The sales launch of a limited Swatch collection in collaboration with Audemars Piguet caused chaotic scenes across several cities on Saturday. Long lines, brawls and damaged stores forced branches to close.
In New York long lines formed outside the Swatch store at Times Square. Forty-four-year-old John McIntosh told AFP of pushing and shoving that felt like a mosh pit. Many customers hoped to buy the Royal Pop pocket watches priced at 400 to 420 dollars and resell them at a profit.
In German cities such as Düsseldorf and Cologne the queues stretched over 300 meters. Police stepped in to maintain order. Swatch later closed the stores for safety reasons. Similar incidents occurred in France, where security forces used tear gas at a Paris-area mall and reported damaged doors along with attacks on officers.
In Milan a brawl broke out at opening time. Another store sold out its stock quickly. In British cities including London, Liverpool and Manchester Swatch closed all branches as a precaution.