The GJ50: All the gear you need this year
From must-have gadgets to interior accessories that signify great taste, here are the items no man should be without in 2020
Stuff. There’s a lot of it. And, from small purchases, like a great bottle of Scotch, to big investments, like that car you always dreamed of, sorting the wheat from the chaff can be an arduous task. Which is where Gentleman’s Journal steps in. Our editors spend their working lives in the pursuit of the best the world has to offer in everything from grooming products to gadgets and, along the way, have built up quite the bank of recommendations. Here’s the Gentleman’s Journal guide to the gear you should be investing in this year.
Take your tech to the next level
KEF ‘The Reference’ Sound System
There are sound systems, and then there are KEF sound systems. This series of ultra-technical speakers is as much a curated art collection as it is a home speaker system. Made in Kent, the range combines phenomenal high-fidelity performance with complete multi-channel versatility.
KEF ‘The Reference’ Sound System
£15000
Cambridge Audio Alva TT Direct Drive Turntable
The power of a good turntable can be found in its tonearm. Thankfully, the tonearm on Cambridge Audio’s pristine, wireless Alva TT turntable is as strong as they come. British-made, single-piece and incredibly lightweight, it will track your records flawlessly.
Cambridge Audio Alva TT Direct Drive Tur
£1500
Apple MacBook Pro
The undisputed king of laptops. The ultimate tool for creatives and businessmen alike. The apple of our eyes — and the eyes of millions more. The 16-inch model, complete with innovative touch bar and a lightning-fast 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, is undoubtedly the one to buy.
Apple Macbook Pro
£1299
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 Headphones
The third generation of Beoplay’s H9 headphones has seen the over-ear icons really come into their own. They’ve been refined in comfort and battery life, and the seamless integration of Google Assistant is a masterstroke. Our favourite feature? Transparency mode, that allows you to hear your surroundings through your tunes.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 Headphones
£450
Leica D-Lux 7 Compact Camera
Leica’s premier compact camera is beloved by both amateurs and professionals. Striking, small and of unparalleled quality, it delivers a unique combination of first-class optics and pioneering technology. It also handily connects to the Leica FOTOS App in a heartbeat; making it the ideal camera for a high-tech world.
Leica D-Lux 7 Compact Camera
£1075
Timekettle WT2 real-time translator
One for the frequent flyers and international businessmen – or anyone who’s sick of embarrassing themselves with their Franglish. This ingenious device allows you to speak to anyone in 36 different languages. Simply pop in an earbud each and the device will pick up your dialect, translate it to the chosen language and transmit it to the other person. Accuracy is reported at 95% which, frankly, is better than you’ll manage on your own.
Timekettle WT2 real-time translator
£279.99
Oakywood triple charging dock
So many gadgets, so little time – and plug space – to charge them. Which is where Oakywood steps in. This stylish solid walnut charger will charge your iPhone, Airpods and Apple Watch simultaneously – and looks so good you won’t need to squirrel it away in a draw every time you’re done.
Oakywood triple charging dock
£70
Mantidy Gaucho Tech Roll
While the biggest headache for any frequent flyer used to be how to get his various shaving and grooming products to his destination in one piece, that particular niggle has now been usurped by the sheer volume of chargers, cables and adapters modern tech requires us to cart around wherever we go. Which is where Mantidy’s sleek navy suede and leather travel roll comes in with its elasticated pockets promising to keep everything neat and tangle-free.
Mantidy Gaucho Tech Roll
£99
Tile Essentials
Good news gents, the frantic scramble to find your keys, phone, wallet or anything else you commonly lose is over. Meet Tile. These handy devices connect to an app which will let you know exactly where your missing item is within seconds. The Essentials starter pack includes Slim (designed for wallets and phones), Mate (with a 200ft range ideal for keys) and Sticker (a small self-adhesive design that can be attached to almost anything).
