Vivienne Westwood The Wallace Ladies Quartz Watch Review: bold orange face on a chunky gold bracelet

I’ve been wearing the Vivienne Westwood The Wallace Ladies Quartz Watch (orange dial, gold bracelet) almost every day for a couple of weeks. I’m not a collector or anything, just someone who likes a decent-looking watch that works and doesn’t fall apart after a month. I picked this one because I wanted something a bit louder than my usual plain silver watch, and the orange dial definitely ticks that box.

Out of the box, my first thought was: this thing is not subtle. It’s a 38 mm case, quite chunky at 10 mm thick, with a fully gold-tone stainless steel bracelet and that bright orange skeleton-style face. On the wrist it feels like proper jewellery more than a simple timepiece. If you’re shy about gold, this will probably feel like too much, but if you like people noticing your watch, it does the job right away.

In daily use, it’s been pretty straightforward: quartz movement, so it keeps time well, and there’s nothing complicated to learn. It’s battery-powered, analogue display, and you just set it and forget it. For me, the interest is more in how it wears, how comfortable it is, and if the finish holds up to normal life (work, commuting, washing hands, a bit of walking in the rain) rather than the technical side. I’m not timing laps at a pool with this.

Overall, after some time with it, I’d say it’s a watch for someone who wants a fashion piece first and a tool second. It looks like something you’d wear to dress up an outfit, not something you’d take hiking or on rough trips. It isn’t perfect, and there are a few things that bug me, but if you’re into gold bracelets and bold dials, it’s worth a proper look.

Value is where this watch will divide people a bit. You’re clearly paying for the Vivienne Westwood name and the fashion design as much as for the specs. On paper, the hardware is: stainless steel, mineral crystal, Swiss Ronda quartz, 50 m water resistance, 2-year manufacturer warranty. Those are solid but not mind-blowing specs. You can find other brands with similar technical features for less money, especially from more “tool watch” oriented companies. But they won’t look like this, and they won’t have the same brand appeal for people who like Vivienne Westwood style.

From my point of view, if you’re mainly after a reliable fashion watch that doubles as a piece of jewellery, the value is decent. It looks and feels more premium than a lot of basic high-street fashion watches. The weight, the finishing, and the bold orange dial all give it a more distinctive feel. The Amazon rating (4.5/5 from around 90 reviews) also lines up with that: most people seem happy with it, especially mentioning how nice it looks and how it feels like a proper gift item.

If you’re more into pure watch specs, you’ll probably say you can get sapphire crystal, better water resistance, or more features for similar money from other brands. And you’d be right. This isn’t a spec monster. It’s a style piece with decent internals. So the value question really comes down to: do you like the design enough to pay for it? For someone who doesn’t care about the brand or fashion element, it might feel overpriced. For someone who wants that specific Vivienne Westwood look, it’s easier to justify.

Personally, I’d rate the value as pretty solid if you want a bold, branded fashion watch, but only average if you don’t care about looks and just want raw function. There’s better pure performance out there for the same price, but as a gift or a statement piece that still keeps good time, it’s a reasonable deal.

The design is very clearly fashion-first. You get a round 38 mm stainless steel case in a gold tone, a matching gold stainless steel bracelet, and an orange dial with a skeleton-style face and crystal accents. On a medium wrist, it covers a good chunk of space. On a small wrist, it can look almost oversized. Personally, I like slightly bigger watches, so it worked for me, but if you’re used to tiny 30–32 mm women’s watches, this will feel big.

The orange dial is the main talking point. It’s bright enough to stand out but not so bright that it looks like a toy. The skeleton style means you can see some of the inner structure, which is more about looks than function here. There’s a fashion vibe to it that fits the Vivienne Westwood brand. You also get crystal embellishments that catch the light. In real life, it looks closer to a dress watch than a casual beater. I wore it with jeans and a t-shirt and it almost felt too much; it fits better with a shirt, blazer, or a dressy outfit.

One thing to note: readability is decent but not perfect. With the orange dial, skeleton elements, and gold hands, in some lighting it takes a second to find the time, especially if you’re used to plain high-contrast dials. It’s fine for general use, but if you need something you can read in half a second in any situation, this isn’t ideal. There’s also no real sporty vibe despite the spec sheet mentioning swimming and 50 m water resistance. The design screams fashion, not sports.

Overall, I’d describe the design as: loud, dressy, and clearly branded. If you like discreet, this is not for you. If you like your watch to double as jewellery and you’re into gold/orange combos, then the design makes sense. It definitely looks more expensive than a lot of generic fashion watches, which matches what some Amazon reviewers say about it looking more pricey than it is. But you have to be comfortable with a watch that gets noticed.

This watch runs on a standard battery-powered quartz movement (Swiss Ronda), so there’s no solar charging, no automatic winding, and nothing fancy to manage. Out of the box, mine was already running, which usually means the factory battery has been in there for a while. Typically, with this kind of movement, you can expect around 2–3 years of battery life, depending on how long it’s been sitting before you buy it. Obviously, I haven’t had it long enough to drain a battery, but that’s the usual pattern with quartz fashion watches.

