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Audemars Piguet x Swatch ‘Royal Pop’ release sparks mob scenes

May 18, 2026

Summary

The Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal Pop' collaboration led to chaotic scenes at stores nationwide, with massive crowds, arrests, and pepper spray deployed. Resale prices for the watches have topped $2,000.

How coverage differs

Left outlets emphasize public safety concerns and dangerous environments created by massive crowds, while right outlets highlight ‘mob scenes,’ arrests, and the need for law enforcement intervention.

  • Left: Luxury Watch Release Descends Into Chaos, Police Intervene Left-leaning outlets emphasize the public safety concerns arising from the Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal Pop' release, highlighting the deployment of pepper spray and chaotic scenes. They focus on the dangerous environment created by the massive crowds at various watch release events.
  • Right: Luxury watch release descends into mob chaos, arrests, and pepper spray Right-leaning outlets frame the Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal Pop' release as sparking 'mob scenes' at malls, highlighting the arrests and general disorder. They emphasize the chaotic crowds and the need for law enforcement intervention during the watch events.

Coverage by lane

Left

  • WATCH: Pepper spray deployed during watch release events

Right

  • Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal Pop' release sparks mob scenes, pepper spray and arrests at malls

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