Tile Essentials pack
£67
Tangram smart rope
Ask any boxer and they’ll tell you there are few faster routes to full-body fitness than skipping. Which is a shame because it’s a bit, well, boring. Tangram’s state-of-the-art smart rope, however, features integrated LEDs which display your fitness data while you exercise (trust us, it’s incredibly motivating) and connects to a dedicated app which allows you to analyse your data and track your progress.
Tangram smart rope
£80
Stock up on the best barware
Macallan 15-Year-Old
Part of the storied Scottish whiskymaker’s Triple Cask Matured range, the Macallan 15 is matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry oak casks. This gives the spirit a spirited a nose of rose and cinnamon, flavour of intense, rich chocolate and orange — and a wisp of dried fruit for a finish.
Macallan 15-Year-Old
£105
Riedel Drink Specific Rocks Glass
But what good is a great whisky without a glass that can bring out its best? From glassware wizards Riedel, these Drink Specific Rocks Glasses are ideal for spirits served over ice. Neatly sized and delicately detailed for a hint of Mad Men chic, they are the ideal addition to any home bar.
Riedel Drink Specific Rocks Glass
£20
Coravin Model Two Wine System
You’ve probably seen a Coravin behind the bar in a swanky restaurant and wondered what on earth that contraption could be for. Well wonder no more – Coravin’s clever wine system allows you to pour a glass from any bottle of wine without removing the cork, meaning a bottle that would usually only last a few days can be enjoyed slowly over weeks. The temptation to crack into your investment bottles has never been greater.
Coravin Model Two Wine System
£249
Louis Roederer et Phillipe Starck Brut Nature 2012
The latest iteration of a years-long collaboration between the Champagne house and storied French designer, Brut Nature 2012 is an elegant, fresh champagne created from grapes grown on ten hectares of Louis Roederer’s vineyard’s dedicated to hand-cultivation and traditional growing methods. Sophisticated and well-rounded it’s the perfect bottle to impress any dinner party guests.
Louis Roederer et Phillipe Starck Brut Nature 2012
£80
Glenlivet Rare Cask Single Malt Whisky
Triple-cask matured in primarily rare sherry casks and bottled in small, numbered batches, this relatively new release from Glenlivet, exudes sophistication with every amber drop. Expect a nose of subtle peach and ginger with a palate of vanilla, marmalade and liquorice and long finish with traces of spice. The perfect post-dinner tipple.
Glenlivet Rare Cask Single Malt Whisky
£86.95
Tom Dixon Tank copper wine set
Yes, standard wine glasses are all well and good but if you really want to show off your design nous to guests you’re going to need something a bit more special. Tom Dixon’s Tank collection – inspired by the shapes of scientific glassware – are just the thing. The range is extensive but we recommend starting with this decanter and wine glass set.
Tom Dixon Tank copper wine set
£175
Nappa Dori bar tool set
Fancy yourself as a bit of a master mixologist do you? Well a craftsman is only as good as his tools and, from where we’re standing, that novelty belt buckle bottle opener doesn’t look so great. Up your game with Nappa Dori’s bar tool set. Featuring a corkscrew, jigger, ice tongs, measure and bottle opener, it all wraps up into one neat leather package that looks supremely professional.
Nappa Dori bar tool set
£120
Cook up a storm with these kitchen gadgets
Blenheim Forge Santoku Knife
Any chef will tell you that an all-purpose knife is the razor-sharp cornerstone of their kitchen arsenal. Forged to life in London, the Santoku is the most popular, versatile design from British knifemaker Blenheim Forge. With its Japanese Blue Paper steel blade and copper and walnut handle, it really is a cut above.
Blenheim Forge Santoku Knife
£255
Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is as pure as kitchenwares come. Blackened, fiery and scarily simple, you can braise with them, bake with them and broil with them. And Le Creuset makes the best in the business. Cast iron and with a lifetime guarantee, it’ll see you through mouth-watering meals for years to come.
Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillet
£119
Ralph Lauren Bailey Wine & Cheese Tote
Wine and cheese make for a sophisticated picnic — as does Ralph Lauren’s rustic wicker, subtly striped take on the picnic hamper. A structured tote, complete with a suite of elegant accessories, the Bailey is finished with supple saddle leather and the signature locks from Ralph’s iconic Ricky Bag.
