Swatch closed stores across the UK, Europe, and the US this weekend after the launch of a limited-edition watch caused widespread disorder. The Royal Pop timepieces, made in collaboration with luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, prompted shoppers to queue overnight and in some cases for days.
Police were called to stores in Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Sheffield. A dispersal order was issued in Birmingham, a 25-year-old man was arrested in Cardiff, and police dogs were deployed at London's Battersea Power Station and Westfield shopping centres. Footage showed people forcing their way past security in Battersea, and a fight reportedly broke out at Manchester's Trafford Centre.
In Paris, police fired teargas to control a crowd of about 300 outside a Swatch shop, where a metal shutter and two security gates were damaged. A police source said the stores had underestimated security needs. In Milan, a fight broke out at opening time, while in the Netherlands, police intervened near The Hague after hundreds flocked to a store. Swatch stores in Amsterdam and Utrecht also remained closed.
In New York, John McIntosh, who queued from Wednesday, described pushing and shoving at the Times Square store. He planned to resell the watch, priced at about $400 (£300), at a huge mark-up. By Sunday, UK sellers listed the watches on eBay for up to £3,000. Another buyer, Mac, sold one for $4,000 after queueing five days. Benny, 30, paid $2,400 for a watch, calling it a steal compared to typical Audemars Piguet prices above £15,000.
Swatch urged people not to rush to stores, stating the Royal Pop collection would remain available for several months. The company said queues of more than 50 people could not be accepted, and sales may be paused for safety.
