Introducing the Caran d'Ache Swiss Collection

Over the weekend I wrote in my Instagram Stories about how I choose brands to stock in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. One key factor, at least for me, is the brand’s sense of identity. Caran d’Ache prides itself on its origins in Geneva, Switzerland, where the company has been based since 1915, and nothing exemplifies that more than the Caran d’Ache Swiss collection, including the “Totally Swiss” 849 ballpoint and “Swiss Wood” pencil. If the Swiss Cross has come to be seen as a mark of quality, well, you can’t do much better.

Please visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop for a selection of Caran d’Ache items, including limited and special edition pens and pencils, as well as other carefully selected goods for the thoughtful reader and writer.

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The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of all Caran d’Ache products. Don’t forget to enter our current end-of-summer giveaway, which includes a chance to win Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood pencils and more!

Introducing The Write Notepads Weekly Planner Notebook

I intend to write more on this topic in the future, but one thing I’ve noticed over the past five months of remote work is that it absolutely helps to provide some structure to your day. Whether this amounts to using an actual planner to schedule blocks of time, or simply being more organized with your to-do list, what’s key is finding a durable, well-made notebook in a format you like that will stand up to daily use.

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For those who desire a little bit of structure to their weekly planning sessions but don’t want to purchase a formal dated planner, consider the Write Notepads Weekly Planner Notebook. This spiral bound notebook features 60 weeks’ worth of versatile, fountain-pen friendly paper in a week-on-two-pages format. Since the planner is undated, it makes for a flexible tool that you can use weekly or simply as needed. If you don’t plan out every week, this notebook may last you much more than a year. The layout also includes full days for Saturday and Sunday for those who work a non-traditional schedule or otherwise like to schedule out their weekends.

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You can purchase the Write Notepads Weekly Planner directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and like many of the Write Notepads products I stock, comes available in black and pistachio covers. Remember, all domestic U.S. orders over $50 ship free.

Introducing New Pokka Accessories: Aluminum Cap and Keyring Dock

People love their Pokka Pens, and Pokka recently released a new line of accessories that can make your Pokka an even more essential part of your everyday carry. I’m currently stocking both the Pokka “Dokk” keyring docking system, as well as the Pokka “Jakket” aluminum cap, both of which you can pair with any Pokka Pen using the secure Pokka o-rings included on every pen barrel. Note that all Dokks and Jakkets are sold separately, and do not come with a pen.

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Finally, in response to multiple requests, I’m now stocking three-packs of Pokka Refills, available in blue and red. If you’ve been despairing because you don’t like the black ink included with your Pokkas, swap ‘em all out!

Up Your Pocket Writing Game in the T.G.S Curated Shop!

I’m fully stocked on everyone’s favorite fountain pen-friendly pocket notebooks, the Write Notepads Copper Anniversary Edition, as well as several of my favorite Field Notes releases! If you’re looking for something a little different than the traditional side-bound pocket notebook, you may want to consider a reporter-style notebook, which lays flat on a desk and is perfect for making lists of all the at-home projects you need to get done. (Seriously, what else are you going to do these days?) Available in both Write Notepads and Field Notes versions.

Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop to view our ever-expanding assortment of carefully selected goods with an “analog” bent, including notebooks, reading accessories and more. All domestic orders over $50 automatically ship free!

What Is a Book Dart? An Explanation.

I’ve received a few questions via social media and e-mail over the past couple of weeks about a product that I’m now selling in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Book Darts. Since Tuesdays are generally pretty quiet around here, I thought I’d take a few minutes to do a quick post explaining Book Darts and why they might be one of my favorite pieces of non-pen/paper stationery that I keep on my desk.

Book Darts are pretty simple products, really. Each “Dart” is a paper thin, precision-cut folded metal clip that slides onto a page from your book or notebook. Since Book Darts are pointed, you can use them to mark entire pages or specific passages or lines. Because they’re so thin, you can stick dozens of Darts into a book without noticeably increasing bulk. Importantly, Book Darts are “archivally safe,” meaning that they don’t damage paper. The company states on their website that they “have tested our Darts on varieties of paper under accelerated heat and humidity conditions, and they have never imparted any stain to any page.”

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This Nanami Paper Cafe Note currently has at least six Book Darts marking various sections. Closed, you can barely tell, even on super-thin Tomoe River paper.

While a Book Dart is not the same thing as a standard bookmark, you can certainly use them that way. Most people, however, view them as replacements for dog-eared pages, paperclips, sticky notes, or whatever else you might use to flag pages in a book you’re reading, a journal, or a notebook. Book Darts are reusable, and you can remove them or move them about as you like.

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On the left, a standard Book Darts tin, and on the right, my custom tins sold in the store!

I currently sell Book Darts in tins of 50, in either stainless steel, brass, or bronze, as well as in sleeves of 12 or 18 Darts that feature a mix of all three metals. They’re a fairly inexpensive tool to add to your workflow, and one that I find incredibly helpful as I do a lot of reading and research that requires me to come back to revisit passages I’ve read or notes I’ve taken, even years later.

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The sleeves ship with a folded “bookmark sheet” of 18 mixed darts - you can use it as a bookmark while you read, holding your Darts until you want to mark a page. These are great for travel!

If you like the look of a Book Dart, but perhaps want something more durable for use as a more traditional bookmark, consider these sterling silver Page Points by WMS & Co. (sold as a set of three). They have the streamlined profile of a Book Dart, but will likely hold up better to repeated use over time as the metal is quite a bit thicker and they’re actually intended for long-term bookmark use. They’ll also take on a nice patina, or you can polish them to maintain the shine.

Disclaimer: I am an authorized retailer of Book Darts, and all links are to my own shop. This post does not contain affiliate links.