Ralph Lauren Bailey Wine & Cheese Tote
£1495
Marcato Atlas 150 pasta maker
If there was ever a kitchen skill that was deceptively easy to master but looks utterly impressive it’s the ability to make your own pasta. Of course, this requires a decent pasta machine and few come better than Marcato’s Atlas 150. An icon of Made in Italy design, this hugely popular machine can be used for lasagne, fettucini, tagliolini and a variety of other pasta types and is available in five colours. We’re quite taken with the chic blue hue.
Marcato Atlas 150 pasta maker
£75
Click and Grow Smart Garden 3
Always liked the thought of growing your own ingredients but lack the space for your dream kitchen garden? Occupying about as much space as a toaster, the Smart Garden 3 is the ideal solution – and it cares for itself, so even if your green fingered ambitions don’t come to fruition, your plants will. Working in a similar way to a capsule coffee machine, simply choose one of 50 different plants varieties, pop it in the machine and allow the carefully calibrated water, light and nutrient settings do their thing.
Click and Grow Smart Garden 3
£99.95
Halcyon Days Aragon Midnight Teapot
What do you mean you don’t own a teapot? Every good gent knows that, in times of strife, sticking the kettle on is the right and proper thing to do – and if you can serve this most soothing of beverage from an elegant teapot then so much the better. The azure diamond pattern – inspired by Tudor queen Katherine of Aragon – gets this one our vote.
Halcyon Days Aragon Midnight Teapot
£145
Get your motor running with these automotive marvels
Mercedes AMG G63
There are few cars that drive that oh-so fine line between practicality and luxury. But Mercedes’ AMG G63 ‘G-Wagen’ is one of them. That means a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, AMG Speedshift gears and a whopping 850Nm of torque, paired with a 0-100km/h speed of 4.5 seconds and rugged, handsome good looks.
Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber Sport Motorbike
Uniquely designed, but clearly capable, there are few all-round two-wheelers as covetable as Moto Guzzi’s V9 Bobber Sport. Fuelled by Italian spirit, it is designed to look agile and angry — a strong stance enhanced by its exhaust; matt black and aluminium to intensify the distinctive roar of its twin-cylinder 850 engine.
Land Rover Defender
A new breed of SUV, the latest Land Rover Defender is just as versatile a vehicle as its iconic predecessor. The off-roader is built on an aluminium-intensive platform that is 95% brand new, it boasts a new configurable Terrain Response 2 system and features those all-important hints of its past in the design.
Ribble CGR 725 bike
Because it’s not all about motorcycles; your legs need something to do, too. And what better workout than this retro-infused Ribble bicycle? On a high-end steel frame complemented by contemporary features, it not only has that high-end, vintage styling — but is also an all-round rugged, highly versatile multi-terrain bike.
Ribble CGR 725 bike
£1199
Up your wardrobe game with these style must-haves
Patrick Mavros Forged by the Ocean Bangle
Combining Patrick Mavros’ silver mastery with its commitment to the environment – 50% of sales are donated to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation – this bangle from the Forged by the Ocean collection is the perfect piece of modern male jewellery. Simple and utterly timeless, it’s a worldly way of accessorising your everyday.
Patrick Mavros Forged by the Ocean Bangle
£250
Ettinger Sterling Money Clip Wallet
What good is having money if you don’t have somewhere stylish to stash it? Enter Ettinger. With a rich, colourful interior inspired by the regal hues of the £50 note, the British brand’s Sterling Money Clip Wallet is an exercise in extreme refinement. Slim design, buttery soft calf leather and a jacquard fabric lining. Your money is in safe hands.
Ettinger Sterling Money Clip Wallet
£180
Bennett Winch Suit Carrier Holdall
Reinventing the suitcase is a little like reinventing the wheel. And yet, British luggage brand Bennett Winch gave it a spin. The inimitable result? The Suit Carrier Holdall; an invaluable addition to your wardrobe. It’s a two-piece design, crafted from waterproof cotton canvas and designed to look both understated and sophisticated. Job done.
