Royal Pop chaos engulfs Swatch stores around the world
The worldwide mayhem which ensued after the release of the Royal Pop this weekend was predictable, but not many foresaw the extent of the havoc ahead.
With watch collectors and the wider public queuing for days well before the launch, opening the doors of Swatch stores ignited carnage.
Reports quickly began circulating of riot police having to be called in to protect civilians and genuine fans from falling victim to threatening behaviour, often from people wanting to jump the queue and make a quick buck.
Not a country-specific problem, videos rapidly surfaced online of police from around the world having to step in when tensions boiled over..
In the UK, stores in Liverpool and Manchester had to shut for a second day after stores were closed by Swatch in Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow, Cardiff and London “due to safety concerns.”
In a social media post responding to the gathering crowds, Swatch asked people “not to rush to our stores in large numbers” and confirmed the items would “remain available for several months”.
The BBC confirmed that an arrest was made in Cardiff over the weekend and the police had to respond to people “making threats” outside of the Liverpool store.
The sheer volume of people trying to get their hands on the pocket watch meant an event had to be cancelled in Dubai and an additional police presence was needed in France and Switzerland.
In New York, shoppers camped for a week in Times Square which led to some members of the public becoming unwell. While in Miami, a local news outlet described the scenes in the Aventura Mall and on Lincoln Road as “mayhem”.
In an online statement, Swatch said: “To ensure the safety of both our customers and our staff in Swatch stores, we kindly ask you not to rush to our stores in large numbers to acquire this product.
“In some countries, queues of more than 50 people cannot be accepted, and sales may need to be paused.”
The Royal Pop collection officially retails between £335 and £350 ($400 and $420) but items have been resold at much higher prices online, with some flippers having listed it for in excess of £2,000 ($2,400).