From a practical point of view, this is low-maintenance. You don’t have to worry about keeping it on a winder, and it doesn’t stop if you don’t wear it for a couple of days like an automatic would. If the battery dies, you just take it to a watch shop or jeweller and get it replaced for a small fee. Given the stainless steel construction and normal case back, any basic watch repair place should be able to handle it without trouble. There’s no proprietary charging cable, no app, nothing digital to mess with.

One thing to keep in mind: because it has a skeleton-style face and is fashion-oriented, you might not want some random shop scratching it up during a battery change, so I’d personally go to a half-decent jeweller rather than the cheapest kiosk. But that’s more about avoiding scratches on the gold-tone case than about the movement itself. The Ronda quartz inside is fairly common, so parts and knowledge shouldn’t be an issue if anything ever goes wrong.

Overall, battery and movement are exactly what you’d expect: simple, reliable, and not very exciting. For someone who just wants to put it on and not think about it, that’s fine. If you’re into mechanical watches or techy smartwatches, this will feel basic, but that’s the trade-off for a clean, no-fuss analogue piece.

Comfort-wise, this watch is a bit of a mixed bag, and it really depends on what you’re used to. At 165 g with a 38 mm case and 10 mm thickness, it’s definitely on the heavier and chunkier side for a women’s watch. On my wrist, after a full day of wear, I could feel it more than my lighter watches, but it wasn’t painful or annoying. It’s more like wearing a solid bracelet: you’re aware it’s there, but it doesn’t dig in as long as you size it properly.

The bracelet itself is okay in terms of comfort. Once I had a few links removed (similar to the Amazon reviewer who said they took out three links), it sat fairly flat and didn’t pinch too much. The underside is smooth enough, and I didn’t get any red marks or irritation. That said, if you like very loose bracelets, this one can flop around and feel a bit bulky because of the weight. I found it best to wear it slightly snug so it doesn’t slide too much up and down the wrist.

The case back sits flat on the wrist, and the lugs don’t stick out in a weird way, which helps. No sharp corners or bits catching on clothes so far. I wore it under a shirt cuff and it just about slid under; the 10 mm thickness is noticeable but not extreme. If you wear very tight sleeves, you might feel it catching a bit, but for normal blouses or shirts it’s manageable. In summer, the full metal bracelet can get a bit warm, but that’s the case with most metal bracelets; nothing unusual there.

Overall, I’d say comfort is decent but not feather-light. If you’re used to big metal watches or like the feel of jewellery on your wrist, you’ll probably be fine. If you only ever wear super-light silicone or leather strap watches, this will feel heavy at first. For me, after a few days, I got used to it, and it just felt like part of the outfit. I wouldn’t pick it as a watch for sports or long active days, but for work, dinners, and general going out, it’s okay.

On paper, the materials are pretty standard for a mid-range fashion watch: stainless steel case, stainless steel bracelet, mineral crystal, quartz movement (Swiss Ronda), and a battery as the power source. The case and bracelet are both gold-tone stainless steel. In hand, the metal feels solid, not hollow or tinny. The 165 g weight backs that up: it feels like a solid chunk of metal on the wrist, which I personally like. It gives the impression that it can handle everyday use without bending or feeling flimsy.

The mineral crystal is what you’d expect at this level. It’s not sapphire, so it’s more prone to scratches than higher-end watches, but for normal office and casual use it’s fine. I’ve brushed it against a laptop edge and a door frame already, and so far I don’t see any obvious marks. If you’re rough on your watches, you’ll eventually see wear, but that’s normal for mineral glass. The gold coating on the bracelet and case has stayed even so far; no fading or weird spots after a couple of weeks of daily wear.

The bracelet links feel decent. The deployment clasp locks securely and hasn’t popped open on me. It’s not the smoothest, most luxurious bracelet I’ve ever handled, but it doesn’t rattle excessively and there are no sharp edges scraping the skin. It feels like a typical fashion watch bracelet, maybe a bit better than the really cheap ones you get from random brands. The Amazon page lists it as suitable for swimming with 50 m water resistance, but I honestly wouldn’t treat this as a hardcore swim watch. Occasional splashes, washing hands, getting caught in rain – that I’d trust. Regular pool use with chlorine, I’d be more cautious, mainly for the finish over time.

The movement is a Swiss Ronda quartz, which is good news from a reliability point of view. Quartz means it should keep decent time with minimal drift, and Ronda is a known movement maker, not some no-name factory part. You don’t see the movement as some luxury feature here; it’s just there to keep the watch running, and it does. Overall, materials are pretty solid for a fashion piece, but you’re not getting high-end specs like sapphire crystal or premium solid end links at this price. It’s good enough for everyday city use and nights out, not something I’d worry about babying all the time.

