Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 56303

STRAIGHT FACTS It’s not unfair to say that Audemars Piguet Royal is one of the most iconic watches ever made. Designed in 1972 by Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak completely changed the way that we look at a steel sports watch. For the first time, stainless steel was treated as a precious metal - receiving complex finishing techniques of brushing, polishing, and beveling - all by hand. The idea that its eight hexagonal bezel screws would be finely finished and left exposed for the wearer to see was a revolutionary thought. It’s no reason that the model became the calling card for the family owned Audemars Piguet - not to mention one of the most sought after watches in the world. The present example is part of the ‘mid-size’ Royal Oak collection which was introduced in the 1980s. The Mid-Size Royal Oaks range from 35 - 37mm with this being the 33mm variety of watch. The watch is in excellent condition, with much of the factory finishing still present. Furthermore, this particular model is fitted with an AP Quartz movement for people who are not looking for the “hassle” of a mechanical watch. These mid-size quartz Royal Oak models strike an exceptional balance between the size and value proposition. The 56303 also fits a wider variety of wrists better than a full size 39mm Royal Oak which can fit a little odd on some wrists due to how flat it is. *Some marks or spots on the dial are reflections or dust on the crystal and are due to high intensity strobe lighting used while photographing. They are not actually on the watch or visible in natural lighting.