Ever wondered why so many photographs pair Cuban cigars with Rolex watches? It all started with the man who made both into enduring symbols of power and precision — Fidel Castro.
In one of the most famous images of the Cold War era, taken during a 1963 meeting with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in the Kremlin, Castro is seen puffing on a Cuban cigar while wearing two Rolex watches — a GMT-Master and a Submariner — one on each wrist.
The photograph is a masterclass in non-verbal storytelling. Castro’s cigar transfixes everyone at the table — the slow curl of smoke, the quiet confidence it projects. The seated men smile politely with hands folded; those standing under the portrait of Karl Marx keep their arms respectfully behind their backs. It’s a subtle yet powerful display of presence — one man dominating the room without saying a word.
At the time, such images were rarely published. Many remained locked away in Soviet archives until the fall of the USSR, when this remarkable photo finally resurfaced — an unfiltered glimpse into how Castro balanced diplomacy, ideology, and a flair for theatrics.
Why Two Rolexes?
Castro’s double-wristed Rolex habit wasn’t about vanity — it was practicality with a hint of symbolism. Between 1960 and 1964, Havana operated on UTC-4, an hour ahead of Washington D.C. (UTC-5), while Moscow was much further east. With two watches — one set for Havana, the other for Moscow — Castro could literally keep track of his revolution in three time zones at once.
At that time, Rolex wasn’t a luxury statement; it was a tool of precision. The GMT-Master was developed for Pan Am pilots navigating long-haul flights, and the Submariner was a diver’s instrument built for reliability. To Castro, both represented craftsmanship, accuracy, and endurance — traits he admired and embodied.
A Forty-Day Friendship Tour
The photograph was taken during Castro’s first visit to the Soviet Union, a 40-day whirlwind through military bases, factories, and Moscow streets — often without bodyguards. The Cuban leader charmed workers, discussed strategy with Khrushchev, and ended his trip with a heartfelt letter of gratitude, calling the visit “an unforgettable demonstration of solidarity.”
It’s an image that has transcended politics to become part of pop culture — an intersection of revolution and refinement, of smoke and steel, where the world’s most iconic watch met the world’s most famous cigar.
Our favourite examples of this enduring aesthetic — cigars paired with fine timepieces — can be found at The Cigar Strategist, whose photography captures the same quiet sophistication that once surrounded Fidel in that Kremlin meeting room.
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