Lately, we’ve been able to start getting a closer look at the different range of watches from Cuervo y Sobrinos (you can see those here). Today, we’re going to be walking you through two different versions of the Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe, the brand’s take on a dive watch.
Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe: what it is
As we mentioned in the intro, the Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe is the CyS approach to a modern dive watch. That means you’ve got a 200m WR rating, a large, legible dial and handset, and a dive time bezel. How things are implemented are where things get interesting.
First off, you’ve got a “destro” setup, which means the winding/setting crown is on the left-hand side of the case. Ostensibly this is to keep the crown from digging into your wrist, but it also makes space for operating the internal dive bezel. The crown at 2 o’clock is how you operate it, but what about that pusher at 4? That’s how you unlock the crown to set the bezel. Press it in, and you can move it. Let go, and things are locked in place. No worries about accidentally bumping things and losing your timing.
The movement
Inside the Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe is the CYS 8126, which starts life as a Soprod P024, which is based off of the ETA 2824-2. In other words, this is going to be a well-sorted, reliable movement. Not flashy in terms of finishing or the like, but who cares, it’s a solid caseback on the watch. In our time with the loaner watches, we did not notice any issues with accuracy or gaining/losing time. And while the 38h power reserve isn’t amazing these days, it’s certainly more than enough to allow you to put the watch down for a day and swap something else in.
Wearing the Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe
Way back when I first started with WWR, steel dive watches were all the rage (and I was a big fan). As such, I got really used to wearing large divers, especially when they were on a bracelet. Which means that the 43mm Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe (on a strap) felt very comfortable – and not too heavy – for me. That said, it is a large watch, and at 15.8mm thick, you will feel it under a shirt cuff. For me, the relatively short lugs kept things snugly in place, and the crown positions ensured nothing was digging into my wrist.
Wrapping things up
The real question is, just who is the Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe for, exactly? I’d say it’s going to be for someone who wants a diver that has some classic styling points, and keeps things functional, but still looks a bit different from the norm. This watch hits on all of these points.
Of the two we had in, I found myself more partial to the white dial, but that’s neither here nor there. The exact versions of the that we reviewed are no longer available, but there are three different colorways (including a lovely turquoise dial) currently available, with prices that range from $3,480 – $3,960. You can check them out at cuervoysobrinos.com
Cuervo y Sobrinos Buceador Caribe Tech Specs
- Movement: CYS 8126, base Soprod P 024, automatic, diameter 26 mm, height 4.6 mm, power reserve 38 hours
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds and date
- Case: Stainless steel, dimensions 43 x 43 mm, height 15.8 mm, water resistant 20 ATM, double curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, integrated bezel locking functionality
- Hands: White Super-LumiNova® coated hours, minutes and seconds
- Buckle: pin buckle
- Dial: printed indexes with Super-LumiNova®
