Rolex

Rolex’s association with revolutionary Cuba is somewhat intriguing. Fidel Castro was the owner of multiple Rolexes including Ref 6538 big crown Submariner, Ref 6542 GMT with Bakelite bezel, Datejust, Ref 1675 GMT. He was such a fan that he could often be seen wearing 2 on one wrist. The other revolutionary leader Che Guevara was also the owner of a Ref 1675 GMT, whilst obviously a useful complication for an international Marxist revolutionary, it seems an incongruous choice, especially as a famed jeweler and Rolex dealers Joyeria Riviera on Galiano Boulevard in Havana were forced to pack up and leave Cuba post-revolution, relocating to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It appears that Castro was not just an owner of Rolex’s, but would also gift them. Victoriano (Macho) Parra was a captain in the Cuban revolution, fighting alongside Camilo Cienfuegos (Fidel Castro’s right hand) and Guevara. Post-revolution, he was appointed Agriculture Minister of Ciego de Avila Province, tasked with increasing the region's valuable production of sugar cane. Castro had tried and failed to ween the Cuban economy away from its sugar dependence, so he struck a deal with Russia to sell sugar at a fixed rate in a long-term barter agreement. This required Cuba to increase its sugar production to 10 million tons in 1970 to meet the Russian demand. Despite this objective being missed to the tune of 2 million tons, Castro claimed success and rewarded the more successful participants in this production endeavor with a Rolex GMT Ref 1675. Victoriano Parra was the recipient.

The watch has remained in the family until now, having been consigned by the Parra family. The first photo shows Victoriano Parra to the left of Guevara, with the next showing him standing next to Castro. The final photo is of Parra in 1972 wearing the GMT at his son’s 10th birthday. This interesting piece of Cuban history is being offered for sale for the first time.