Audemars Piguet x Swatch’s Royal Pop launch descends into global chaos as stores close
By Callum Doyle••Dexerto Esports
A synchronized worldwide launch of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop pocket watch collapsed into safety emergencies across multiple countries on May 16, 2026, with stores closing before they opened, police being called in and thousands of people left empty-handed outside shuttered boutiques. The Royal Pop, a bioceramic pocket watch retailing at $400, was...