Silverstone, Calculator, Monza and Jarama models, all of them powered by the Caliber 11 movement.

Several of the automatic Heuer chronographs powered by the Caliber 11 series of movements are associated with automobile racing and specific drivers. Steve McQueen wore a blue Monaco in the 1971 movie Le Mans(with this model now referred to as the "McQueen Monaco") and Swiss Formula One star Jo Siffert customarily wore a white-dialed Autavia with black registers. In 1974, Heuer produced a special version of the black-dialed Autavia that was offered by the Viceroy cigarette company, in a special promotion for $88. The Viceroy advertisements for this promotion featured race Parnelli Jones, this version of the Autavia got to be called the "Viceroy".

Chronographs of the 1970s and 1980s

In 1975, Heuer introduced the Chronosplit, a digital chronograph with dual LED and LCD displays. Later versions featured two LCD displays.

Heuer began using the Valjoux 7750 movement in its automatic chronographs, with the Kentucky and Pasadena models (both introduced in 1977). The Valjoux 7750 movement was a three-register chronograph (with seconds, minutes and hours), that also offered day / date windows.

In the mid-1970s, Heuer introduced a series of chronographs powered by the Lemania 5100 movement. The Lemania 5100 movements have the minute hand for the chronograph on the center pinion (rather than on a smaller register), greatly improving legibility. The Lemania 5100 movement is considered very rugged and has been used in a variety of chronographs issued to military pilots. There are ten models of Heuer chronographs powered by the Lemania 5100—Reference 510.500 (stainless steel), 510.501 (black coated), 510.502 (olive drab coated), 510.503 (pewter coated), 510.511 (Carrera dialed acrylic crystal PVD finish), 510.523 (Carrera dialed acrylic crystal stainless steel), as well as models with the names Silverstone (steel case with black dial) and Cortina (steel case with blue dial); the Reference 510.543 was made for the A.M.I. (Italian Air Force) and a special edition (with no reference number marked on the case) was made for AudiSport.

Formation

TAG Heuer was formed in 1985 when TAG (Techniques d'Avant Garde), manufacturers of high-tech items such as ceramic turbochargers for Formula One cars, acquired Heuer.

On 13 September 1999 TAG Heuer accepted a bid from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. of SwFr1.15 billion (£452.15 million) (US$739 million) contingent upon a transfer of 50.1% of stocks.

PREVIEW - RARE COLLECTION HEUER LEONIDAS CHRONGRAPH GENTS WRISTWATCH (SOLD)

SOLD TO MR LOKE FROM SUBANG

The TAG Heuer company has its roots in 1860 when Edouard Heuer founded Uhrenmanufaktur Heuer AG in St-Imier, Switzerland, patenting his first chronograph in 1882. In 1887 Heuer patented an 'oscillating pinion' still used by major watchmakers for mechanical chronographs.

Early 20th century

In 1911, Heuer received a patent for the "Time of Trip", the first dashboard chronograph. Designed for use in automobiles and aircraft, two large hands mounted from the center pinion indicate the time of day, as on a traditional clock. A small pair of hands, mounted at the top of the dial (12 o'clock position) indicates the duration of the trip (up to 12 hours). A top-mounted crown allows the user to set the time; a button mounted in that crown operates the start / stop / reset functions of the "duration of trip" counter.

Heuer introduced its first wrist chronograph in 1914. The crown was at the 12 o'clock position, as these first wrist chronographs were adapted from pocket chronographs. In 1916, Heuer introduced the "Micrograph", the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100 of a second. This model was soon followed by the "Semikrograph", a stopwatch that offered 1/50 of a second timing, as well as a split-second function (which allows the user to determine the interval between two contestants or events).

