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Zenith : the highest point; peak; acme: the zenith of someone's achievements

 

There is something quite nice about the best of something,  I don't just mean uber expensive items like a Rolls Royce. Just an item that someone loves, and is crafted to be the best of its type. Some items I covet are below....please enjoy and let me know if I've missed a cool one.

The
Palomino
Blackwing 602

The Blackwing 602 is the worlds most iconic pencil. Made from the finest quality cedar, and the purest graphite. Favoured by famous writers like John Steinbeck. There is nothing else like it on the market.

 

Special eraser interchange system and custom sharpeners are the must have accessory.

 

Price: accessable to all at about $3 each.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional

The Omega Speedmaster Professional. In a world of extreme wealth you can pay up to $24,000,000 for a watch, like the Patek Phillipe that sold in Oct 2014.

 

When NASA needed a reliable watch, they went out and bought all the famous brands and tested the heck out of them. The steel case, simple mechanical daily wind, and bullet proof design made this watch their choice, and for mans journey to the moon.

 

Price: a real commitment at $4,000

The Hewlett Packard HP15C Scientific Calculator

After the HP15C was discontinued there was a 20 year world wide campaign to get HP to bring it back. The HP15C limited edition is now with us.

 

The 15c offers users a high-end and portable, scientific calculator with programmable functions and built-in support for complex numbers, matrix math, numerical integration and root solving.

 

It is the superstar of calculators.

 

Price: how could you not own one at $180

The Victorinox Swiss Army Knife - Climber

The Victorinox Climber Swiss Army Knife is part of the Original Swiss Army Knives Collection. Since its beginning in 1897 Victorinox pocket knives have been recognised as the undisputed leaders.

Precision, quality and functionality are the hallmarks of the Climber. A lifetime warranty of course. Has just the right amount of tools and features so it'll save your bacon, but not weigh you down.

 

Price: awesome value at $40.

 

The Oxford English Dictionary -
2nd Edition
The Australian Army Vietnam Backpack

When the members of the Philological Society of London decided, in 1857, that existing English language dictionaries were incomplete and deficient, and called for a complete re-examination of the language from Anglo-Saxon times onward, they knew they were embarking on an ambitious project. However, even they didn’t realize the full extent of the work they initiated.

 

The project proceeded slowly after the Society’s grand statement of purpose. Eventually, in 1879, the Society made an agreement with the Oxford University Press and after 150 years the first edition was released in 1928. The second edition was published in 1989. Now in 20 volumes.

 

Price: a unique and monumental work worth the $1200

 

The best choice for a multi-day camping trip in the bush.

 

Not as comfortable as a backpackers travel pack, but scores at the top of the range in the measures of Durability, and Versatility. Not that high on the Comfort scale but wearable. 

 

If you're are staying in a $20 a night hostel who cares what you carry your dirty undies in, but if you want something tough as nails, then this is your backpack!

 

Price: about $50 depending on condition and where you buy

 

Jaques of London, Staunton Chess pieces
Vertu Mobile Phone - Signature Ultimate Black

A reproduction of the 1853 Edition 4" Chess Set in a Mahogany presentation box.


Jaques of London has been instrumental in the development and success of modern chess. Nathaniel Cooke, proprietor of the Illustrated London News, brought John Jaques a new and elegant design for chessmen. Between the two of them, this initial design was polished to produce a set using symbols  which could be easily recognised.

 

Mr Howard Staunton, the first British chess World Champion, was so taken with the design that he agreed to have his name and signature adorn every box of pieces. The Staunton chess set is now the de facto standard for play at all levels.

 

Price: about $2000, so you'd want to be pretty keen - my birthday is coming up!

 

The Fisher Space Pen    ... 3, 2, 1, liftoff !

The USA spent a fortune developing an internally pressurised pen that would work in zero gravity.

 

The Russians used a pencil.

 

Some would say the Russians were smarter, but this is an awesome pen. Reliable, cheap, and with the cap on fits in your pants pocket, or with the removable clip into your shirt. Stainless steel.

 

Its not a Mont Blanc and not a cool Lamy fountain pen, but it holds a unique place in cultural history.

 

Price: about $35. If you can afford a space flight you can afford a pen

that'll work in zero gravity.

 

The Silva Compass
Ranger.

A compass for serious use. Certainly not the most expensive, but it has everything needed. Quality and reliability.

 

Silva is arguably the most respected brand out there.

 

  • Declination scale

  • Patented red/black north/south orienting lines

  • Dryflex tactile grip ring

  • Magnifying lens

  • 5 year warranty

 

With this baby and a map you can go anywhere!

 

Price: about $60.

 

The Ultimate phone.... these things are the best of the best!

 

Every Vertu is, and always has been, handmade by a single craftsman at their small factory in Church Crookham, England. Using the most exceptional materials, such as ruby, sapphire and titanium, each carefully selected not just for their stunning appearance but for their exceptional strength. Using the latest technology and multiple aerials - you'll have the best performace imaginable.

 

You also get access to their 24/7 Concierge service that is incredible. You want a Giraffe, and Tickets to a sold out concert 1 hour before it starts, and your favorite icecream flown in from Vienna - they do this type of thing daily, and effortlessly. Just holding one was awesome!

 

Price: starting from $40,000 and upwards from there, subject to your requested upgrades.

 

LEGO
 
Studio
Architecture

LEGO is awesome!. But with this set every grown-up can be an architect and engineer!

 

In this amazing set you get over 1200 LEGO bricks and an inspirational guidebook filled with 272 pages of tips, techniques, features, and intuitive hands-on exercises endorsed by leading design houses.

 

LEGO Architecture Studio gives you everything you need to create your very own unique buildings. 

Use the monochromatic bricks to help you learn the fundamentals of architectural design in a LEGO context

 

Price: about $250. Okay value considering you can design the next Opera House with it.

 

Time Machine
 
The only way to travel !

As constructed from the plans contained in the message from Vega. The world machine consortium spent over 400 trillion dollars and only a handful were aware of its success.

 

Preferred in comparison to other time machines such as from:

 

Rod Taylor's in HG Wells The Time Machine

The Time Tunnel from the 1960's TV series

Hot Tub Time Machine

The Tardis

Harry Potters Time Turner

Marty McFly's DeLorean

USS Enterprise diving into a boring balck hole... yawn

 

Price: about $400,000,000,000,000 excluding inflation.

 

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