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Analog Life

Here is a list of analog tools I enjoy. It is not a list to stimulate consumption! Don’t buy what you don’t need. Having said that, we all buy things that help us accomplish something, and make life enjoyable. This is a list of tools that allow me to do or experience things that I appreciate.

Paper

Field Notes - this is my only notebook, and it helps me to take notes of things I am learning, or write a to-do list, etc. It’s cheap, portable, and it’s all I need for my personal use.

G. Lalo Vergé de France (envelopes and paper) - this is a better quality paper and a bit more expensive than any scrap paper. The reason I have it is to send handwritten letters to people. It is a forgotten art, but every single time people are surprised and grateful for receiving personal letters. It is a simple way to show care and appreciation for friends and family.

Pens, Markers, and Pencils

Blackwing Pencil Matte - Blackwings are the best pencils I’ve experienced. They are more expensive than average pencils, but I appreciate what this company does with their product. I don’t own these pencils for personal use anymore, but sometimes I buy them to give as gifts for writers and artists. They are simple gifts and useful tools.

Fisher Space Pen - This is the only pen I own. It is a bit more expensive at the start, but I’ve had mine for some time, and then I just buy the refills. I use this pen all the time.

Noodler's Ahab Flex Fountain Pen - I have given this pen as a gift. It is a very affordable flex nib pen for people that enjoy it. I’ve used it quite a bit, and I would recommend it for people curious about flex nibs.

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen - This is a very affordable and reliable fountain pen. I’ve given it as a gift and used it in the past. If you need one fountain pen, I would consider this one.

Zebra Mildliner Highlighter - I have one highlighter for reading papers. This is the brand I enjoyed the most because I found the colors choices less “aggressive.”

Miscellaneous

Merkur 34C Safety Razor or Parker SRX Heavy Duty Straight razor - Everyone uses razors, and we tend to end up buying the plastic ones. I prefer the traditional ones for three reasons: 1) I find it less likely to cause irritation; 2) it saves me a lot of money (simple blades are way cheaper); 3) it generates less waste (i.e. plastic waste).

Waterston's Scottish Mura Sealing Wax with Wick or Jewel Wick Sealing Wax - these are two (easy to use) affordable wax seals for sending letters. I find it highlights the experience of the person who receives the letter.

Wax Seal Stamp - I have one with my initial. Again, for the purpose of sending letters.

Watches

I appreciate the craftsmanship, the history and the elegance of watches. Additionally, I find it more subtle and polite to check a watch, rather than checking the time on a phone in front of another person. If you feel the same, I invite you to gift youself a watch. It also serves as a nice gift to friends. Here are some watches I find valuable.

All watches here are affordable, from U$ 10 dollars to U$ 150. U$ 150 is already a lot for a watch, but it’s also reasonable (if it's a purchase you can enjoy for many years, having a good cost–benefit analysis).

Casio F91W-1 or A168WA-1 - One of the most classic digital watches. Pretty much everyone has seen these. It is the cheapest of the list. You can just get one of these, and you are set.

Timex Weekender 38mm - I like the T2N647 model, but you can find other options. Like the Casio above, it is very cheap and it is also a classic. The Weekender and the Timex Expedition are affordable alternatives to the Hamilton Khaki Automatic (yet another classic, but more expensive). If you are on a budget and don't like the digital casio look, the weekender might be worth checking out.

Seagull 1963 Chinese Air force Mechanical Chronograph - People try to sell it for almost U$ 350 dollars (don’t do that). This model is frequently on sale for about U$ 150. It is a historical military chronograph with mechanical movement. If you wish for a chronograph, this is a great one.

Timex Marlin Hand-Wound 34mm - A simple and elegant mechanical watch. Classic 60s vibe. As an alternative, you could consider the Poljot De Luxe (same price range).

Vostok Amphibian - A diver with an automatic movement. It was made for the russian military in 1967. This model has been used for diving missions, as well as for space missions. It also has a wide variety of colors and decorative images. For people interested in mechanical watches, this is one of the best at its price range.

Watches are always a personal preference, so explore the style you like best.