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Agence France-Presse

The launch of limited edition Swatch watches descended into chaos on Saturday in several European cities and New York, with French police firing tear gas to restore order at one store near Paris.
Hundreds of people waited through the night – and in some cases for several days – hoping to get their hands on the “Royal Pop” timepieces, made in collaboration with luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet.
In France, lines of hundreds of people formed through the night in several cities and a police source said officers fired tear gas to control a 300-strong crowd outside a Swatch shop in the Paris region.
A metal shutter and two security gates were damaged in the incident and police said the stores had underestimated the need for security.
Things also turned ugly in Milan, where a fight broke out in front of a Swatch store at opening time on Saturday, according to footage broadcast by local media.
In the Netherlands, police had to intervene at a plaza near The Hague after hundreds of people flocked to the store.

According to the police, “there was a tense atmosphere and some quarrelling”. When the store decided not to open after all, people were sent home. Swatch stores in Amsterdam and Utrecht also kept their doors closed.
It is not clear when the stores will reopen. On its website, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands announced “that the introduction of Swatch in collaboration with Audemars Piguet will NOT go ahead. The store will remain closed this weekend”.
In New York, the opening of the Swatch store in Times Square was met with “pushing and shoving” in the waiting crowd, John McIntosh, who had been in line since Wednesday, said.
“It was like a mosh pit,” the 44-year-old said.
“People who got here last night have gone to the front, people who cut this morning, whoever cheats and pushes the hardest hits to front.”
Like many others, McIntosh hoped to get his hands on the brightly coloured watch – sold in store for US$400 to US$420 to resell it immediately at a huge mark-up.

Another buyer, who gave his name as Mac, said he had managed to get his hands on one after five days of queuing.
“It was pretty hectic … it’s nasty, but I was able to get in,” he said.
“Retail for them is about US$400, I sold one just now for US$4000.”
Dressed in a grey suit and shades, Benny, 30, decided to pay rather than wait, shelling out US$2,400 for one of the watches.
“It’s basically US$2,000 over retail, but you can’t get an AP (Audemars Piguet) for less than US$2,000, so I think it was a steal,” he said.
“I’d rather pay a premium and come out and get it.”
Swatch was forced to close its stores in London and six other UK cities for “safety considerations” after huge crowds gathered outside.
Swatch declined to comment when contacted.


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France

Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch launch ignites global chaos, tear gas fired in Paris

People wait in line to enter the Swatch store in Times Square in New York on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Swiss police officers secure the area where customers queue to buy the new “Royal Pop” watch in Geneva on Saturday. Photo: EPA

A customer shows his “Royal Pop” watch outside a Swatch store in New York on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Clients queue in front of a closed Swatch shop in Paris. Photo: AFP

A saleswoman shows the new “Royal Pop” watch by Swatch and Audemars Piguet to a customer in Geneva. Photo: EPA

People wait for the store to open to buy the new “Royal Pop” watch in Switzerland. Photo: EPA

People wait outside the Swatch store in Times Square in New York on Friday. Photo: AFP

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Dara from Bulgaria holds up the trophy after winning the Eurovision grand final in Vienna. Photo: AP

Noam Bettan from Israel (centre) reacts as the points are awarded during the grand final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. Photo: AP

Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen from Finland perform the song “Liekinheitin” during the Eurovision grand final. Photo: AP

Scalpers list Swatch-Audemars Piguet watches hours after launch in Hong Kong

People queue up outside the Swatch store on the first day of the “Royal Pop” collection sale in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Edmond So

The new watches are priced between HK$2,940 and HK$3,150 in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

People line up outside the Swatch shop in Causeway Bay. Photo: Edmond So

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From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces


From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces.


Swatch-Audemars Piguet watch launch ignites global chaos, tear gas fired in Paris

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces

From New York to Milan, buyers push and shove each other to get their hands on the ‘Royal Pop’ timepieces