Vivienne Westwood Watches Movement & Case Engineering Guide
This is a supporting guide to our main Vivienne Westwood Watches Brand Guide. It focuses specifically on what powers Vivienne Westwood watches and what they are made from — covering movement types, case metallurgy, coating processes, and crystal materials.
1 | "Swiss Movement" vs "Swiss Made"
Some Vivienne Westwood watches carry "Swiss Movement" on the dial. This is a specific legal term — and does not mean the same thing as "Swiss Made."
Swiss Made
Requires the watch as a whole — movement, assembly, final inspection — to meet strict Swiss origin criteria.
Swiss Movement
Means only that the movement inside was manufactured and regulated in Switzerland. The case, dial, hands, and assembly may originate elsewhere.
All current models are battery-powered quartz. Neither designation implies mechanical watchmaking.
2 | Japanese Movements: Miyota
The majority of the collection uses Miyota movements, manufactured by Citizen's movement division in Nagano, Japan.
Miyota 2035
Most widely used calibre. Three hands (hours, minutes, seconds). 32,768 Hz quartz oscillation. ±20 seconds per month accuracy. Battery: SR626SW (377), ~36 months.
Miyota Super 2035
Tighter accuracy of ±15 seconds per month. Extended battery life of ~4 years. Includes protective coil cover reducing damage risk during battery changes.
3 | Swiss Movements: Ronda
Models marked "Swiss Movement" typically contain Ronda calibres, manufactured in Lausen, Switzerland.
Common Ronda Calibres
- Ronda 515 (Powertech): Date complication at 3 or 6 o'clock. Battery: SR920SW (371)
- Ronda 763 (Normtech): Slim three-hand movement for thinner case profiles. Battery: SR621SW (364)
- Ronda 509 (Powertech): "Big Date" display using two concentric date wheels. Intermediary numerals during manual correction are a known operating characteristic, not a defect
The practical difference between Miyota and Ronda is minimal in daily use. Both deliver reliable quartz timekeeping.
4 | Case Construction
Cases are constructed from stainless steel. The material's density contributes to the substantial feel on the wrist — distinguishing it from lighter zinc alloy cases in lower-tier fashion watches.
Solid Link Bracelets
Generally heavier and more resistant to long-term deformation. Premium construction.
Folded Link Bracelets
Lighter construction. May show wear sooner depending on use. Standard across many models.
5 | PVD Coating
Gold-tone, rose gold-tone, and gunmetal finishes use Physical Vapour Deposition — a vacuum-based coating process. PVD forms a strongly adhered surface layer more resistant to peeling than traditional electroplating.
PVD Limitations
Vulnerable to chemical contact (perfumes, lotions, cleaning products). Physical abrasion from contact with hard surfaces wears through the coating, particularly on bracelet clasps and case edges.
6 | Crystal Material
The majority use mineral glass — heat-treated glass with a hardness of approximately 5–6 on the Mohs scale. More scratch-resistant than standard glass or acrylic but less resistant than sapphire crystal (Mohs 9). Generally offers higher impact resistance than sapphire, which is harder but more brittle.
Some models feature dome-shaped mineral glass for aesthetic effect, requiring precision grinding to maintain optical clarity.
7 | Caseback & Sealing
Closure Types
- Snap-fit casebacks: Most 3 ATM models — press into place, removed with case knife during servicing
- Screw-down casebacks: Selected 5 ATM models — thread into case for more secure seal
- Synthetic gaskets: Sit between caseback and case body for moisture resistance
- Gaskets degrade over time and should be inspected during every battery service
Water resistance is not a permanent state. It is a factory-tested rating that diminishes as seals age, dry out, or are exposed to chemicals and temperature changes.
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