Timepieces of the 1930s and 1940s

In 1933, Heuer introduced the "Autavia", a dashboard timer used for automobiles and aviation (whence its name, from "AUTos" and "AVIAtion"). The companion "Hervue" was a clock that could run for eight days without being wound. Over the period from 1935 through the early 1940s, Heuer manufactured chronographs for pilots in the German Air Force, known as "Flieger" (pilots) chronographs. The earlier version featured a hinged-back case and one pusher (for start / stop / reset); the later version had a snap-back case and added a second pusher (for time-in and time-out). All these Flieger chronographs had two-registers, with a capacity of 30 minutes.

In the mid-1940s, Heuer expanded its line of chronographs to include both two- and three-register models, as well as a three-register chronograph that included a full calendar function (day / date / month). As the highest development of Heuer's chronographs, these "triple calendar" chronographs were offered in stainless steel, 14 carat gold 18 and 22 carat gold cases. Dial colors were white, black or copper.

1950s chronographs

In the early 1950s, Heuer produced watches for the American retailer Abercrombies & Fitch. The "Seafarer" and "Auto-Graph" were unique chronographs produced by Heuer to be sold by Abercrombie & Fitch. The "Seafarers" had special dials—with blue, green and yellow patterns—that showed the high and low tides. This dial could also be used to track the phases of the moon. Heuer produced a version of the "Seafarer" for sale under the Heuer name, with this model called the "Mareographe". The "Auto-Graph" was produced in 1953 and 1954, and featured a tachymeter scale on the dial and a hand that could be preset to a specific point on the scale. This allowed a rally driver or navigator to determine whether the car was achieving the desired pace, over a measured mile. Advertisements and literature also pointed out that this hand could be rotated to count golf scores or other events.

Late 1950s – new series of dashboard timers

From 1911, Heuer manufactured timepieces to be mounted on the dashboards of automobiles, aircraft and boats. These clocks and timers included a variety of models, designed to address specific needs of racers and rallyists. In 1958, Heuer introduced a new line of dashboard timepieces, which included the Master Time (8-day clock), the Monte Carlo (12-hour stopwatch), the Super Autavia (full chronograph), Sebring (60-minute, split-second timer) and Auto-Rallye (60-minute stopwatch). Heuer continued to manufacture these dashboard timepieces into the 1980s, at which time they were discontinued. Heuer also introduced timing devices for ski and motor racing events, including Formula One.

1960s chronographs

Autavia, 1962

Carrera, 1963

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Heuers were popular watches among automobile racers, both professionals and amateurs. Heuer was a leading producer of stopwatches and timing equipment, based on the volume of its sales, so it was only natural that racers, their crews and event sponsors began to wear Heuer's chronographs. Special versions of Heuer chronographs were produced with logos of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the names or logos of racing teams or sponsors (for example, Shelby Cobra, MG and Champion Sparkplugs.

The Autavia chronograph was introduced in 1962 and featured a rotating bezel, marked in either hours, minutes, decimal minutes (1/100th minute increments) or with a tachymeter scale. All manual-wind Autavias from the 1960s had a black dial, with white registers. Early cases had a screw-back and later models (from and after 1968) had snap-backs. The "Autavia" name had previously been used on Heuer's dashboard timers (described above).

">In 1962, Heuer became the first Swiss watchmaker in space. John Glenn wore a Heuer stopwatch when he piloted the Mercury Atlas 6 spacecraft on the first US manned space flight to orbit the earth. This stopwatch was the back-up clock for the mission and was started manually by Glenn 20 seconds into the flight. It is currently on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

">The Carrera chronograph, designed by Jack Heuer, was introduced in 1963. The Carrera had a very simple design, with only the registers and applied markers on the dial. The fixed inner bezel is divided into 1/5 second increments. The 1960s Carreras were available with a variety of dials, including all-white, all-black, white registers on a black dial, and black registers on a black dial. A three-register, triple calendar version of the Carrera was introduced around 1968. ">Most of Heuer chronographs from this period—including the Autavias and Carreras—used movements manufactured by Valjoux, including the Valjoux 72 movement (for a 12-hour chronograph) and the Valjoux 92 movement (for a 30-minute or 45-minute chronograph). The Valjoux 72 movement utilized a 'tri-compax' design, with three registers on the dial—one register for the chronograph hours (at the bottom), one register for the chronograph minutes (at the right), and a third register for a continuously running second hand (at the left). The second hand for the chronograph was mounted on the center pinion, along with the time-of-day hands.

