Quill & Pad
  • Home
  • Articles
  • About
  • Glossary
  • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

It’s Time To Take Women, Their Watches, And Their Opinions Seriously In The World Of Horology

by Elizabeth Doerr

For many years, high-end luxury brands have flirted with courting women as an untapped consumer group of prospective buyers.

Fabergé Lady Levity in pink gold

Fabergé Lady Levity in pink gold

I say flirted because, for the majority of brands, the attempt hasn’t really come across as serious. And for another, the resulting watches for the most part reflected that the attempt wasn’t serious. This has not gone unnoticed by the female watch-buying public – though, I will say that I have seen a few really good, serious candidates in 2016 (see Best of Baselworld 2016: The Top 5 Ladies’ Watches).

Women are now taking more of the decision-making process into their own hands, notably by raising voices in a way to help the brands understand what they could be improving and what women consider good.

Two events set to take place in late 2016 underscore this movement.

The inaugural Eve’s Watch Awards in London

Celebrating the world of women’s timepieces, the Eve’s Watch Awards is the first exclusively female-focused award ceremony in the history of watches. The elegant invitation-only ceremony is set to take place on the 24th floor of iconic London landmark The Shard on October 20, 2016.

Eves-Watch-Awards-Logo

The awards, dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging women’s watches, are organized by the founders of the UK’s only specialist women’s watch magazine, Eve’s Watch, which was founded in 2013.

A full spectrum of the women’s watch market will be honored: high jewelry creations, complex haute horlogerie, and fashionable brands capturing mass-market attention are all included in the 12 award categories. These are: Best Jewelry Watch, Best Fashion Watch, Best Design, Best Smart Watch, Buyer’s Choice, Best Complication, Collector’s Choice, Best Innovation, Best Unisex Watch, Brand of the Year, Watch of the Year, and Woman of the Year.

Eve’s Watch Judging Panel

Eve’s Watch judging panel and organizers: (r to l) Larissa Trew, Laura McCreddie, Jane Trew, Gaia Geddes, Rebecca Struthers, Alice Jonsdottir Ferrier, Elizabeth Doerr, Tracey Llewellyn, and Avril Groom (Robyn Kotze is missing from the photo)

The experienced all-female judging panel comprises influential, informed, and authoritative female watch specialists, journalists, fashion editors, and collectors, including extraordinary watchmaker Rebecca Struthers, Revolution UK’s editor-in-chief Tracey Llewellyn, freelance watch, jewelry, and fashion specialist Avril Groom, fashion writer Gaia Geddes, UK InStyle fashion editor Robyn Kotze, Laura McCreddie and Jane Trew of Eve’s Watch, and collector Alice Jonsdottir Ferrier as well as myself.

The Buyer’s Choice winner has been chosen by a collective of the most esteemed buyers from leading UK retail outlets including Aurum Holdings (Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths, Mappin & Web, Watch Hut, Watchshop), Signet Jewelers (H Samuel, Ernest Jones), Amazon, and DM London (The Watch Gallery).

The Popular Choice Award, voted for by the readers of InStyle, Marie Claire, woman&home, Livingetc, and Country Life as well as Eve’s Watch among others, will also be presented on the night.

Jane Trew and Larissa Trew founders of Eve’s Watch

Jane Trew (left) and Larissa Trew, the founders of Eve’s Watch

You can vote for your favorite at www.eveswatch.com/popular-choice-vote. Voting closes on October 2, 2016, and all voters will be entered into a prize draw to win £3,000 toward a holiday of their dreams, courtesy of luxury travel experts Destinology.

“Women’s watches have long been overlooked,” says Larissa Trew, co-founder of Eve’s Watch Awards, “but the incredibly positive reception we’ve received to the inaugural Eve’s Watch Awards proves that there is an appetite for positive coverage and acknowledgement in this area of the market. The Eve’s Watch Awards judging panel is a group of women with unparalleled watch knowledge, experience, and expertise ready to celebrate the craftsmanship and innovation specifically designed for women’s wrists.”

6 female jurors at 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Another first occurs in the 2016 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), where the 26-person jury (excluding 2015 Aiguille d’Or winners Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey) will this time also include six women. See Reflections On The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for a rundown of all winners last year, including the Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision.

Stephen Forsey at the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève with the Aiguille d'Or in one hand and a Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision on the other

Stephen Forsey at the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève with the Aiguille d’Or in one hand and a Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision on the other

GPHG 2016 juror Elizabeth Doerr (photo courtesy Guy Lucas de Peslouan)

Juror for the Eve’s Watch Awards and the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2016, Elizabeth Doerr (photo Guy Lucas de Peslouan)

These include Italian editor-in-chief of Orologi – Le Misure del Tempo Paola Pujia, Korean journalist and trainer Heekyung Jung, and myself among the specialist writers.

GPHG 2015 juror Heekyung Jung

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 juror Heekyung Jung

GPHG 2016 juror Paola Pujia

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 juror Paola Pujia

For the first time, a bona fide fashion designer – and coincidentally a member of the judging panel at the 2016 Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille – joins the prestigious jury: Chantal Thomass.

Chantal Thomass

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 juror Chantal Thomass (photo Ellen von Unwerth)

And two very influential female watch retailers also join the fun for the first time: Kim-Eva Wempe, fourth-generation CEO of the 137-year-old Wempe chain of stores headquartered in Hamburg, and Tina Zegg, Swiss owner and managing partner of Zegg & Cerlati in Monte Carlo.

Kim-Eva Wempe, fourth-generation CEO of the 137-year-old Wempe

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 juror Kim-Eva Wempe

Tina Zegg

Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 juror Tina Zegg

My guess is that all of this female confidence will bring a fresh breeze to the world of watches. I very much look forward to it!

