A bustling scene unfolded Saturday morning at a shopping center near Chicago as hundreds gathered eagerly for the release of the Swatch and Audemars Piguet Royal Pop Collection pocket watch. The unexpected turnout led the store to shut its doors for the day, according to local police.
Numerous police vehicles were stationed at Oak Brook Center Mall as a precaution on Saturday.
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“The crowd was here for the launch of a new watch. However, Swatch has announced that they will remain closed today at their Oak Brook location,” police informed ABC7.
Early Saturday, a significant crowd was visibly assembled outside the storefront.
The Royal Pop Collection, a joint effort by Swatch and luxury brand Audemars Piguet, includes pocket watches priced at approximately $400. These watches are reportedly being sold online for more than $1,000, underscoring their high demand.
“To all our dear fans worldwide of our AP x Swatch collab, launched on May 16. 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,” Swatch said in a statement. “The Royal Pop Collection will remain available for several months. In some countries, queues of more than 50 people cannot be accepted, and sales may need to be paused.”
It was not yet clear when the Oak Brook Swatch store would reopen.
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