Heuer acquired the "Leonidas" brand in the early 1960s, with the combined company marketing watches under the "Heuer-Leonidas" name. One of the designs that Heuer acquired from Leonidas was the "Bundeswehr" chronograph, used by the German air force. These "BWs" feature a 'fly-back' mechanism, so that when the chronograph is reset to zero, it immediately begins running again, to time the next segment or event.

World's first automatic chronographs

Commencing in the mid-1960s, Heuer was part of a partnership (with Breitling and Hamilton) that sought to introduce the world's first automatic chronograph. Seiko (a Japanese watch manufacturer) and Zenith (a Swiss watch manufacturer) were also seeking to be the first to offer these chronographs. These projects were conducted in secret, as none of the competitors wanted the other companies to be aware of their efforts. Most agree that the Heuer-Breitling venture was first to introduce their new line of automatic chronographs to the world wide market, with Heuer-Breitling-Hamilton holding lavish press conferences in Geneva and New York, on 3 March 1969, to show their new lines of chronograph line-height: 10px;">s.

The Heuer Monaco 40th Anniversary re-edition with Calibre 11, is a limited edition contemporary replica of the original Monaco.

Heuer's first automatic chronographs were the Autavia, Carrera and Monaco. These were powered by the Cal 11 and Cal 12 movements (12-hour chronograph); Cal 14 movement (12-hour chronograph and additional hand for GMT / second time-zone) and the Cal 15 movement (30-minute chronograph). Unusually, the winding crown was on the left, with the pushers for the chronograph on the right. The earliest of Heuer's Cal 11 chronographs (from 1969) were named "Chrono-Matic". In the early 1970s, Heuer expanded its line of automatic chronographs to include the Daytona, Montreal, Silverstone, Calculator, Monza and Jarama models, all of them powered by the Caliber 11 movement.

Several of the automatic Heuer chronographs powered by the Caliber 11 series of movements are associated with automobile racing and specific drivers. Steve McQueen wore a blue Monaco in the 1971 movie Le Mans(with this model now referred to as the "McQueen Monaco") and Swiss Formula One star Jo Siffert customarily wore a white-dialed Autavia with black registers. In 1974, Heuer produced a special version of the black-dialed Autavia that was offered by the Viceroy cigarette company, in a special promotion for $88. The Viceroy advertisements for this promotion featured race Parnelli Jones, this version of the Autavia got to be called the "Viceroy".

Chronographs of the 1970s and 1980s

In 1975, Heuer introduced the Chronosplit, a digital chronograph with dual LED and LCD displays. Later versions featured two LCD displays.

Heuer began using the Valjoux 7750 movement in its automatic chronographs, with the Kentucky and Pasadena models (both introduced in 1977). The Valjoux 7750 movement was a three-register chronograph (with seconds, minutes and hours), that also offered day / date windows.

In the mid-1970s, Heuer introduced a series of chronographs powered by the Lemania 5100 movement. The Lemania 5100 movements have the minute hand for the chronograph on the center pinion (rather than on a smaller register), greatly improving legibility. The Lemania 5100 movement is considered very rugged and has been used in a variety of chronographs issued to military pilots. There are ten models of Heuer chronographs powered by the Lemania 5100—Reference 510.500 (stainless steel), 510.501 (black coated), 510.502 (olive drab coated), 510.503 (pewter coated), 510.511 (Carrera dialed acrylic crystal PVD finish), 510.523 (Carrera dialed acrylic crystal stainless steel), as well as models with the names Silverstone (steel case with black dial) and Cortina (steel case with blue dial); the Reference 510.543 was made for the A.M.I. (Italian Air Force) and a special edition (with no reference number marked on the case) was made for AudiSport.