9 replies
  1. Luke
    Luke says:
    September 7, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    Great article! I’m really glad to see coverage of this event

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      September 9, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Mick
    Mick says:
    September 7, 2016 at 10:19 pm

    Interesting

    Reply
  3. Ryan
    Ryan says:
    September 7, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    Agree agree and agree! There is but a handful of brands putting the necessary effort into women’s watches and as a very happy observer I hope that they are being rewarded at the top line. The Eve’s Watch Awards and the GPHG jury are good signs; I hope the trend continues!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      September 9, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Thank you for your enthusiasm, Ryan. I’m also very happy to see this trend.

      Reply
  4. Jan Rohloff
    Jan Rohloff says:
    September 9, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    So happy to this happening.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      October 4, 2016 at 4:08 pm

      Thank you, Jan!

      Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. The Big Winners Of The Eve’s Watch Awards 2017 | Quill & Pad says:
    November 7, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    […] I previously wrote in It’s Time To Take Women, Their Watches, And Their Opinions Seriously In The World Of Horology, women are fast becoming, if not already, a significant consumer group for high-end watches. In […]

    Reply
  2. Eve’s Watch Awards: The Evening’s Winners And How The Night Played Out | Quill & Pad says:
    November 3, 2016 at 8:15 am

    […] I previously wrote in It’s Time To Take Women, Their Watches, And Their Opinions Seriously In The World Of Horology, women as a serious consumer group in watches is something that is fast coming. In fact, women […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Watch Brands & Horology
    • New for 2025
    • New for 2024
    • New for 2023
    • Affordable Luxury
      • Swatch
      • Ball Watch
      • Louis Erard
      • Gorilla Fastback
      • Ikepod
      • Oris
      • Reservoir
    • Auctions
    • Behind the Lens
    • Boutiques
    • Collectors and Collecting
    • Events, Fairs & Exhibitions
    • Give Me Five!
    • History
    • Quill & Pad
    • Round Table
    • The Naked Watchmaker
    • Thoughts & Opinion
    • Video
    • WatchCharts
    • Wrist Watching
    • A. Lange & Söhne
    • AHCI
    • Akrivia
    • Andersen Genève
    • Alexandre Meerson
    • Andreas Strehler
    • Angelus
    • Antoine Martin
    • Antoine Preziuso
    • Armin Strom
    • Arnold & Son
    • Audemars Piguet
      • Royal Oak Offshore
    • Bélier
    • Bell & Ross
    • Blancpain
    • Bovet
    • Breguet
    • Bremont
    • Breitling
    • Bulgari
    • Carl F. Bucherer
    • Cartier
    • Chanel
    • Chopard
    • Christiaan Van Der Klaauw
    • Christophe Claret
    • Chronoswiss
    • Clocks
    • Corum
    • Cyrus
    • Czapek & Cie
    • De Bethune
    • de Grisogono
    • Derek Pratt
    • Dior
    • Divers' Watches
    • Eberhard
    • Emmanuel Bouchet
    • Fabergé
    • Ferdinand Berthoud
    • Fiona Krüger
    • F.P. Journe
    • Franck Muller
    • Garrick
    • Gérald Genta
    • Girard-Perregaux
    • Glashütte Original
    • GoS
    • Graff
    • Graham
    • Greubel Forsey
    • Grieb & Benzinger
    • Grönefeld
    • H. Moser & Cie
    • Habring2
    • Hajime Asaoka
    • Harry Winston
    • Hautlence
    • Hermès
    • Hublot
    • HYT
    • Independents
    • IWC
    • Jaeger-LeCoultre
    • Jaquet Droz
    • Jean Daniel Nicolas
    • Jean Dunand
    • Kari Voutilainen
    • Kees Engelbarts
    • Kobold
    • Konstantin Chaykin
    • Kudoke
    • Ladies watches
    • Lang & Heyne
    • Laurent Ferrier
    • Linde Werdelin
    • Louis Moinet
    • Louis Vuitton
    • Ludovic Ballouard
    • Manufacture Royale
    • Maurice Lacroix
    • MB&F
    • McGonigle
    • Ming Watches
    • Montblanc
    • Moritz Grossmann
    • Nomos Glashütte
    • Ochs und Junior
    • Officine Panerai
    • Omega
    • Parmigiani
    • Patek Philippe
    • Paul Gerber
    • Philippe Dufour
    • Piaget
    • Pocket watches
    • Rebellion
    • Ressence
    • RGM
    • Richard Mille
    • Roger Dubuis
    • Roger W Smith
    • Roland Iten
    • Rolex
    • Romain Gauthier
    • Romain Jerome
    • Sarpaneva
    • Schwarz-Etienne
    • Seiko
    • Silberstein
    • Singer Reimagined
    • Soviet / Eastern Europe watches
    • Speake-Marin
    • Struthers
    • Tag Heuer
    • Tudor
    • Tutima
    • Ulysse Nardin
    • Urban Jürgensen
    • Urwerk
    • Vacheron Constantin
    • Van Cleef & Arpels
    • Vianney Halter
    • Vintage
    • Wempe Glashütte
    • Zenith
  • Luxury, Experiences, Science & Nature
    • Arts
    • Book reviews
    • Cars
      • Porsche
    • Fashion & Grooming
    • Jewelry
    • Nature
    • Photo Captions
    • Photography
    • Science
    • Shoes
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Wining, Dining and Cigars
    • Writing instruments
      • Caran d’Ache
      • Grayson Tighe
      • Montblanc
      • Montegrappa
  • General
    • Featured
    • Highlights
© Copyright - Quill & Pad - Enfold Theme by Kriesi
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT