Audemars Piguet set to increase production of watches in 2020

Tokyo

YOUR dream of owning an Audemars Piguet (AP) could become a reality in 2020.

"Next year, we're increasing production to 120,000," quipped the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer's CEO Francois-Henry Bennahmias.

The Frenchman, who took over the helm as chief executive in 2013, was speaking in Tokyo last month during AP's new exhibition, Beyond Watchmaking, which runs until Nov 4.

But he milked the joke for maximum effect with a dramatic pause as he took in the reaction of those in the room before they broke into laughter.

AP's annual production has stayed at 40,000 for years, so tripling it would be an audacious move even for the typically flamboyant Mr Bennahmias.

Mr Bennahmias clarified that production will increase to about 44,000 pieces next year - a modest increment of around 10 per cent - though that mi…