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Best Men’s Watches for Christmas and Beyond

Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador Tradición San Rafael

Updated December 2023

Sometimes it’s tough to find good gift ideas for your favorite man. We say, give him the gift of time with a fine watch this Christmas.

We’re sharing options from both Hamilton watches and Cuervo y Sobrinos, giving you a nice range of prices. Because a watch subtly marks your man’s character and personality, we chose these as the best watches for men of taste.

These watches are for men who have a sense of style and appreciate fine engineering, craftsmanship, and quality.

Cuervo y Sobrinos Watches

Make a big impression by gifting him a Cuervo y Sobrinos watch. Each comes with a Spanish cedar cigar humidor or portable watch winder.

Cuervo Y Sobrinos fine watch in wood display case.

Today’s only luxury watch brand with a true Latin legacy. Historically significant, Cuervo y Sobrinos (CyS) watches mark an unparalleled time in history. Establishing their fine boutique in 1882 in Havana, Cuba.

But it was during Havana’s heyday of the 1930s-50s, when CyS was even more prestigious than Tiffany’s. In fact, the brand was so highly respected that the boutique’s guest register boasts signatures of Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Clark Gable and many more. Even Cartier envied Cuervo y Sobrinos during the years when Havana served as a playground for the rich and famous.

With CyS being so distinguished, leading watches of the era, like Rolex, Longines, and Patek Philippe produced double-branded watches with the “Cuervo y Sobrinos” name engraved on the dials.

vintage rolex cuervo y sobrinos watch
Vintage Rolex/Cuervo y Sobrinos

The CyS Historiador Tradición San Rafael

Limited Edition of 188 Watches each

Revisiting the ‘Tradition’ of 1950s Havana and eager to capture some of its period charm is the Tradición San Rafael. However, this modern-day watch is not a replica, but a contemporary reinterpretation of one of Cuervo’s most-loved classics.

Being offered in two variants, this luxury watch comes in a Champagne or silver dial. Limited Edition of 188 pieces of each dial.

Being the most prestigious boulevard in 1950s Havana, CyS moved their famous company to a new upscale boutique on Calle San Rafael. Ultimately, becoming a must-see destination for its distinguished clientele. Therefore, this latest addition to the Historiador collection honors this exclusive retail sensation.

Each dial exhibits an exceptional ‘frappage’ motif. Featuring dauphine-style hands emulating those found on the original Tradición of the 1950s. Likewise, as with the original, you’ll notice a red-tipped arrow standing out boldly as its central sweep seconds hand.

Engraving on the case back depicts the brand’s former seal with the boutique on Calle San Rafael in Havana. Historically, this seal was applied to all CyS documents.

The CyS Pirata GMT

The Cuervo y Sobrinos Pirata GMT has the same distinctive modular case design. With its elaborate shape echoing the profile of a 17th-century cannon. Also, the watch includes the standout large “Globe” crown. It’s bold 45mm stainless steel case allows for an expansive dial area. As a result, this large watch displays every indication with notable clarity and style.

The Pirata GMT features:

  • Hours, minutes, seconds, a second time zone, and a date display in window

  • Automatic 25-jewel movement with a 40 hour power reserve

  • Screwed see-through case back with 2 swords surrounds the classic CyS crest engraving

  • Luminous SLNC3 hands for hours, minutes, central second, and GMT hands with rhodium finish

  • Black dial with index applied, 24 hours display on center, CyS emblem applied

  • Black matte ostrich strap with a stainless steel pin buckle and engraved CyS emblem

Hamilton Watches

Hamilton Watch is one of the oldest and most respected American watch lines. A very affordable watch line with incredible style and history. From timeless classics to diving and aviation watches to retro styles reviving some of their most historical pieces. In fact, because of their impressive styling, Hamilton watches have been in over 500 movies since the 1930s.

