"There's something really satisfying about a "sleeper build"; completely discreet, and yet punches far above its weight class. And seeing as the lovely Lamy Z55 14k gold nibs can be swapped directly onto the ever humble Al-Star (the aluminum version of the classic Safari), it's the ultimate stealth performer."

"This notebook has some of the smoothest, loveliest paper I've ever felt. The pages are also ruled at 8mm intervals, which is handy if you have large handwriting like me. Also the all-black exterior with gold text is a beautiful package."

"I love red inks, but I don't want to feel like a teacher marking up a test. This Scribo Rosso Chianti is the perfect shade of red/brown that's legible and beautiful. It also comes in a huge 90mL bottle, so you'll be all set for a while."

"With all this lovely gear in your life, you also need a lovely place to put it all. These brass trays from Futagami are amazing because they have a considerable heft, and a tasteful matte finish. They also come in a variety of sizes too."