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4/18/2018 2 Comments

APH Toscano Vesuvio Watch Review - Italian Inspiration and a unique design!

“Past Meets Present”

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The brand APH TOSCANO was born in Canada with large inspiration from italian culture ( Naples ) and heritage. APH stands for the creators name Andre Peter Harris Toscano. That’s a long name right , haha Fuhgeddaboutit. Their first debut model is certainly one to catch the eye as it is 100% its’ own thing and has a crown at the 12:00 and the 6:00 which makes it very unique and captivating. This model manufactured in Switzerland is dubbed the “Vesuvio” and named after one of the most infamous Volcanoes which in fact destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum , and so on. The watch also has design inspiration and roots from Napoli, Italy.

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Case

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The case of the Vesuvio measures in at 42MM in diameter and 13MM in terms of thickness. The case is comprised of solid 316L brushed stainless steel and features a 49MM Lug to Lug distance with a 24MM lug width. The crystal on this model is indeed a genuine sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective coating which does help from my experience in the brightest times of day when glare from the sun is beaming down on your watch. In regards to water resistance, the piece has a 300M rating which is superb and can definitely be used for all types of water activities, including diving. The case is definitely one that took time to design and plan out as there are nice curves with flat and round surfaces which makes this watch look a bit like a “Fancy Diver”. Having said that the watch can definitely be worn for many occasions and I think you can pull it off with a suit or with a pair of shorts or jeans.

The Two Crowns

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If you have not noticed by now this watch features two screw down crowns. The crown at the 12:00 position is used for functioning the hour, minutes, and date which is located at the 6:00 in a black window with white numbers to match the markers and black dial. The second crown located at 6:00 is screwed down as well and used for operation of the internal bi directional rotating bezel for timing a dive or whatever it may be up to 60 minutes. These types of internal bezels were first seen on very old compressor style dive watches and I do adore them. We do not have to worry about any bezel alignment issues here, gentlemen. A good note to mention is the crowns stay completely away from the wrist and you wouldnt notice they are there until you actually look at the watch. A hint of italian culture is signed on both of these crowns as well; they are marked with the Denari symbol which originates from old Neopolitan playing cards and symbolizes “Money”.

Dial

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The black dial almost appears glossy a bit in different lighting conditions due to the AR coating on the crystal and features applied indices with strips of SuperLuminova with polished silver outlining. The numerals on the internal bezel which sits above the actual dial matches the markers perfectly in whitish color. One thing that caught my eye is the lumed rotating bezel, making it super easy to set in the dark. APH is applied in a polished silver while Toscano is printed in cursive below it. We have three lines of text above 6:00 which shows “Vesuvio” in red, “Swiss Made”, and 300M marking the water resistance. The date aperture at 6:00 is not super bold but still has good visibility and matches the dial as the date wheel is black and the numerals are white.
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Movement

APH decided to use the popular Swiss Made Ronda 715 quartz movement in this model. This movement is widely used in the swiss watchmaking industry by other brands I have reviewed such as Victorinox ( Victorinox INOX ). It is a reliable one and certainly will last you a lifetime. If this watch were to have a ETA-2824 or a Selitta the pricepoint would definitely be double what it is now, which would be out of range for many watch enthusiasts.


Caseback “Danali”

The caseback is brushed in a circular pattern which I love because as the light hits it, it gleams all over the place. There are 6 screws holding down the caseback which are small in size and stay out of the way. There is also a large Danali symbol in the center, the same one we see on both screw down crowns.
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Strap

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The first thing I noticed when unboxing this timepiece was the soft and supple genuine rubber strap ( this is not silicone ), The strap needs no break in at all and certainly conformed to my wrist which is a must for me! It has a pattern almost similiar to that of the Patek Aquanaut but not as pronounced. The buckle is signed again with the Danali and brushed in 316L steel. ( 24MM Strap Tapers Down to 20MM )
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Conclusion

