Humans have been mining gold for thousands of years, and as such the material has left an indelible mark on almost every culture since. Worth nearly 60-times as much as it was only a century ago, gold has also long been a bonafide status symbol no matter where you are on the planet, with a distinct ability to bestow nearly any item it clads or plates with an unmistakably refined and upscale air — EDC gear very much included. In a bid to help you class up your daily-carry loadout, we’ve scoured the space to deliver this curated guide to the best gold everyday carry essentials.
G-SHOCK GMB2100GD 9A
The latest addition to the brand’s 2100 Series, the GMB2100GD-9A is not your typical G-SHOCK, deviating from its signature resin-cased digital watch formula in order to deliver an analog timepiece with an all-gold-ion-plated stainless steel case, bezel, and bracelet that maintain’s the Japanese firm’s signature levels of durability. Equipped with solar charging that provides up to 7 months of battery life on a single charge, this watch also features a Neo-brite-coated pencil-style hand-set supplemented via a small digital readout, Bluetooth connectivity to a dedicated smartphone app, a world time feature, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and multiple daily alarms.
Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pen
Another immensely old-school item that’s highly conducive to modern everyday carry use, the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pen is a meticulously-crafted EDC writing instrument that’s made by artisans in Japan. Paying homage to antique American writing instruments, the pen features a brass body that houses a slide-out element that holds its ball point ink cartridge. Measuring 4.0” in length, the brass body of this pen will also slowly form a unique patina over time with regular use.
Dewel Wheel Kerosene Trench Lighter
A modern-day reissue of a WW2 gear staple that’s manufactured today almost exactly as it was in the 1940s, the Dewel Wheel Kerosene Trench Lighter features a brass body with a windproof design and a push-button sparking mechanism. The bottom of this rugged little lighter is also capped off with screw-down openings that allow its flint or cotton wick to easily replaced as needed. It’s immense durability and proven design make this more-than-80-year-old product an excellent addition to any contemporary EDC loadout.
Good Worth & Co. Multi Key with Bottle Opener
Putting an end to loud, jingling keyrings, the Good Worth & Co. Multi Key with Bottle Opener is a contemporary key organizer that consists of a machined brass frame with an integrated bottle opener which houses five pre-installed brass key blanks — all of which can neatly fold out to be accessed when needed. Like all of Good Worth & Co’s offerings, the Multi Key is produced in small batches in order to ensure super exacting quality control standards and a top-shelf fit and finish.
Ekster Aluminum Cardholder
Crafted from aerospace-grade 6061 T6, the Ekster Aluminum Cardholder is an ultra-modern take on a wallet that boasts RFID-blocking technology and an adjustable aluminum backplate that allows it to accommodate anywhere from one to a dozen cards and bills. Produced in more than 12 color, pattern, and material options, this cardholder can also be outfitted with a tracker GPS tracker card, making it almost impossible to lose. What really makes this item special, however, is its rapid card-deployment system, which fans out this EDC wallet’s cards at the push of a button, making quickly grabbing any card a breeze.
RovyVon Aurora A23 Pro Flashlight
With a nearly 500’ throw and a maximum output of 1,000 lumens, the RovyVon Aurora A23 Pro is an EDC keychain light that legitimately has the ability to go toe-to-toe with regular full-sized EDC torches that are several times larger and more expensive. Spanning less than 3”, the Aurora A23 Pro is constructed around a 7075 aluminum housing that’s IPX8-rated — meaning that it can survive a more than 6’ drop and can handle being completely submerged in several feet of water for up to half an hour. This item also sports five power modes as well as a memory mode that recalls its last brightness level.
The James Brand The Mehlville Carabiner
Precision-machined from a solid block of brass, The James Brand’s The Mehlville Carabiner is a cleverly-designed everyday carry carabiner that sports a spring-loaded dual-gate design that makes losing your keys nearly impossible. On top of its ability to clip to your bag or belt loop and accommodate keys, this item also features an integrated 304 stainless steel bottle opener that allows this elevated EDC essential to afford even more utility.
Craighill Rook Knife
Spanning just 5.5” overall, the Craighill Rook Knife is a compact yet utilitarian everyday carry flipper with a beautiful minimalist design. Weighing in at just 2.20oz, the knife is constructed around a brass and stainless steel handle that features a frame lock mechanism. Mated to the handle is a 2.30” drop point blade that’s smoothly deployed via a flipper tab and composed of Sandvik 12C27 steel.