Formation

TAG Heuer was formed in 1985 when TAG (Techniques d'Avant Garde), manufacturers of high-tech items such as ceramic turbochargers for Formula One cars, acquired Heuer.

On 13 September 1999 TAG Heuer accepted a bid from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. of SwFr1.15 billion (£452.15 million) (US$739 million) contingent upon a transfer of 50.1% of stocks.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR BATHIN
KEPADA
SEMUA RAKAN-RAKAN BLOGGERS
SAYA TELAH SELAMAT KEMBALI KE MALAYSIA

DEPAN KEDAI JAM PATEK PHILLIPPE

BANYAK NYE MESIN JAHIT SINGER ANTIK DALAM KEDAI DI SHEPHERD BUSH, LONDON

DEPAN MENARA HITAM, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

PRINCESS STREET, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH'S CASTLES

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

SELAMAT HARI RAYA, MAAF ZAHIR BATHIN
KEPADA
SEMUA RAKAN-RAKAN BLOGGERS
SAYA TELAH SELAMAT KEMBALI KE MALAYSIA

DEPAN KEDAI JAM PATEK PHILLIPPE

BANYAK NYE MESIN JAHIT SINGER ANTIK DALAM KEDAI DI SHEPHERD BUSH, LONDON

DEPAN MENARA HITAM, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

PRINCESS STREET, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

EDINBURGH'S CASTLES

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE ELECTION GRAND PRIX MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: ELECTION GRANDPRIX

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS BY ELECTION WATCH COMPANY

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1950's

MODEL: MILITARY

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACCRYLIC CLEAN/BERSIH

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: SWISS ELECTION 17 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

DIAL COLOR: BLACK MILITARY

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: MILITARY

HANDS/JARUM: SILVER TONE / KEPERAKAN

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: WHITE ARABIC

CASING : STAINLESS STEEL/KELULI SEPENUHNYA

LUGS: 16mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 33mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 36mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: S/N 929741

CROWN: SS/ KELULI

STRAP/TALI: GENUINE BROWN LEATHER BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL VERY RARE AND HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: RM700 (NEGOTIABLE/BOLEH DIRUNDING)

BRIEF HISTORY OF CUERVO Y SOBRINOS HABANA WATCHES

At the end of the 19th century, Havana, the pearl of the Caribbean, became a meeting place for intellectuals, businessmen and world figures, as well as adventurers and sailors. On this island, time has always had another dimension--a realm where awareness and a carefree lifestyle co-existed and gave rise to the freedom of being.

It was in this unique atmosphere that Armando Rio y Cuervo and his brothers ran the jewellery and watchmaking business founded by their uncle Ramon (hence the name, Cuervo y Sobrinos--"Cuervo and Nephews"). In the spring of 1882, the family opened its "La Casa" shop on Havana's prestigious Avenida Quinta (Fifth Avenue).

As evidenced by the guest book and photographs that first came to the light only a few years ago, discovered in the basement rooms of the old La Casa shop, Ernest Hemingway, Enrico Caruso, Clark Gable, Winston Churchill and even Albert Einstein were among the Cuervo y Sobrinos shop's customers.

The brand-heritage of "another time" In less than half a century, the marriage of watch quality with the brand's Latin spirit conquered the Americas. Several leading watch brands (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Election and Longines) associated their names with that of Cuervo y Sobrinos to co-produce Havana timepieces.

During the 1890s, Cuervo y Sobrinos expanded its production network and opened three other outlets in European nerve centres. At a time when most European luxury-product manufacturers were expanding to other continents, Cuervo y Sobrinos dared to go in the opposite direction. It successfully established itself on the Old Continent: at Pforzheim, Germany, where the company choose noble materials such as gold and precious stones; in the heart of Paris, on Rue Mezlay, where the most prestigious jewellery was produced; and at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, where the watches were created.

