Swatch stores close for second day after crowds

North West BBC Swatch stores in Manchester and Liverpool were closed for a second day after queues formed again for the new 335 pocket watch. Swatch asked people not to rush to stores in large numbers to buy the product, saying it would remain available for several months. The watches had been resold online for up to 16,000. Some critics said the watches should be sold on the company website and that police resources were diverted unnecessarily. Swatch stated that safety required limiting store crowds and that in some countries queues of more than 50 people could not be accepted, with sales possibly paused. Police were called to incidents including threats, and one man was arrested in Cardiff. Launch events were disrupted in Dubai, and police were also called in France and Switzerland, while New York shoppers camped for a week and some became unwell.

"North West BBC Swatch stores in Manchester and Liverpool were shut for a second day after queues built up again, with shoppers keen to buy a new 335 pocket watch. In a social media post after crowds gathered at branches worldwide, Swatch asked people "not to rush to our stores in large numbers" and said the items - which have been resold online for up to 16,000 - would "remain available for several months"."

"In an online statement, the firm 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.""

"Some have criticised the company, saying the watches should be available on its website and police resources had been unnecessarily diverted. One man was arrested in Cardiff on Saturday, while police were called to reports of people "making threats" outside the Liverpool store."

"The firm launched its new "Royal Pop" pocket watch collaboration with luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet at selected stores worldwide on Saturday. Swatch said it had been inspired by the Pop Art movement of the 1950s and 60s, describing it as "a disruptive collaboration between two icons of Swiss watchmaking". The collection combines the transformational design of Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak with the famously colourful Swatch Pop brand from the 1980s."

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