Swatch, AP watch collab gets massive crowds, police respond at multiple stores
People wait in line to enter the Swatch store in Times Square in New York on May 16, 2026, ahead of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop watch release. (Photo by Raphaëlle PELTIER / AFP via Getty Images)
A watch launch prompted crowds in the hundreds at stores and malls across the country Saturday.
The crowds were so large and rowdy in some locations that police were called, and some people were cited and even arrested.
Swatch AP collab
The backstory:
Last week, a collaboration was announced between Swiss watchmakers Swatch and Audemars Piguet. Audemars Piguet is a higher-end watch line, with Swatch’s pieces more on the affordable end.
Dig deeper:
Several days later, more details were dropped about the collaboration, called the Royal Pop Collection – marrying "Audemars Piguet's iconic Royal Oak and Swatch's POP watches from the 1980s." The pieces look like a stopwatch reimagined, with a timepiece hung on a lanyard or keychain of sorts.
Eight versions are available, for $400 and $420, according to The New York Times.
Big picture view:
Despite mixed reaction on social media, massive crowds rushed stores across the country Saturday when the product became available. Crowds got so heavy that police were called at several locations, and Swatch announced more than a dozen stores were closing for the day.
A massive crowd outside Somerset Mall in Troy, Mich. Saturday, May 16, 2026, awaiting the release of the Swatch x AP collab. (WJBK FOX 2 Detroit)
Local perspective:
At Somerset Mall in suburban Detroit, two people were cited for trespassing after refusing to leave when asked by mall security. Local police in Troy estimated hundreds of people had showed up.
READ MORE: Large crowd at Troy's Somerset Mall prompts police response during watch release
And outside of Philadelphia in King of Prussia, police said some people broke down doors trying to get inside before the mall opened. One person was arrested.
READ MORE: 'Defiant' crowd breaks down doors at King of Prussia Mall before Swatch release, police say
Swatch stores closed for safety
What they're saying:
Swatch commented several times on social media Saturday about the response, and said many store locations would be closed Saturday over safety concerns.
The company also reminded fans the product would be available for some time.
"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.
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," the company wrote.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from Swatch’s social media accounts, and local reporting from FOX 2 Detroit and FOX 29 Philadelphia. Background information about the sales and collaboration was taken from The New York Times.