For its select clientele--international figures from the worlds of literature, science, film and politics--a stop at La Casa in the centre of Havana became as important as a visit to the great jewellers on Place Vendome in Paris or New York's Fifth Avenue. During the 1940s, when the brand was at its peak, Cuervo y Sobrinos watches were not just high-end timepieces--they also represented a lifestyle and a way of thinking.

Any dreams Cuervo y Sobrinos had of conquering the watch world however, were dashed by the Cuban revolution of 1959. Some of the Cuervo family sought exile in Europe and the business slowly fell into oblivion. For 40 years, the brand lay dormant, remembered only by connoisseurs.

A new era of Latin time

In 2001, Italian Marzio Villa re-launched the brand that had been hibernating for four decades by buying the rights to the brand name and acquiring access to the company's archives, which had been forgotten in the La Casa basement in Havana.

Three enormous trunks were discovered, which revealed a fabulous heritage: intact watch movements and documents never made public, including watch sketches and designs. New principal premises were established in Lugano in Canton Ticino, with production entrusted to various famous watchmaking firms in the Jura Valley.

Inspired by this hidden treasure, today's watch designers have reproduced the spirit of escape, refinement and the glamorous golden age of Havana in a modern way.

Pleasure of the senses. Pleasure of time. The Cuervo y Sobrinos collection is 100 per cent Swiss-made, but with a distinctive Latin flavour.

Responding to the very essence of the 1940s atmosphere of luxury and refinement, the Cuervo y Sobrinos collection is based on projects, designs and sketches elaborated by watchmakers during this period--a time during which the concepts of elegance were completely revaluated. To recall the Latin origin of the brand, today's manufacturers integrate details like blue indigo colour markings in every timekeeper. It confers aesthetic harmony, as well as a unique and inimitable identity to each watch.

The brand presented its complete collection at the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show in 2003.

In 2005, Cuervo y Sobrinos launched its own proprietary movement, the CYS 2450, developed with movement's specialists in the Jura watch valley. The movement was first fitted inside the Esplendido single push-piece chronograph. It was later joined by the CYS 2854 proprietary movement, which drives the Robusto Tourbillon with a silicon tourbillon cage and hands.

For five years, Cuervo y Sobrinos has manufactured several timekeepers of Haute Horlogerie like the Robusto Tricalendografo, the Torpedo 3004 or Tour de Espana and the Eplendidos Grande Date Dualtime model presented at Baselworld 2006.

AUTHENTIC VINTAGE ELECTION GRAND PRIX MILITARY GENTS WRISTWATCH

BRAND/JENAMA: ELECTION GRANDPRIX

MADE IN/BUATAN: SWISS BY ELECTION WATCH COMPANY

CIRCA/TAHUN: 1950's

MODEL: MILITARY

CRYSTAL/CERMIN: ACCRYLIC CLEAN/BERSIH

MOVEMENT/ENJIN: SWISS ELECTION 17 JEWELS MANUAL WINDING MOVEMENT

DIAL COLOR: BLACK MILITARY

FUNCTION/FUNGSI: MILITARY

HANDS/JARUM: SILVER TONE / KEPERAKAN

MARKERS/TANDA WAKTU: WHITE ARABIC

CASING : STAINLESS STEEL/KELULI SEPENUHNYA

LUGS: 16mm

MEASUREMENT/UKURAN: 33mm DIAMETER INCLUDING CROWN and 36mm LUG TO LUG

DITANDA/ENGARVED BACK CASING: S/N 929741

CROWN: SS/ KELULI

STRAP/TALI: GENUINE BROWN LEATHER BAND

SIZE STRAP/SAIZ TALI: 8.5"

EXCELLENT CONDITION, WORKING, KEEPING TIME, DISCONTINUED MODEL VERY RARE AND HARD TO FIND

PRICE/HARGA: RM700 (NEGOTIABLE/BOLEH DIRUNDING)

BRIEF HISTORY OF CUERVO Y SOBRINOS HABANA WATCHES

At the end of the 19th century, Havana, the pearl of the Caribbean, became a meeting place for intellectuals, businessmen and world figures, as well as adventurers and sailors. On this island, time has always had another dimension--a realm where awareness and a carefree lifestyle co-existed and gave rise to the freedom of being.

