Swatch has shut its stores in the UK and several European and US cities after the launch of a limited-edition watch, the Royal Pop, created in collaboration with luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, caused widespread crowding and scuffles.
In the UK, 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. Swatch kept its Manchester and Liverpool stores closed for a second day on Sunday, citing safety concerns.
In Paris, officers fired teargas to control a crowd of about 300 people outside a Swatch shop, where a metal shutter and two security gates were damaged. Police said the stores had underestimated security needs. A fight also broke out at a Swatch store in Milan, Italy, and police intervened at a shopping centre near The Hague in the Netherlands after hundreds of people gathered. Swatch stores in Amsterdam and Utrecht remained closed.
In New York, pushing and shoving occurred at the Times Square store. Some buyers queued for days to purchase the watches, which retail for about $400 (£300) in the US and £335 in the UK, only to resell them at huge mark-ups. Watches were listed on eBay for up to £3,000, and one buyer said he sold his watch for $4,000.
Swatch later urged people not to rush to stores, stating: 'To ensure the safety of both our customers and our staff ... we kindly ask you not to rush to our stores in large numbers.' The company added that the Royal Pop collection would remain available for several months, and that queues of more than 50 people may not be accepted.
