Quill & Pad
  • Home
  • Articles
  • About
  • Glossary
  • Contact
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / General2 / Highlights3 / Quill & Pad: Our First Year

Quill & Pad: Our First Year

by Elizabeth Doerr

One year ago today, on a crisp and sunny New Year’s Day in Central Europe, Quill & Pad quietly went online. Looking back, I’m relatively sure that Ian and I had little idea what we were really getting ourselves into, but I do know that we were extremely enthusiastic.

However, one thing was crystal clear both then and now: we both loved watches and we were both really excited by the idea of sharing our passion and knowledge for the subject.

Baselworld is easier in comfortable shoes

Baselworld is easier in comfortable shoes

Since then, we have added four knowledgeable contributors with distinct areas of expertise to our little band of merry men and women − Joshua Munchow (technical nerd), GaryG (collector), Nancy Olson (pens), Boris Pjanic (vintage) − and together we have posted approximately 300 original stories.

Kangaroos near Hideaway Bay, Whitsundays, Australia

Kangaroos near Hideaway Bay, Whitsundays, Australia

We have traveled to every habitable continent (Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia) in search of the most interesting stories.

We have taken part in automobile races and exhibitions.

The Quill & Pad Ferarri at the 2014 Pebble Beach  Concours

The Quill & Pad Ferarri at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours

We have interviewed celebrities and collectors on their love of watches.

The author seriously concentrating on each brush stroke

Elizabeth Doerr seriously concentrating on each brush stroke at the Jaeger-LeCoultre enamel master class

We have learned how to paint and fire enamel dials.

We have watched as the world’s most famous watchmakers assemble their timepieces.

And Joshua Munchow even made his own wristwatch and told you all about it in Making My First Watch: Adventures Of A Beginner.

We have discussed industry events and fairs in numerous round tables and taken part in the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, spending weeks publicly debating the selected watches in each category along with invited guest writers.

Patek Philippe CEO Thierry Stern (center) with Quill & Pad's Elizabeth Doerr (left) and Ian Skellern (right) at the brand's 175-year anniversary celebration

Patek Philippe CEO Thierry Stern (center) with Quill & Pad’s Elizabeth Doerr (left) and Ian Skellern (right) at the brand’s 175-year anniversary celebration

And we have spent in excess of three full weeks at various trade fairs like the SIHH, Baselworld and SalonQP to learn about the latest timepieces and stay connected.

We have reported on individual watchmakers and their oeuvres; we have reported on the doings of big groups; and we have reported on horological topics surrounding major events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.

Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel discussing the original Meccano proof-of-concept model of their double tourbillon 30° invention

Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel discussing the original Meccano proof-of-concept model of their double tourbillon 30° invention

We have given away amazing, unique prizes like the Greubel Forsey Meccano model and a one-of-a-kind fountain pen embellished with urushi lacquer.

We have visited factories, suppliers, workshops, boutiques and auctions.

Lume shot of Stepan Sarpaneva's Korona Moonshine

One of my favorite photos of 2014: the lume shot of Stepan Sarpaneva’s Korona Moonshine

In additional to watches, we have reviewed books, pens, and stationery. And we have worn test watches so as to provide you with live, on-the-wrist reviews; these have so far included Habring2 Felix, Rolex Sky-Dweller, Maurice Lacroix Square Wheel Cube and Masterpiece Mystery, Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic, and Stepan Sarpaneva’s Korona Doublemoon.

It is easier to appreciate the details in this large-scale Montblanc nib

It is easier to appreciate the details in this large-scale Montblanc nib

But we have also visited an English automobile factory (Jaguar), a German camera factory (Leica), an art show (Art Basel Miami), a premier antiques fair (TEFAF), famous Mexican pyramids (Chichen Itza), a French crystal factory (Cristalleries de Saint-Louis), an iconic pen factory (Montblanc), a Formula 1 race (Hockenheim), a unique ballet performance (Béjart and Tokyo Ballet), a professional golf tournament (Lacoste Ladies Open), a polo master class (Saint-Tropez), and even the summer home of the Swatch Group’s Hayek family.

The spectacular light show through time at Patek Philippe's 175-year anniversary celebration

The spectacular light show through time at Patek Philippe’s 175-year anniversary celebration

We have commemorated anniversaries such as 25 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall, 20 years of the Lange 1, 10 years of Greubel Forsey, 10 years of Hautlence, 100 years of Caran d’Ache, and 175 years of Patek Philippe.

And we have brought you stories out of the long history book of watchmaking, both somewhat more recent (like François-Paul Journe’s involvement with Piaget) and somewhat more ancient history (like the first ladies’ watches recorded).

The intricately engraved case of the Pomander Watch

The intricately engraved and decorated case of the Pomander Watch

We have offered controversial topics for discussion (like the Peter Henlein Pomander Watch from 1505, which we will soon bring you more news of) and provided you with honest opinions (such as those regarding the Grieb & Benzinger Blue Merit).

Playful

Playful “eyes” at 6 o’clock on Elizabeth Doerr’s Martin Braun Eos Boreas control the hands displaying the sunrise/sunset indications

We have shown you some of our own very favorite personal timepieces (like Ian’s JDN and my Martin Braun Eos Boreas as well as almost the entirety of GaryG’s extensive treasure chest).

You be the judge: how do you like the finishing on this Voutilainen Observatoire?