Durability is always a bit hard to judge after only a couple of weeks, but there are a few things you can already tell. The stainless steel case and bracelet feel solid. I’ve worn it to work, out for drinks, and around the house, and it hasn’t picked up any obvious damage yet. The mineral crystal has survived a couple of light bumps against a desk and a door frame without visible scratches. So for normal office and casual use, it seems fine so far.

The main long-term concern with this kind of watch is the gold-tone coating on the bracelet and case. Right now, the finish looks even and fresh. No fading on the underside of the bracelet or on the clasp, which are usually the first places to show wear. Over a year or two of regular use, I’d expect some micro-scratches and maybe a bit of dulling, especially if you wear it daily and bang it against metal surfaces or desks. That’s standard for plated or coated gold-tone watches; it’s not unique to this model.

The 50 m water resistance rating is decent for a fashion watch. It should handle splashes, rain, and maybe an occasional shallow swim, but I wouldn’t treat it like a dive watch. The gaskets and seals on fashion watches aren’t really designed for heavy water abuse over many years. If you do use it in water often, it would be smart to have the seals checked when you change the battery. Personally, I’m keeping it mostly dry and just not stressing about washing hands or getting caught in the rain.

Bracelet durability seems okay: the links haven’t loosened or started rattling more, and the deployment clasp still locks firmly. No accidental openings yet. Some users on Amazon said it feels “substantial yet light to wear” and “looks more expensive”, which matches my feeling that it doesn’t behave like a cheap, flimsy bracelet. Overall, I’d say durability looks pretty solid for everyday city life, but if you’re rough on your watches or work in a physical job, I’d save this one for off-duty and use something more rugged for daily abuse.

In terms of performance as a watch (not as jewellery), it does what it’s supposed to do: it tells the time reliably. The quartz movement (Swiss Ronda) keeps time accurately – in the couple of weeks I’ve had it, I haven’t seen any noticeable drift. You set it once and it just runs. There’s no fancy complication usage from my side; the listing mentions “chronograph” as a special feature, but this particular model is more of a standard three-hand fashion watch from what I can see. If there are extra functions, they’re not clearly highlighted or the design hides them in the fashion side of the dial.

Day-to-day, legibility is okay but not perfect. The orange dial with skeleton styling and gold hands looks cool, but it’s not as easy to read as a plain black-on-white dial. In strong daylight it’s fine. In dim lighting, I sometimes need an extra second to see the hands clearly. There’s no mention of strong lume or anything like that, and in practice, it’s not a watch you’ll rely on to check the time in complete darkness. This matches what you’d expect from a fashion-focused piece – the priority seems to be looks, not pure function.

The 50 m water resistance gives a bit of peace of mind. I’ve washed my hands, splashed water on it in the kitchen, and got caught in a light rain with no issues. Personally, I wouldn’t go full-on swimming with it even though the spec says it’s okay for swimming. It’s still a gold-tone fashion watch with crystal embellishments – I’d rather not test chlorine and salt water on that finish too hard. For normal everyday “oops, water” situations, it seems fine so far.

Noise-wise, the ticking is quiet. I don’t hear it unless I put it right up to my ear, so it’s not one of those loud tickers that annoy you at night. The hands move smoothly enough for quartz, and there’s no weird stutter. Overall, performance is solid and unexciting, which is exactly what you want from a quartz fashion watch: it should just work in the background without you having to think about it.

The presentation is pretty standard for a fashion watch in this price range. It comes in a branded Vivienne Westwood box, nothing too fancy but not cheap-looking either. The box is a simple cube-style one (product dimensions listed as 9 x 11 x 11 cm), with the watch wrapped around a cushion inside. It feels gift-ready without you having to buy extra packaging, which is handy if you’re giving it to someone. No over-the-top accessories, just the watch, some basic paperwork and the warranty details.

When I first took it out, the weight stood out: 165 g is not light for a women’s watch. You definitely feel it in your hand. On the wrist, it has that jewellery weight that some people like and some people hate. To me, it makes it feel a bit more serious than those super-light fashion watches that feel like toys. At the same time, if you’re used to slim minimalist watches, this will feel like a big step up in heft.

The bracelet and case were well protected with plastic films, and there were no visible scratches or defects on mine. The gold tone was even across the case and bracelet, and the orange dial looked the same as in the product photos: bright but not neon, with that skeleton-style face that lets you see some of the inner parts. There are some crystal embellishments that add to the dressy look. It definitely looks more like a piece of jewellery than a pure sports watch, despite the 50 m water resistance claim.

Documentation is basic: a small booklet, warranty info (2-year manufacturer warranty) and that’s it. No fancy story-telling or long manuals. Honestly, that’s fine for me. You put it on, adjust the bracelet (or get a jeweller to remove links), and you’re good to go. As a gift, the whole presentation is decent: it looks like a mid-range fashion watch, not a bargain-bin item, and the brand name on the box will probably impress anyone who already likes Vivienne Westwood style.