The Vesuvio certainly resembles Italian design in a way and stays true to its creators which is a good thing in todays microbrand industry as many are quick to create lies about inspirations and cultures they have never experienced before. It is indeed a piece that may not to be of everyones liking due to the overall double crown aesthetic, but once in hand and on the wrist , It certainly is a pleasure to wear. The watch is a real Swiss Made watch and has that overall Swiss feeling at a pricepoint of $499 USD. I believe 200 units were created and they are available from APH TOSCANO on the webstore ( Link Below ), Id love to hear my readers thoughts and opinions on this model so please do not hesitate to drop a comment below. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and if you are Italian “Grazie Mille”!

www.ToscanoWatch.com

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2 Comments
Pete
4/19/2018 08:50:54 pm

This is an interesting watch seems to mix a compressor style dive watch with some nice design in the case, i like it actually. I will look further thanks for the article, keep up the good work

-Pete
CA

Reply
Andre Toscano-Harris link
4/20/2018 06:44:52 am

Hello Pete,

Thank you very much. We tried to make a unique spin on the compressor style with our own flair. Since we get only one chance for a first impression. We didn't hold back with our imagination, which we call unique elegance.

Kind regards,
Andre Toscano-Harris

Reply



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ROLEX HISTORY

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Rolex is a Swiss luxury watch brand that was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London, England. The company originally began as Wilsdorf and Davis, but it was later renamed to Rolex in 1908.


The first Rolex watches were not manufactured in-house, but instead were made by other watchmakers and then branded with the Rolex name. However, Wilsdorf had a vision of creating a wristwatch that was both reliable and accurate, and he set out to develop his own movements.


In 1910, Rolex became the first wristwatch to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, which was a testament to the accuracy of the watch. Over the years, Rolex continued to innovate and develop new technologies and features, such as the first waterproof wristwatch in 1926, the first self-winding mechanism in 1931, and the first wristwatch with a date display in 1945.


Rolex has also been associated with several famous individuals, including explorers, athletes, and celebrities. For example, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay wore Rolex watches when they became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. Rolex has also been the official timekeeper of several sporting events, including Wimbledon and the Formula 1 Grand Prix.


Today, Rolex is one of the most recognized and respected luxury watch brands in the world, known for its quality, precision, and timeless style.

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OMEGA Watches History

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Omega is a Swiss luxury watch brand founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The brand initially operated under the name La Generale Watch Co. and produced pocket watches.


In 1894, Omega revolutionized the watch industry with the introduction of the 19-ligne Omega Calibre, which was more accurate and reliable than any other watch movement of the time. This innovation earned Omega numerous awards and accolades, and the brand quickly became known for its precision and quality.


In 1903, Omega was chosen as the official timekeeper for the Gordon Bennett Cup, an international balloon race. This marked the beginning of Omega's long-standing relationship with sports timing and its reputation as a reliable and accurate timekeeper.


In 1932, Omega became the first brand to be awarded the Olympic Cross of Merit for its outstanding contribution to sports timing at the Olympic Games. Since then, Omega has been the official timekeeper for numerous Olympic Games, and its timekeeping technology has continued to evolve and improve.


In the 1950s and 1960s, Omega's watches were worn by famous explorers and adventurers, including Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay during their ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, and Jacques Cousteau during his underwater expeditions.


In the 1960s, Omega introduced the Speedmaster, a chronograph watch that was originally designed for motorsports but became famous as the first watch worn on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The Speedmaster has since become one of Omega's most iconic and sought-after models.


Today, Omega continues to innovate and produce high-quality watches, including the Seamaster, Constellation, and De Ville collections. The brand also continues to be the official timekeeper for numerous sporting events, including the Olympic Games and the America's Cup.

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BREITLING Watches History

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Breitling is a Swiss luxury watch brand that was founded in 1884 by Léon Breitling in the town of Saint-Imier in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. Initially, the company specialized in producing chronographs and other precision timepieces for scientific and industrial purposes.


In 1915, Breitling introduced the first wrist-worn chronograph with a separate pusher to control the start, stop, and reset functions, which made it easier to use than previous models. This innovation helped establish Breitling as a leading maker of chronographs and other precision timepieces.


During the 1930s and 1940s, Breitling continued to innovate with the introduction of the first chronograph with a second independent pusher, which allowed for the recording of multiple elapsed times. The company also developed the Huit Aviation Department, which produced wristwatches for pilots and other aviation professionals.


In the 1950s, Breitling introduced the Navitimer, a wristwatch with a built-in slide rule that allowed pilots to perform complex calculations in-flight. The Navitimer became an instant classic and remains one of Breitling's most popular models to this day.


In the 1960s, Breitling continued to produce innovative timepieces, including the Chrono-Matic, which was the first automatic chronograph movement with a micro-rotor. The company also introduced the Emergency, a wristwatch with a built-in distress beacon that could be activated in case of an emergency.


In the years since, Breitling has continued to produce innovative and high-quality timepieces for a variety of applications, including aviation, diving, and sports. The company has also maintained a strong commitment to precision and accuracy, with many of its watches featuring COSC-certified movements. Today, Breitling is recognized as one of the world's leading luxury watch brands, with a reputation for innovation, quality, and style.

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Longines

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Longines is a Swiss luxury watch company that was founded in 1832 by Auguste Agassiz in the town of Saint-Imier, Switzerland. The company has a long and prestigious history in the world of watchmaking, and has been responsible for many innovations and milestones in the industry.


In the early days, Longines primarily produced pocket watches, and quickly gained a reputation for precision and accuracy. By the end of the 19th century, Longines had become one of the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1912, the company introduced the first chronograph wristwatch, which was quickly adopted by the military and aviation communities.


In the 1920s and 1930s, Longines continued to innovate with the introduction of the world's first quartz clock and the first wristwatch with an automatic winding mechanism. During World War II, Longines produced wristwatches for the British Royal Air Force, and continued to produce military watches for several decades afterwards.


In the post-war years, Longines became known for its elegant and sophisticated watches, particularly its "Conquest" line of watches. In the 1950s and 1960s, Longines was a favorite of celebrities and politicians, and its watches were frequently seen on the wrists of Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, and other famous figures.


In recent years, Longines has continued to produce high-quality watches that combine traditional Swiss craftsmanship with modern technology. The company is particularly known for its sport watches, including its "HydroConquest" line of diving watches and its "Conquest Classic" line of chronographs.


Today, Longines is owned by the Swatch Group, and remains a leading brand in the luxury watch industry. Its watches are prized for their precision, reliability, and timeless style.

Tissot

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Tissot is a Swiss watch brand that was founded in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile Tissot in the town of Le Locle, Switzerland. The company has a long and rich history in the world of watchmaking, and has been responsible for many innovations and milestones in the industry.


In the early days, Tissot primarily produced pocket watches, and quickly gained a reputation for quality and precision. By the end of the 19th century, Tissot was one of the largest watchmakers in Switzerland, and was exporting its watches to countries around the world.


In the early 20th century, Tissot continued to innovate with the introduction of the first non-magnetic wristwatch, the first dual time-zone watch, and the first watch with a plastic case. During World War II, Tissot produced watches for the Allied forces, and continued to produce military watches for several decades afterwards.


In the post-war years, Tissot became known for its elegant and sophisticated watches, particularly its "Tissot Visodate" line of watches, which featured a date function and a distinctive "T" logo on the dial. In the 1970s, Tissot was one of the first Swiss watch brands to introduce quartz watches, which quickly became popular due to their accuracy and affordability.


In recent years, Tissot has continued to produce high-quality watches that combine traditional Swiss craftsmanship with modern technology. The company is particularly known for its sport watches, including its "T-Touch" line of watches, which feature touch-screen technology and a range of functions such as altimeter, compass, and thermometer.


Today, Tissot is part of the Swatch Group, and remains a leading brand in the watch industry. Its watches are prized for their quality, durability, and stylish design, and are worn by watch enthusiasts and collectors around the world.

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The main component of a mechanical movement is the mainspring, a spring that gradually unwinds and transmits energy. A mechanical watch will keep accurate time despite requiring winding up if it's manual. ... Inside an automatic watch sits a small weighted rotor that has to oscillate in order to wind the mainspring.

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