Watch retailer Swatch has been forced to close stores across the world amid safety concerns after huge crowds descended for a limited edition release.

Swatch announced it had cancelled launches many stores amid crowd safety concerns as outlets in Australia, Britain, Dubai, Europe, the US and Asia drew large crowds of would-be buyers.

Swatch launched the Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop Collection on Sunday Australian time as a limited collaboration with the luxury brand.

The pocket watches are available only at selected stores worldwide, with purchases limited to one per person, per day and per store.

After queuing for many hours, emotions boiled over at stores around the world, with several arrests.

Footage and photos on social media showed long queues outside several locations, as well as reports of a person getting arrested outside a Swatch outlet at New York City’s Times Square.

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In Britain on Sunday, Swatch announced it was closing a store in Greater Manchester for a second day after scores of people queued for the launch.

Police were called to the Swatch store at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester on Saturday, with an arrest also made in Cardiff.

It came after police were called to a shopping centre in Cardiff after reports of about 300 people trying to get in to a Swatch store at 6.20am on Saturday.

Officers were also sent to the Trafford Centre in Manchester and “dispersed a large number of people”, Greater Manchester Police said.

Swatch posted on Facebook on Saturday saying “in light of safety considerations for both our customers and our staff”, shops in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow and Cardiff would be closed for the day, along with all of the brand’s London stores.

The company also announced it had shut nearly 20 outlets across America, including New York, Los Angeles and Orlando, citing public safety considerations.

Why the fuss?

Comprising eight colourful pop-art pocket watch versions of the Royal Oak design, the new Swatch timepieces can be used as a pocket watch, pendant, bag charm or desk clock.

The pocket watches can be worn as a pendant or on a bag. Photo: Swatch

Priced at $US400 to $US420 ($561 to $589) each, they are a rare collaboration between rival watchmakers Audemars Piguet and Swatch.

It is thought the affordable retail price, coupled with speculation of a greatly inflated resell price, has fuelled demand.

“To ensure the safety of both our customers and our staff in Swatch stores, we kindly ask you not to rush to our stores in large numbers to acquire this product,” Swatch asked when announcing the launch.

“The Royal Pop Collection will remain available for several months. In some countries, queues of more than 50 people cannot be accepted, and sales may need to be paused.”

Swatch (R) is known for affordable, colourful design, compared to the Royal Oak (L)

Swatch (which stands for ‘second watch) originated in the early 1980s with low-cost, quality watches. It sparked a frenzy on Sunday Australian time when it posted: “To all our dear fans worldwide of our AP x Swatch collab, launched on May 16.”

The Audemars Piguet story is almost the opposite to that of Swatch.

Established in 1875, the Swiss company is one of the oldest and most prestigious watchmakers in the world.

The company is best known for Royal Oak wristwatch, first released in 1972. It helped the brand rise to prominence within the watchmaking industry.