You be the judge: how do you like the finishing on this Voutilainen Observatoire?

And we have brought you technical topics that dig deep into the art of watchmaking on subjects like fine finishing, dial making, jump hour complications, 3D printing, tri-axial tourbillons, enamel and the origin of gold.

Here at Quill & Pad, the majority of stories are created by a writer’s interest in the topic. This means that in just about every case, there is a story behind the story. Thus, we have learned a lot about our colleagues.

De Bethune DB28 Digitale

De Bethune DB28 Digitale

Joshua has proven to be quite a poet, for example, as his odes to the three-quarter plate and the muses he imagines behind the beauty of De Bethune’s oeuvres clearly show.

GaryG has astounded us time and again with his breathtaking photography and passionate love of timepieces. His stories have been a true joy to read.

Hand-drawn seahorse note cards by Bernard Maisner

Hand-drawn seahorse note cards by Bernard Maisner

We have known Nancy already for a very long time and have had the pleasure of working with her at iW for years. Her expertise in pens was always clear to us; it’s nice to see what her particular personal favorites are, though.

Exquisite dial details of the Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon by Mr. Daniel Roth; the engraving on left is a stylized

Exquisite dial details of the Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon by Mr. Daniel Roth, the timepiece that brought Ian Skellern into the world of watches once and for all

It is the personal stories showing me so much about the person behind the photo that I have personally loved best. Ian’s heartfelt story of the acquisition of his JDN in The Watch That Changed My Life: The Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon By Daniel Roth, which is the timepiece that brought him into the world of watches, was an amazing read and allowed me to get to know him even better.

Broadway star and Tony nominee Valisia LeKae, recently declared cancer-free, has returned to the stage (photo courtesy Howard Parr)

Broadway star and Tony nominee Valisia LeKae, recently declared cancer-free, has returned to the stage (photo Howard Parr)

I also sniffed a few genuine tears away when I read GaryG’s Love, Loss, And Watches: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Tribute for the first time, which wasn’t actually cool, because I had just sat down for a break during an exceedingly hot day while visiting the Leica factory.

Maybe, too, it was the fact that Jaeger-LeCoultre was involved; from the first day of my own involvement in the horological world, this has been hands-down one of my own favorite brands, and I associate quite a bit of my own personal state of being with it.

The case back of Joshua Munchow's watch on a fixture after milling, before finishing

The case back of Joshua Munchow’s watch on a fixture after milling, before finishing

I always knew that Joshua loved watches more than just about anything, but the story of making his own watch really moved me. I could literally picture the scene and feel the frustration as he attempted, failed and succeeded. If you’ve ever tried to teach yourself something big, do read Making My First Watch: Adventures Of A Beginner.

And, without the restriction of word count and editor demands, I have discovered the joy of allowing a bit of what of what I feel to flow into my texts rather than just telling the neutral story. It’s been quite a personal revelation.

And, whew, it’s been quite a year.

The reality is, however, that none of this exhausting fun would have been possible without you reading and sharing and without our partners understanding, supporting, propagating and taking part in something that is not only our passion and hobby, but also our vocation.

We hope that together we can make 2015 even better. Though, admittedly, that will be a little hard as thanks to your support, 2014 far exceeded our expectations . . . and then some!

And we’ve only just begun, watch this space as we continue to keep a watch on time.

We wish you all the best for a fantastic 2015!

8 replies
  1. GaryG
    GaryG says:
    January 1, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    What a lovely look back at the first year of Quill & Pad, Elizabeth.

    It has been a treat for me to have the privilege of contributing here, and I’ve loved reading the diverse contributions of the other members of our little family. Thanks for having me along for the journey.

    My New Year’s resolution, which I think you will appreciate: learn to write shorter sentences and paragraphs!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      January 1, 2015 at 11:03 pm

      Thank you for being such an integral part of what we’re doing here, Gary! Your contributions have been just so lovely!

      And, just so you know, the length of your sentences and paragraphs are absolutely not a problem! 🙂

      Reply
  2. John Farmer
    John Farmer says:
    January 2, 2015 at 1:44 am

    Congratulations, Elizabeth and Ian! What a year it’s been! I have thoroughly enjoyed the variety of stories on Quill & Pad. I am a regular visitor to your site. I try to comment on stories when I can; but, I don’t always have the time. This should be my resolution as I know you like comments on the articles that you post. Thanks again and I look forward to what’s in store for 2015!

    P.S. Love the sneakers that you wore at Baselworld!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      January 2, 2015 at 8:45 am

      Thanks, John, and, yes, we do love conversation of any kind here at Quill & Pad!

      And thanks so much for liking our sneakers — treading down new paths was our motto, and I couldn’t envision a better way to illustrate that.

      Reply
  3. PaulT
    PaulT says:
    January 5, 2015 at 9:58 am

    Congratulations and many thanks for those pleasant, rewarding readings and those many beautiful pictures.
    My best wishes for 2015 and beyond!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      January 5, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Thank you, Paul, for your kind comments and for being part of the community! Happy new year to you, too!

      Reply
  4. Clint Sly
    Clint Sly says:
    January 5, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    Beth and Q&P Team,

    Congratulations…it’s been an enjoyable year thanks to Q&P. Wishing you the best in 2015.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth Doerr
      Elizabeth Doerr says:
      January 5, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Excellent to have you here, Clint! We hope to continue entertaining you!

      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