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Analog Life

Here is a list of analog tools I enjoy. It is not a list to promote consumption! Don’t buy what you don’t need. Having said that, we all buy things that help us accomplish something, and/or that makes 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 notebook of choice, 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. Alternatively Muji notebooks work well for me too.

G. Lalo Vergé de France (envelopes and paper) - this is a better quality paper and 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 and useful gifts.

Fisher Space Pen - This is my pen of choice. It is an investment at the start, but I’ve had mine for many years, so I just buy the refills.

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

Straight razor - I use it mainly for three reasons: 1) I find it to be less aggressive to the skin; 2) it saves me a lot of money (not having to buy disposable blades); 3) it generates less waste (plastic waste). An alternative to that are safety razors, which I had in the past, and they are fine as well.

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 - Again, for the purpose of sending letters.

Watches

I appreciate the craftsmanship of mechanical watches and also the history of horological devices. I'm aware one watch is enough, but if it's something you appreciate (life is also about enjoying a few things), there is no harm in having a few. You can always gift it to a friend (as I often do) and share good stories.

Here I mention a few affordable and historical watches, from U$ 10 dollars to U$ 150.

Casio F91W-1 or A168WA-1 - Classic digital watch. Pretty much everyone has seen these. It is the cheapest of the list and very reliable. Alternatively, if you prefer the G-Shock style, you can't go wrong with the original DW5600E-1V.

Casio AE1200WH-1A / AE-1200WHD-1AVEF or A500WGA-1 - If you travel a lot or you simply enjoy keeping time in different time zones, the Casio World Time is a "lot of watch" with a great price. It has a more sturdy version and a dressier version. Both models are good and fun choices.

Seagull 1963 Chinese Air force Mechanical Chronograph - People try to sell it for almost U$ 350 dollars (don’t do that). There is always the used market and frequent promotional prices. I got mine for U$ 150. It is a historical military chronograph, with mechanical movement. If you wish for a chronograph, this is the one.

Orient Bambino - A simple and elegant mechanical watch. Classic 60s vibe. As an alternative, you could consider the Poljot De Luxe or the Timex Marlin.

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 (built like a tank). It also has a wide variety of colors and decorative images.

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

I wouldn’t want to check the time on a phone in front of another person. I would rather wear a watch. It can be a fun accessory, a conversation starter, a reliable device, and much cheaper than a phone. Have fun exploring!