Chaos at NYC Swatch stores as brand launches limited-edition collaboration — with one store forced to close

Chaos erupted outside Swatch stores in NYC and across the globe as cut-throat resellers and watch enthusiasts impatiently waited for a new release – causing several locations to abruptly close amid the disastrous launch.

Hundreds of shoppers were seen swarming the stores in SoHo and Times Square Saturday morning, rounding out about a week of lengthy lines that saw the Big Apple’s sidewalks resembling tent encampments.

The frenzy is centered around the latest “Royal Pop” collaboration between Swatch and Audemars Piguet, a limited-edition, bioceramic pocket watch that merges Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak with Swatch’s vibrant POP line from the 1980s.

At the Time Square location, some buyers were let into the store well before the 10 a.m. scheduled opening time – and the coveted watches were sold out in an hour.

One particularly rowdy man was hauled off in handcuffs for his role in the ruckus. 

Police were called to the scene to disperse the 600-person crowd around 11 a.m., but the disruptive man was arrested when he refused to leave, according to the NYPD.

“This is a total sh-t show,” said John McIntosh, 44. “Since Wednesday morning there was no line, just a mob scene, like a mosh pit. 

“I told Swatch, ‘You have to take control of this line.’ Instead, there were a bunch of thugs since Wednesday morning setting up chairs like absentee ballots.” 

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

Those waiting outside – many for days – were outraged when cops arrived and told them to get lost. 

The chaos comes days after someone overdosed while waiting for the weekend product release. 

The watch-fueled drama isn’t limited to NYC – or even the US – with Swatch stores across the world experiencing similarly disastrous launches. 

The Swiss-based company declared on Instagram that locations in NYC, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and Orlando were closed “in view of safety considerations.” 

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

Bedlam also ensued at Dubai, Milan, Tokyo and Singapore locations, with people around the globe sharing snaps and videos of the hordes formed outside the stores. 

But for those who managed to survive the relentless mobs, the launch proved successful.

Sincier Watson at the Times Square location, said he scored a black and white watch for $432 and has already sold it for $3,000. 

On top of his resale profit, Watson, 21, bagged another $1,600 from selling four spots in line leading up to the launch. 

Meanwhile, jeweler Benny Komani was on the prowl at the scene, snagging up people’s freshly-bought watches for $2,400 a piece. 

The 30-year-old said he plans to spend $20,000 to $40,000 buying the marked-up wristpieces.

He wants to resell them at his stores in the Diamond District and Connecticut for about $5,000 each – roughly 12 times their original price of about $400. 

On eBay, savvy sellers have already resold full sets of all eight Royal Pop watches for $5,000 to $10,000. 

Already-sold individual watches went for anywhere from $800 to $4,000 on the online marketplace. 

But the resale price has skyrocketed since Saturday’s frenzy, with the listing price for a full set being over $27,000 and individual watches going for nearly $13,000.

Swatch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.