It was in this unique atmosphere that Armando Rio y Cuervo and his brothers ran the jewellery and watchmaking business founded by their uncle Ramon (hence the name, Cuervo y Sobrinos--"Cuervo and Nephews"). In the spring of 1882, the family opened its "La Casa" shop on Havana's prestigious Avenida Quinta (Fifth Avenue).

As evidenced by the guest book and photographs that first came to the light only a few years ago, discovered in the basement rooms of the old La Casa shop, Ernest Hemingway, Enrico Caruso, Clark Gable, Winston Churchill and even Albert Einstein were among the Cuervo y Sobrinos shop's customers.

The brand-heritage of "another time" In less than half a century, the marriage of watch quality with the brand's Latin spirit conquered the Americas. Several leading watch brands (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Election and Longines) associated their names with that of Cuervo y Sobrinos to co-produce Havana timepieces.

During the 1890s, Cuervo y Sobrinos expanded its production network and opened three other outlets in European nerve centres. At a time when most European luxury-product manufacturers were expanding to other continents, Cuervo y Sobrinos dared to go in the opposite direction. It successfully established itself on the Old Continent: at Pforzheim, Germany, where the company choose noble materials such as gold and precious stones; in the heart of Paris, on Rue Mezlay, where the most prestigious jewellery was produced; and at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, where the watches were created.

For its select clientele--international figures from the worlds of literature, science, film and politics--a stop at La Casa in the centre of Havana became as important as a visit to the great jewellers on Place Vendome in Paris or New York's Fifth Avenue. During the 1940s, when the brand was at its peak, Cuervo y Sobrinos watches were not just high-end timepieces--they also represented a lifestyle and a way of thinking.

Any dreams Cuervo y Sobrinos had of conquering the watch world however, were dashed by the Cuban revolution of 1959. Some of the Cuervo family sought exile in Europe and the business slowly fell into oblivion. For 40 years, the brand lay dormant, remembered only by connoisseurs.

A new era of Latin time

In 2001, Italian Marzio Villa re-launched the brand that had been hibernating for four decades by buying the rights to the brand name and acquiring access to the company's archives, which had been forgotten in the La Casa basement in Havana.

Three enormous trunks were discovered, which revealed a fabulous heritage: intact watch movements and documents never made public, including watch sketches and designs. New principal premises were established in Lugano in Canton Ticino, with production entrusted to various famous watchmaking firms in the Jura Valley.

Inspired by this hidden treasure, today's watch designers have reproduced the spirit of escape, refinement and the glamorous golden age of Havana in a modern way.

Pleasure of the senses. Pleasure of time. The Cuervo y Sobrinos collection is 100 per cent Swiss-made, but with a distinctive Latin flavour.

Responding to the very essence of the 1940s atmosphere of luxury and refinement, the Cuervo y Sobrinos collection is based on projects, designs and sketches elaborated by watchmakers during this period--a time during which the concepts of elegance were completely revaluated. To recall the Latin origin of the brand, today's manufacturers integrate details like blue indigo colour markings in every timekeeper. It confers aesthetic harmony, as well as a unique and inimitable identity to each watch.

The brand presented its complete collection at the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show in 2003.

In 2005, Cuervo y Sobrinos launched its own proprietary movement, the CYS 2450, developed with movement's specialists in the Jura watch valley. The movement was first fitted inside the Esplendido single push-piece chronograph. It was later joined by the CYS 2854 proprietary movement, which drives the Robusto Tourbillon with a silicon tourbillon cage and hands.

For five years, Cuervo y Sobrinos has manufactured several timekeepers of Haute Horlogerie like the Robusto Tricalendografo, the Torpedo 3004 or Tour de Espana and the Eplendidos Grande Date Dualtime model presented at Baselworld 2006.