A Lifelong Obsession With Good Things

Since the dawn of man, we have covetted and collected beautiful and useful objects to fill our pockets and our homes. We have made and we have bought, we've found and fought for these items. We carry them, in our pockets and in our hearts, they make us happy and they remind us that we have achieved something: we've got something to hold onto, we have something permanent that says 'we were here'. Proof of life.

An object's worth can never be defined by its cost, the worth is whatever the holder deems its value to be and that can only be defined by experience and affection. An item that tells a story holds an emotional value that can't be matched or replaced, there's a connection. This bond can't be forced though, it has to come naturally and it has to grow. This being said, the best bonds are often forged in sharp moments of adversity; with a flash of courage and persistence, fires are lit that burn bright through the darkest night. These objects carry us through life as we carry them. Age wearies them, they tarnish, scuff and scrape but the marks and bruises tell a story: our story. These things are never truly ours though, we're just caretakers for the next generation, our sons and daughters must carry the burden of our story through the few scraps of metal, dust and glass we leave behind on this earth.

The Best Made Co American Felling Axe

Some objects are designed to be admired, some are built to be abused, others to be trusted, used or cherished. Few objects are all of these but a few special pieces can quickly become a prized heirloom in waiting. Take the humble axe. The Axe is a purposeful but beautifully simplistic object, solid and dependable; an extension of our self and for many, a symbol of an archaic and faded dream. The axe gave much to our forefathers, the ability to fell trees for shelter and to split wood for warmth. No other hand tool has wielded such a versatile power, and as a result the axe has become a powerful symbol of freedom, have axe will build. Heirloom axes are something to be proud of. Axes of the highest quality, handed down through families, continuing their use for decades with a shaft imbued with generations of blood and sweat. 

You can set out to make an object into one of these heirloom pieces but more often than not they naturally find a place in our hearts through years of faithful service. The wristwatch is a perfect example of this, so long as it is well made and well maintained, the mechanical wristwatch can run for 50 years or more without missing a beat. By anyone’s reckoning the most famous and well recognised wristwatch in the world is the Rolex Submariner. A design classic that reached its aesthetic peak in the late 1960s with the iconic reference 5512. This was always more than just a watch though, it was a tool. Built for maritime activities, issued to the British special forces and waterproof up to 660 feet, the Submariner was built from the ground up to see its wearer through hell and (literally) high water. Today, its evident that these old legends have aged gracefully, their faded bezels and patinated dials tell individual stories of lives well led. They are more handsome and refined than their brash and oversized modern iterations and they’re still ticking almost 50 years on despite the hard landings and deep dives.

Rolex Submariner Reference 5512

While you can prescribe the best axe to buy or best watch to wear, beauty, as always, is in the eye of the beholder. We make these beautiful things our own because we want them to become ours, and when we have them, we love them and admire them and use them for a lifetime. There's something totemistic about these objects we carry, they remind us of how we got here and where we're going. Maybe you have a few of these things but there'll be one in particular you cling to; one small thing that fills your pocket and heart, the penknife that saved your life in a tight spot, the watch your father wore for 30 years, the Filson bag that's been with you across the world. They all bear the biographical scars of experience and are time-served examples of a love affair with well made things. Buying well-made goods shows an appreciation of form, an insight into the design and manufacturing process as well as a respect for hard work and dedication to craft.

Filson 256 Twill Briefcase

That's what it is about these objects, a dedication. A dedication to owning them, using them and maintaining them through time. They are constant companions, adorning our homes and hands. It's more than materialism though, its about the journey you took to where you are now and the things you carried along the way. As they are shaped by us, we are shaped by them, they become part of our routines and our personal inventory. So turn out your pockets and see the things you have amassed, there's sure to be a hand full of things you can’t live without and probably one stand-out item that you could never give up on. I’d love to know what it is.