Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 56303ST

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 56303ST Quartz 33mm

Released in 1972 and designed by Gerald Genta, watchmaking's most famous designer, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak was the first stainless steel luxury sports watch ever to exist. Released as a tactic to survive the quartz crisis, the Royal Oak can single-handedly be thanked for AP's existence today due to its astounding success, albeit it wasn't an overnight hit. Its sizeable tonneau-shaped case, signature integrated bracelet, octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and steel construction failed to win over collectors until a few years later. Today, the Royal Oak is one of the most highly-coveted timepieces in all horology as its previously dismissed design details have permeated across the industry and into watches like the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, Rolex Oysterquartz, amongst many other legendary timepieces. Brand : Audemars Piguet Dimensions : 33mm Model : Royal Oak Movement : Quartz Reference : 56303ST Bracelet : Stainless steel bracelet Year : Circa 1980s Condition : Very Good Material : Stainless steel Included : Watch only Dial Color : Black THE DIAL A classic AP "Petite Tapisserie" dial is made using a burin, a type of chisel that engraves the texture into the dial plate. It is a time-consuming process as each dial can take several hours to make. As a result of its distinctive finish, it has become an iconic piece of the Royal Oak's design. THE CONSTRUCTION While measuring 33mm in diameter, the ref. 56303ST wears larger on the wrist than one might first think, thanks to the Royal Oak's angular proportions and integrated bracelet. THE PROFILE Thanks to the Royal Oak's already thin design and the ref. 56303's quartz movement this Royal Oak has an extremely thin profile that sits incredibly flat on the wrist.