Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 56303ST - White Dial Unpolished

It’s not unfair to say that Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 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 surprise 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. While the initial 5402 was time-only, AP quickly began to capitalize on the success of the Royal Oak and begin to integrate other complications and variations into this case.

Which leads us to the Royal Oak that we have here, a 'Midsize' Reference 56303ST. These pieces embody the ethos of the original Ref. 5402 'Jumbo' models, just in a smaller and even more svelte 33mm case.

This particular example remains in fantastic, seemingly untouched overall condition. It's case and bracelet show no signs of polishing or refinishing, with factory finishing visible throughout and only light, uniform wear across the bezel, case and bracelet. The white 'micro-tappisserie' dial within is seemingly-flawless, with a clean surface and no degradation or wear to speak of. The applied Tritium-filled indices are even in color and the handset matches beautifully.

These watches strike the perfect balance between the size and value proposition that a Royal Oak can offer. In fact, we think that the 33mm size lends itself to a more comfortable wearing experience for more people — we'd even say virtually any wrist, versus the way a full size 39mm Royal Oak which can fit a little odd on some wrists due to how flat it is.

Whats not to like?