Bennett Winch Suit Carrier Holdall
£650
Ettinger Heritage Westminster Flap-Over Briefcase
Another entry for Ettinger, the British brand’s Heritage Westminster Flap-Over Briefcase is a true classic. Crafted from the finest traditional bridle leather, and lined with neutral-toned pig suede, the quality leathers will develop a beautiful patina over years of use. We particularly like the characterful brass lock.
Ettinger Heritage Westminster Flap-Over Briefcase
£1985
Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Hoody
Patagonia is a pioneer of outerwear. And this down jacket from the brand is a showcase of its innovation. The 100% recycled polyester ripstop shell has a durable water repellent finish. The insulation is 600-fill-power down. And the internal zippered chest pocket doubles up as a stuffsack with its own carabiner clip-in loop. It takes technical to a new level.
Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Hoody
£220
James Smith & Sons London umbrella
Umbrellas. Never have one when you really need one do you? We’re inclined to think this is because, honestly, they’re a bit of a faff to carry around. Unless, of course, you have a really great one you’re more than happy to show off – and, for this, the only brand to turn to is James Smith & Sons. We’re big fans of its classic London umbrella, which is available with a range of whimsical handles – including a duck, crocodile, T-Rex, eagle and cocker spaniel.
James Smith & Sons London umbrella
£124
North 89 No-1 sneakers
If you’re after fuss-free, minimalist sneakers that look great without being covered in logos, North 89 is the brand for you. Inspired by the notoriously adverse Scandinavian weather conditions, its No-1 design is handcrafted in Portugal and built for supreme comfort with a timeless silhouette. We’re currently coveting these Italian suede versions.
North 89 No-1 sneakers
£181
Cubitts Ampton sunglasses
Featuring a flattering square-shaped lens, the Ampton sunglasses from London-based brand Cubitts are your friend in summer heat and winter sunshine. Named for Ampton Street in King’s Cross, where the brand opened its first boutique, every pair takes six weeks to make and goes through 50 stages of production.
Cubitts Ampton sunglasses
£125
Attirecare shoe cleaning set
When you’re investing in great shoes it pays to take good care of them. But knowing how to properly maintain leather, suede, velvet and any other material your favourite cobbler uses can be a bit of a minefield. Use the wrong product and that’s your favourite loafers fit only for the bin. Happily, Attirecare’s All Natural Shoe Cleaning Solution is a one-size-fits-all option that’s safe to use on vinyl, cloth, nubuck, canvas, suede and leather. Opt for this kit, complete with cotton cleaning towel and a hog hair bristle brush for optimal results.
Attirecare shoe cleaning set
£22
Charles Laurie London backpack
All the workwear formality of a briefcase with all the practicality of a backpack? Charles Laurie London had us sold with this design at first sight. Individually made to order in the brand’s south east London studio, once you’ve experienced the quality of its suede lining and leather outer, you’ll never go back to off-the-rack again.
Charles Laurie London backpack
£1695
Rebus signet ring
Pretty much the only piece of jewellery a man can acceptably wear until he gets married, a signet ring signifies a respect for tradition and refined taste and Rebus make some of the best. Based in London’s Hatton Garden, its range of yellow, white and rose gold and platinum rings can all be personalised with the initials, family crest or engraving of your choice.
Rebus signet ring
£620
Improve your interiors with these homewares
Leatherman Surge Multi-Tool
A gentleman is prepared for anything — and so is Leatherman’s Surge Multi-Tool. Jet black and unendingly tough, it may weigh just over 300 grams, but the Surge has over 20 functions. There’s your usual screwdrivers, scissors, cutters and crimpers, but also a thread loop, can opener and diamond-coated file.
Leatherman Surge Multi-Tool
£169.95
Montblanc Meisterstück Platinum-Coated LeGrand Traveler Fountain Pen
In deep black precious resin with platinum-coated details, this fountain pen is the jewel in the crown of Montblanc’s collection. The handcrafted gold nib is detailed with a distinctive design, and the platinum-coated clip bears a unique serial number. The perfect jotter with which to make your mark.
