Dozens of people are lining up outside Swatch’s Soho store in New York for a chance to buy the new Swatch x Audemars Piguet pocket watches, which won’t be available for purchase until Saturday, May 16.. the collaboration between the affordable Swiss watch brand and the luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has created a frenzy, with some people waiting in line since Tuesday, hoping to get their hands on one of the eight limited-edition pocket watches.

The $700 Resale Value and the Appeal of Exclusivity

According to Dariel Nunez, who had been waiting in line since 10 a.m. on Tuesday,the appeal of the Swatch x Audemars Piguet pocket watches lies in their exclusivity and limited availability. Nunez, who is not typically a watch enthusiast, said he would make an exception for these watches, which are designed to be worn as necklaces. he also mentioned that his limited-edition Swatch watch now resells for $700 on StockX, highlighting the potential resale value of the new pocket watches.

The Secret to Holding Down a Spot in Line

Chan Briggs, a Tissot owner who was near the front of the line, revealed that he might eventually sell his pocket watch. He mentioned a secret to holding down a spot in line but refused to disclose it. Briggs also shared that he had been paying someone to sit in his seat while he slept at home , a strategy that allowed him to avoid sleeping outside. He described the line as having a dynamic similar to a show called Squid Game, where the behavior of people at night is unpredictable.

The College Students and the Rumored Stock

Near the end of the line, colege students Javier Flores and Bleart Ademi had been waiting for about three hours by the time they were interviewed. Flores heard rumors that the store would have 500 pocket watches in stock and expressed his preference for the light-blue Lan Ba model. He described the line as 'pretty chill' so far but was unsure how it would go overnight. Flores also mentiioned that the line was the closest thing to the dynamic of Squid Game, emphasizing the unpredictability of people's behavior at night.

The Shared Sentiment: Owning an Audemars Piguet Watch

Despite the long wait and the uncertainty of the night, there was a shared sentiment among those in line: they were finally going to own an Audemars Piguet watch. briggs noted that owning an AP watch is typically out of reach for most people, and the collaboration with Swatch has made it more accessible. He also commented on the interesting nature of consumerism, stating that many people didn't care about Swatch until this week.