Aussies desperate to get their hands on a $630 version of a designer $60,000 item were seen queuing \u201cfor days\u201d over the weekend as the new release caused chaos at stores around the world.<\/p>\n
Audemars Piguet, a prestigious, luxury Swiss watch manufacturer released its highly-anticipated collaboration with cheap and cheerful brand, Swatch, on Saturday. <\/p>\n
The new timepiece is AP\u2019s iconic Royal Oak design reinterpreted in plastic as a colourful, convertible pop-art pocket watch called \u201cRoyal Pop\u201d that can be worn around the neck or attached to a belt loop or bag.<\/p>\n
Traditional AP wristwatches can retail between $30,000 \u2013 $60,000 for an entry-level stainless steel model with prices hitting more than $150,000 for rarer designs, making the $630 version highly appealing to the masses. <\/p>\n
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But it seems demand was higher than expected, with stores across the globe smashed by huge crowds, prompting some to shutter up completely as others dealt with \u201chostile\u201d altercations and were forced to call in police. <\/p>\n
In Australia, footage shows scenes weren\u2019t quite as chaotic as several international cities. However, some Aussies were seen waiting in line for days to snag one of the popular pocket watches. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a queue for the AP Swatch collab at 9am on Friday,\u201d noted one video<\/a> filmed in Melbourne, despite the fact the official release was 8am the following day. <\/p>\n Another clip showed a huge line<\/a> snaking down Collins Street in Melbourne at 5pm night before the release. <\/p>\n Perth, Brisbane and Sydney also attracted similar crowds, with clips posted to TikTok<\/a> showing people camping out, with some bringing foldable chairs and blankets to survive the evening. <\/p>\n One video<\/a> filmed in Brisbane CBD at 5.30am on Saturday has people looking rugged up for the cold, dark autumn morning.<\/p>\n While Westfield in Bondi Junction had a huge swell of people waiting to attempt to purchase the item. <\/p>\n Many reacted in shock at the scenes across the country, labelling it \u201cinsane\u201d and \u201cmental\u201d, as others who waited in line reported the watches \u201csold out\u201d before they got to buy one. <\/p>\n \u201cI was first in line before the \u2018apparent 11 VIPs\u2019 in front of us took all the good colours,\u201d claimed one. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the hype about?\u201d asked another.<\/p>\n As one stated: \u201cAll this for a f**ing watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Others noted \u201cthere are more people in the queue than watches\u201d, with most stores reportedly only having around 25 Royal Pop\u2019s on launch day. <\/p>\n Internationally, some Swatch stores made the decision not to open over safety fears. <\/p>\n The Swiss firm said it would not open its branches in London \u201cin light of safety considerations for both our customers and our staff\u201d, the BBC<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n Footage shared on social media shows the moment waiting customers were told about the decision at a Westfield shopping centre in West London. <\/p>\n \u201cWe will not be opening today,\u201d a tannoy announcement can be heard stating, as police hold back crowds from the front of the shop. <\/p>\n Angry punters could then be heard shouting back, \u201cwhat about tomorrow?\u201d and \u201cwhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Across London, at the Battersea Power Station store, the atmosphere was described as \u201chostile with barging and heckling\u201d.<\/p>\n Another video filmed in a shopping centre in Dubai shows a huge swell of people after Swatch had to cancel its events for a similar reason. <\/p>\n Wild footage also showed a New York police officer pepper-spraying a rowdy mob swarming a US store in a panic over the watch, the New York Post<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n