Innovators in timekeeping, Hamilton is recognized for many firsts in watch making history. For example, the world’s first electrical, battery powered watch and the first wristwatch with a drift angle calculator for pilots. In addition, they’re military-style Khaki watch line is a very popular everyday watch.

The watches from the Khaki collection are Hamilton’s most popular watches. This is one of the favorites, the Khaki Field King Auto with a 40mm stainless steel case and a dark brown leather strap.

One of the oldest American watch companies, Hamilton is known for their historical timepieces. Military time features prominently on the dial of this watch. Underlining the military heritage of this handsome retro Hamilton.

Specially designed protectors ensure the safety of the crown at all times.Its extended power reserve lasts up to 80 hours, almost double the industry standard. Therefore, when you take your watch off on Friday it’ll still be ticking on Monday.

The Hamilton Khaki Field Murph Auto is a very handsome watch. And, it’s a movie celebrity! Appearing in over 500 major movies, Hamilton’s most significant role would likely be in Interstellar, starring Jessica Chastain and Matthew McConaughey. Hamilton custom created ‘The Murph’, especially for the movie and it is essential to the plot. Indeed, in the movie, the watch is instrumental in saving humanity.

Hamilton’s most anticipated release of a watch, the Khaki Field Murph is now available to the public and its ardent fans. Sporting a large 42 mm stainless steel case. With its black dial & beige SuperLuminova inlaid hands protected by a sapphire crystal. Its automatic movement boasts an unusually long power reserve of up to 80 hours.

Impressive and large scale with vintage good looks that create a bold, yet understated authenticity. This watch is an exact reproduction of the movie watch with one very tiny addition. Barely visible to the naked eye, the word ‘Eureka’ is printed in Morse code in lacquer on the seconds hand. A nod to the most defining moment in the movie.

An incredibly handsome Aviation automatic chronograph watch that makes the perfect everyday co-pilot. Glorious in its technical look and automatic movement, loved by pilots and grounded urbanites alike.

Along with Hamilton’s many historical, ground-breaking timepieces, the Khaki X-Wind features the first ever drift angle calculator to appear in a watch. It helps pilots accurately calculate how crosswinds will affect their journey.

Perfect for the demands of the sportiest lifestyles. Featuring:

  • H-21 movement, a powerful automatic chronograph with an extended 60-hour power reserve
  • a commanding 44mm stainless steel case and an open case back
  • screw down crown and 10 bar water resistance (100m)
  • highly impressive black dial
  • genuine brown leather strap with a pin buckle

Hamilton watches are celebrities and have been in over 500 movies since the 1930s. This Aviation X-wind was worn by Liam Hemsworth in Independence Day: Resurgence in 2016.

Ventura is one of our most popular watches. Originally designed in 1957, making history as the world’s first electrical, battery-powered watch. An extraordinary style for an extraordinary man.

Elvis Presley is seen here wearing one of his Ventura watches in the movie, Blue Hawaii.

Elvis Presley wearing the Hamilton Ventura fine watch on a movie set.

Noted Hamilton historian, Jarett Harkness was quoted as saying, “I’m not sure how Elvis Presley’s White Gold Ventura got onto Blue Hawaii, but I imagine it was just because Elvis was fascinated with the watch and owned one, and it looked good for the movie,”. As a matter of fact, Presley owned many Venturas and was known to give them as gifts.

In addition, the Ventura is the official timepiece of Men in Black agents all over the world. The watch appears in all four episodes of the MIB series and is as much a part of their uniform as the black suit and wraparound sunglasses. Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, and Tessa Thompson all wear the Hamilton Ventura.

An American classic, Hamilton’s Intra-Matic Auto with date. A 38mm stainless steel case with 20mm lugs and water resistance. A comfortable goat leather band with an 18mm pin buckle.

The Intra-Matic is a good example of how classic design never goes out of style. Verifying the magic of simplicity, well suited to everyone who appreciates classic American style.

Also includes a sapphire crystal with anti-reflection and a 50-hour power reserve.