ArtFire

Sir Turtle, the unofficial mascot for The Cayman Islands, stands proud on this simple Quartz watch from the mid-1980's. This was a custom production made just for The Cayman Islands, and made in very limited numbers in Hong Kong. The leather band is in great shape, and the 'Made in Hong Kong' sticker is still on the back. It comes in the original synthetic felt case.

This watch was one of a limited amount produced and sold for about $45.00 in the 1980's for the promotion of the acquisition of aircraft for Cayman Airways. Sir Turtle is still used today for promoting The Cayman Islands.

Get a piece of Vintage Cayman Islands and own your own piece of Sir Turtle with this watch honoring him and The Cayman Islands.

It measures 1 1/4 (just over 3 cm)diameter and the length including wrist band is 9 inches (23 cm).

The 'Sir Turtle' logo, of a peg-leg, swashbuckling, pirate turtle was, created by my husbands' grandfather, Ralph, while at Tortuga Club in East End with the Burgstroms one day. Some time later, in 1963, Susie Burgstrom, (now Married to Bob Soto) submitted the design to CI Govt and Tourism Department. Cayman Airways soon after adopted it as it's logo, adding a scarf blowing in the wind.

Turtles have always played a large part in the islands' folklore, dating back to 1503 when Columbus named them Las Tortugas. Generations of sailors stocked up on turtle meat while in the area and today there is a turtle farm, designed to replenish wild stocks and satisfy demand for the table. There was even a racehorse in the UK called 'Sir Turtle' (now sadly deceased), a hurdler sponsored by the Department of Tourism's British office and owned by Adrian Pratt, who had a good time on holiday in the islands.