Black Book: The Cool Material Editors’ Favorite Things Right Now: January 2024
Finding that perfect something can be a challenge these days, whether it’s a gift for someone else or just a purchase to treat yourself. There’s no shortage of gear, shoes, watches, and more to choose from, and it feels like the number of options only grows exponentially every day. And that’s where Cool Material’s Black Book comes in handy.
Our editors curated their favorite things that crossed our desks and caught our eyes in the first month of 2024, from an everyday watch to a do-it-all coffee maker.
Dry Farm Wines
Dry Farm Wines stands out from other direct-to-your-door wine membership companies by letting the bottles speak for themselves: The company sends ethically produced wine made only from 100-percent organically grown grapes by small European producers. The grapes are dry farmed (meaning no irrigation), with a focus on native grapes. It goes beyond the farming, too, with the resulting wines being additive-free and fermented with wild yeast for dry, complex, lower alcohol wines. You can buy by the bottle, but save with a membership when you inevitably want more.
Buy: $189
House of Creed Millésime 1849
Made in partnership with Harrods to celebrate its 1849 opening, House of Creed’s Millésime 1849 carries notes of Calabrian bergamot, jasmine, rose, cyprus, and ylang-ylang. It’s easy to see how the brand sets the standard in French perfumery. The special Harrods-green bottle draws on House of Creed’s own storied history dating back to 1760. The name, Millésime, is a French wine term that translates to “best of the crop,” a call-back to the premium ingredients that go into making the scent.
Buy: $495
Flint and Tinder Flannel-lined Waxed Trucker Jacket
Flint and Tinder’s Flannel-lined Waxed Trucker Jacket is a long-time bestseller at Huckberry. No small task at a place so well stocked. Made in the USA with an outer of waxed New Jersey sailcloth canvas that’s durable and weather resistant, the inside is a soft and warm flannel that’s perfect for layering or just throwing on over a shirt. It has the type of fit that only gets better with time as the jacket shapes to your natural movements and the patina develops.
Buy: $298
HiDock H1
The key to an uncluttered desk is relying on the right multi-function tools. HiDock H1 is an 11-in-1 docking station that records calls, has charging ports for all manner of cables, and even turns your call notes into something far easier to read than sloppy shorthand. HiDock H1 comes with a lifetime free transcription service through a companion app, and ChatGPT-powered AI helps bring out keywords and summarize what was said on the call based on defined keywords. Plus, it does all this while keeping a sleek and minimal aesthetic.
Buy: $299
Oliver Cabell Low 1 Sneakers
Oliver Cabell’s Low 1 brings Italian craftsmanship and care to low-profile sneakers. Made in the Marche region, the outside uses full-grain Italian calfskin leather sourced from a tanner in operation since 1954. Every step in the production is done by hand in Italy and every pair takes days to finish. The fit and feel prove why it’s worth it. Luxuriously soft, these shoes have a classic look that you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again, from grocery store runs to nights out.
Buy: $219.99
Timex Marlin Jet Automatic
Timex is bringing back the ‘60s with its new space-age inspired Marlin Jet. The design is round all around, with a domed crystal that covers over the bezel as well. On the back, a domed exhibition case shows the Japanese Miyota automatic movement. The case, thin hands, navy perlon strap, and clean concave dial with a 24-hour sub-dial looks classy without overdoing it–and does so at an affordable price range.
Buy: $289
SMEG Medium Fully-Automatic Coffee Machine
Fresh-ground, barista-level coffee at home comes easy with the Smeg fully automatic coffee machine. It’s capable of making six different beverages–including ristretto, espresso, coffee, and different water temperatures for tea–for when you want to mix things up. And best of all? There’s no coffee making knowledge needed. The burr grinder uses an exact amount of beans specified for each drink type, the 19 bars of pressure match premium espresso machines, and the steam wand makes lattes picture perfect. All you have to do is find the coffee beans you love most.
Buy: $999.95
nwm MWE001 Headphones
When it comes to headphones, there are generally two categories: in-ear and over-the-ear. There are advantages and disadvantages for each, but NWM’s headphones bridge the gap for the best of both worlds. Made in Japan, the headphones act like mini speakers that deliver clear sound and microphone quality while floating over your ears, rather than inside them. This allows wearers to be conscious of their surroundings while staying plugged in. The brand’s Personalized Sound Zone technology also ensures that whatever you’re listening to or call you’re on stays private to you.
Buy: $59
