ORLANDO, Fla. – The Swatch store at the Mall at Millenia remained closed Sunday after hundreds of people lined up Saturday for a new watch collaboration that drew large crowds in Orlando and beyond.
The crowds formed for the “Royal Pop” release, a collaboration between Swatch and Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet.
The store initially closed early on Saturday because of concerns about crowd control.
This collection, titled Royal Pop, draws inspiration from Pop Art.
When our News 6 crew returned Sunday, the storefront was dark, the display was removed, and a sign said the store would not open on Sunday.
Swatch planned to remain closed the rest of the day, and it was not immediately clear whether it would reopen on Monday or later in the week.
Mickey Kane, who calls himself a local horologist or somebody who studies the art of time, knows a thing or two about the watch industry and the resale price of some of these watches.
He has said the collaboration is likely driving interest because it offers a lower-cost entry point to a brand known for watches that can start around $30,000.
The watch retails for about $400, with proceeds going to an initiative supporting watchmaking craftsmanship.
Kane said he has seen online resale listings showing sales in the past day as high as $1,500 to more than $2,000 per watch.
“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.
We remind you that the Royal Pop Collection is not a limited edition"
-Swatch
Crowds elsewhere also prompted police responses, including on Long Island in New York, where pepper spray was used to control a crowd. In Milan, footage showed fights, though nothing like that was reported in Orlando.
Some buyers are also using 3D-printed band models to wear the watch face on their wrist.
The collection includes eight watches, and Swatch Limited allows customers to buy one watch per day.