Swatch closed stores in the UK, Europe, and the US over the weekend after the launch of a limited-edition watch caused chaos, with police called to disperse crowds and scuffles breaking out. The Royal Pop timepieces, made in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, drew shoppers who queued overnight or for days, leading to disorder in multiple cities.
In the UK, dispersal orders were issued in Birmingham and Cardiff, where a 25-year-old man was arrested. Police dogs were deployed at London's Battersea Power Station and Westfield shopping centres. Footage showed people forcing past security in Battersea, and a fight reportedly occurred at Manchester's Trafford Centre. Swatch kept its Manchester and Liverpool stores closed on Sunday.
In Paris, police fired teargas to control a 300-strong crowd after a metal shutter and security gates were damaged. A fight broke out in Milan, and police intervened near The Hague in the Netherlands. Swatch stores in Amsterdam and Utrecht also remained closed. In New York, pushing and shoving occurred at the Times Square store.
Buyers sought to resell the watches, which retail for about £300 in the UK and $400 in the US, for up to £3,000 on eBay. One New York buyer sold a watch for $4,000. Swatch later urged customers not to rush to stores, stating the collection would be available for several months and that queues of over 50 people would not be accepted.
