Swiss watchmaker Swatch shut its UK stores on Saturday, 16 May 2026, after hundreds of buyers stormed branches for the new Royal Pop pocket watch, a collaboration with luxury brand Audemars Piguet. Stores in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow and Sheffield closed for “safety considerations”. Manchester and Liverpool remained shut a second day after queues rebuilt on Sunday.
Police called as crowds force entry
South Wales Police were called to St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff at 06:20 after roughly 300 people tried to force entry. A 25-year-old man from Pengam was arrested. Merseyside Police attended the Liverpool One store after reports of threats.
Resale listings already at £16,000
The collection retails between £335 and £350, but resale listings have already hit £16,000. Swatch told fans not to “rush to our stores in large numbers”, confirming the watches will remain available for several months.
Source: BBC News, The Independent
