Swatch Shuts Stores for a 2nd Day Amid Frenzy Over Watch

Swatch's latest collaboration is proving so popular that some UK stores can't keep their doors open, the BBC reports. Shops in Manchester and Liverpool stayed closed for a second day after fresh queues formed for the new, nearly $450 "Royal Pop" pocket watch, prompting renewed safety concerns. The Swiss brand temporarily shut outlets in several cities over the weekend, warning customers on social media not to turn up in large numbers and stressing the watches will be available "for several months." The Denver Post reports "dozens" of stores were shut down Saturday amid the chaos, including the Denver location. One of those was at Pennsylvania's King of Prussia Mall, which delayed its Saturday opening for two hours due to the Swatch frenzy, and said the Swatch store itself would remain closed all weekend, 6abc reports.

The timepieces, created with luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet, officially sell for as much as $470, but have appeared online being resold for more than $21,000. Critics say Swatch mishandled the launch and should have sold the watches online to avoid police being pulled in to manage crowds; officers were called to stores in Liverpool, Cardiff, and near Versailles, with at least one arrest in Wales. Events were also disrupted in Dubai, France, Switzerland, and New York, where some fans reportedly camped out in Times Square for a week.