Audemars Piguet’s New C.E.O. Wasn’t an Obvious Choice

Innovation — particularly within the type of formidable constructing initiatives — has been a operating theme on the model for the previous few years. In 2020 in Le Brassus, it opened a museum, the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, designed by the Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. A 12 months later, it accomplished a producing website in Le Locle, one other village a few 90-minute drive northeast of Le Brassus. A former Renaud & Papi workshop, the Manufacture des Saignoles now specializes within the model’s most intricate timepieces.

In 2022, the model opened a luxurious lodge, Hôtel des Horlogers, additionally designed by Mr. Ingels, in an area adjoining to the museum and manufacturing unit in Le Brassus. And in late 2023, it started building of a brand new industrial constructing in Meyrin, on the outskirts of Geneva, that’s to accommodate the corporate’s case and bracelet manufacturing beginning in 2025, when the undertaking is predicted to be accomplished.

Subsequent 12 months the model is also scheduled to finish the primary stage of what arguably is its most formidable architectural undertaking up to now. Often called the Arc, the U-shape constructing will probably be linked to the manufacturing unit in Le Brassus and whole practically 183,000 sq. toes throughout three flooring and a basement. A information launch stated that, along with places of work and work areas, it’s to have “quite a lot of small convivial areas favoring leisure and casual communication.”

The second part of building, focused for completion by 2027, is to switch the manufacturing unit with a brand new constructing “to make sure higher architectural coherence,” based on an announcement from the model.

A Circumspect Tone

Ms. Resta has entered the luxurious watch enterprise at a precarious second. Gross sales soared through the pandemic, with demand within the major market outstripping provide. That led loads of potential consumers to the resale market, pushing costs for sought-after metal sport watches — together with Audemars Piguet’s defining mannequin, the Royal Oak — to go for as a lot as 5 occasions their retail worth.

For the reason that market started to chill in 2022, watchmakers — Ms. Resta included — have struck a circumspect tone about plans for development.