Swatch’s limited-edition “Royal Pop” watch launch, made in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, draws large crowds and disorder in multiple cities, according to reports from Europe and New York. Hundreds of people queue for the watches, in some cases waiting through the night and for several days, which leads to severe crowding near participating stores. In France, police move to control the situation at a Swatch location near Paris; reports say tear gas is fired to restore order. Elsewhere, accounts describe chaotic scenes and physical scuffles linked to the crowd size and tensions around access to the products.
In the UK, some Swatch-related shops close temporarily for safety reasons amid the influx of customers during the launch period. The incidents are tied specifically to the release of the limited “Royal Pop” timepieces, and the scale of the demand contributes to sustained lines and congestion outside stores. Across the coverage, authorities and retailers respond with crowd-control measures and closures to manage risks associated with the gatherings.
