‘It was like a mosh pit’: Swatch closes stores as watch launch causes crowding and scuffles
The launch of Swatch's limited-edition Royal Pop watches, created in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, led to chaotic scenes across several cities in Europe and New York. Crowds gathered for days, resulting in scuffles, store closures, and police intervention, including the use of teargas near Paris. Swatch stores in multiple locations were shut for safety reasons, and the company has not issued an official statement.
- ▪Hundreds of people waited for days to purchase the Royal Pop timepieces, which retail for about $400 but are being resold for thousands.
- ▪French police fired teargas to control a 300-person crowd outside a Swatch store in the Paris region, where property damage occurred.
- ▪Stores in the UK, Netherlands, and New York were closed or canceled launches due to safety concerns amid overcrowding and unrest.
- ▪A buyer named Mac reported selling one watch for $4,000 after waiting five days in line.
- ▪Swatch has declined to comment on the incidents or provide information about future availability.
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Crowds scuffle outside Swatch store in MilanEurope‘It was like a mosh pit’: Swatch closes stores as watch launch causes crowding and scufflesFrench police fire teargas and UK shops close for safety reasons as hundreds queue for Royal Pop timepieceAgence France-Presse in ParisSun 17 May 2026 06.50 EDTLast modified on Sun 17 May 2026 07.06 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe launch of limited-edition Swatch watches descended into chaos in several European cities and New York, with French police firing teargas to restore order at a store near Paris.Hundreds of people waited through the night from Friday into Saturday – and in some cases for several days – hoping to buy the Royal Pop timepieces, made in collaboration with the luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet.In France, queues of…
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