Chaos erupted outside Swatch stores in NYC and across the globe as cut-throat resellers and watch enthusiasts impatiently waited for a new release \u2013 causing several locations to abruptly close amid the disastrous launch.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of shoppers were seen swarming the stores in SoHo and Times Square Saturday morning, rounding out about a week of lengthy lines that saw the Big Apple\u2019s\u00a0sidewalks resembling tent encampments.<\/p>\n
The frenzy is centered around the latest \u201cRoyal Pop\u201d collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet, a limited-edition, bioceramic pocket watch that merges Audemars Piguet\u2019s iconic Royal Oak with Swatch\u2019s vibrant POP line from the 1980s.<\/p>\n
Chaos erupted outside a Swatch store in Times Square as watch enthusiasts impatiently waited for a new product release. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
SoHo location was forced to abruptly close amid the disastrous launch. Robert Miller for NY Post<\/p>\n
The frenzy for the Swatch and Audemars Piguet collaboration led to store closures and an arrest. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
The frenzy is centered around the latest collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
At the Time Square location, some buyers were let into the store well before the 10 a.m. scheduled opening time \u2013 and the coveted watches were sold out in an hour.<\/p>\n
One particularly rowdy man\u00a0was hauled off in handcuffs for his role in the ruckus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Police were called to the scene to disperse the 600-person crowd around 11 a.m., but the disruptive man was arrested when he refused to leave, according to the NYPD.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a total sh-t show,\u201d said John McIntosh, 44. \u201cSince Wednesday morning there was no line, just a mob scene, like a mosh pit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Swatch,\u00a0\u2018You have to take control of this line.\u2019 Instead, there were a bunch of thugs since Wednesday morning setting up chairs like absentee ballots.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the SoHo store, the 330-person crowd reportedly got so out of hand, the location never even opened for the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The disastrous launch follows an overdose incident and saw one reseller net thousands. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
A man is arrested by NYPD after the watch sold out and as the police were clearing out the crowds. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
The disastrous launch follows an overdose incident and saw one reseller net thousands. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
Those waiting outside \u2013 many for days \u2013 were outraged when cops arrived and told them to get lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n