Pocket watch chaos comes to California as long lines and frustration over take viral collab

Chaos has erupted over a viral watch collab forcing the closure of stores in Los Angeles and across the country as watch enthusiasts and resellers wait hours to get their hands on the items in hopes of scoring big bucks.

Hundreds of shoppers lined up outside the Topanga Westfield mall in LA starting on Friday night in hopes of getting a pocket watch, the latest “Royal Pop” collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet.

It looks like something right of the 80s, with the bright colors that merge “Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak with Swatch’s vibrant POP line,” per the company.

However, more than one hundred shoppers — who were prepared to spend the night outside the LA mall — ended up being turned away by the Los Angeles Police Department because the mall only had a limited supply, per ABC 7.

Some shoppers said they just wanted the watch because it was cool.

“I’m probably the only one who wants to wear it here,” Northridge resident Aidan Chin said. “Everyone is trying to flip it for $1,200.”

While others admitted they would be willing to sell it for the right price.  

“For the right price I’d be willing to part ways with it,” Woodland Hills resident William Enenstein said. “If I can get like triple the value of it.”

The collection includes eight unique pocket watches that sell for around $400. But it’s what’s happening in the resell market that is giving a glimpse into what’s happening at the LA mall and across the country. 

Resellers on E-bay are asking for three times that much, with many of the pocket watches listed for sale for $2,000, $3,000 and even $4,000 dollars for the full set.

With chaos at stores continuing Saturday ahead of the release, the Swiss-based company announced the closure of many of its stores, including the Topanga one. Others included shops in New York City, Houston, Orlando, Atlanta and more.

“Today’s Bioceramic Royal Pop Collection launch saw extraordinarily high demand. Some of our stores had to be closed in accordance with our security staff and local authorities to ensure a safe environment for everyone,” the statement on the post read. 

“We remind you that the Royal Pop Collection is not a limited edition.”

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And it is unclear at this time how many of those 200 people in line actually got one. In a video posted on X, it said the store sold 50 of the watches before it closed up.

The brand issued similar statements about closing stores in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Videos surfaced on social media on Saturday showing hundreds of shoppers trying to get their hands on one of the watches.

At the SoHo store in NYC, the 330-person crowd reportedly got so out of hand, the location never even opened for the day. 

A statement from Swatch said that “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.”

It added, “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 Post reached out to Swatch and the LA store for further comment.

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