Montblanc Meisterstück Platinum-Coated LeGrand Traveler Fountain Pen
£550
Holland & Holland 20-bore Royal Deluxe Shotgun
The iconic British gunmaker see its wares as more than just tools. Rather, it sees them as canvases; blank pages upon which to etch bespoke designs and artworks. This 20-bore Royal Deluxe shotgun is no different. It may feature a sidelock ejector with hand-detachable locks and single trigger — but we can’t take our eyes off that magnificent brush silver engraving.
Arte Pellettieri poker set
You’ll have a job bluffing when the chips look as good as this. A handsome trophy for any poker enthusiasts, this traditional Arte Pellettieri poker set has been luxuriously handmade and comes encased in a slicker-than-sleek snakeskin-effect carry case. Your move.
Wohngeist Swiss tool kit
Every man needs a good tool kit — and tool kits don’t come better than this. A predictably chic European offering, the Wohngeist Swiss kit is a treasure trove for any DIY enthusiasts. Not only does it include pliers, screwdrivers and files, but all the tools are crafted from pear wood and leather, and held in place magnetically.
Wohngeist Swiss tool kit
£2750
Soho Home Meard magazine rack
Well where else are you going to keep all of your issues of Gentleman’s Journal? With a soft, aged chocolate leather pouch suspended from a curved, antique brass frame, this is the ideal way to keep your magazines safe. And, the quicker you subscribe, the quicker it’ll fill up.
Soho Home Meard magazine rack
£170
Palm Beach coffee table book
Compiled by Aerin Lauder (granddaughter of Estee and beauty mogul in her own right), this beautiful new tome from Assouline is a love letter to the glamour and luxury of Palm Beach. Tracing its story from the days of grandparents to its virtually unchanged modern status as the playground of the rich and famous, it is part travelogue (it offers a comprehensive guide on where to see and be seen), part memoir and utterly mesmerising.
Palm Beach coffee table book
£70
Qlocktwo classic clock
Yes, clocks are practical but, if you’re going to expend valuable wall space on one, then it had better look good. The innovative and contemporary Qlocktwo is as much a talking piece as it is a functional time-telling device. The time is written in words and displayed in five minute intervals, with a dot in each corner representing the minutes in between, and it is available in eight colours with the magnetic cover easily changed to suit your interior.
Qlocktwo classic clock
£1050
Floris Sandalwood & Patchouli candle
Dinner party, date night or parents round for lunch, there’s no quicker way to turn your home into a cosy haven than with a scented candle. Blending exotic notes of sandalwood and patchouli, with earthy tones of vetiver and a base of soft weed vanilla and musk, this candle from British fragrance master Floris is sophisticated and full of character.
Floris Sandalwood & Patchouli candle
£40
Nicholai Wiig Hansen x Raawii Strom vase
You might think you have no call for a vase in your home – until a kindly grandparent arrived for Sunday lunch with a carefully chosen bunch of flowers and you have to do them the dishonour of sticking them in a pint glass. With its unusual silhouette and deep green ceramic, the Strom vase designed by Nicholai Wiig Hansen for Raawii is a great all-rounder whatever the flower. Pro tip: it also makes a great gift.
Nicholai Wiig Hansen x Raawii Strom vase
£45
S.T. Dupont Ligne 2 Lighter
Yes, we know no-one actually smokes anymore, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared when called upon to lend a flame for a friend. Dupont has long been the best in the business when it comes to fine lighters and this palladium and lacquer version of its Ligne 2 design is the last word in refinement.
S.T. Dupont Ligne 2 Lighter
£900
These are the items every man needs in his home office…
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Further Reading
Style ― 3 months ago
Men of Style: Eric Underwood on Formula E, elegance and great suiting
Watches ― 11 months ago
Why Chopard's L.U.C watches are the quintessential gentleman's accessory
Grooming ― 6 months ago