FAQ

Frequently asked questions – and helpful answers!

To make working with our products as easy as possible for you, we have listed frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers here.

If you do not find what you are looking for here, you can contact us by phone at +49 681 96 724 43.

Questions about X47 in general

Which inventions/innovations distinguish X47?

As early as 1987, Matthias Büttner tinkered with a new type of holding system for calendars: a “book-by-book” system. With the “book-by-book system”, you combine individual booklets and not individual sheets of paper. Matthias is the inventor of a system that is now used by millions all over the world.

On 15.05.2001 he applied for a technical solution for the system: the spring bar of X47 with the patent application (patent no. 1283783). On 22.08.2005 he applied for a second technical solution for the “book-by-book system”: The half-hole punch of X17 (EP 1917148 B1 / DE 102005039547).

It was not until one year later that the Japanese company “Midori” launched its famous Traveller Notebook, i.e. 4 years after X47 and one year after the patent application of the half-hole of X17 (EP 1917148 B1 / DE 102005039547).

X47 and X17 do belong together. Here are the innovations that apply to both:

X47 patent about the spring bar as a support for the book-by-book system.
X17 Patent on the half hole that replaces the spring bar in X17. (www.x17.de)
X47 patent about the narrowest coin purse (coins are held in slots), X47 UNO2, smartphone cases.
X47 and X17 calendar layout “time circles
X17 pen clip “Sloop
Concept “MindPapers”, here index cards or booklets are held in a leather cover and closed with a sloop
X47 and X17 Memo card
X47 and X17 The 5×3 method
The book “The THINK! method” contains an original concept for behaviour change
The book “The ME Strategy” contains an original concept for goal setting and implementation
The book “The ICH Management” contains an original concept for personality development.

Together with the idea of “Mindpapers”, X17 and X47 have thus developed a total of 3 new variations on how to keep paper in a cover.

In addition, with the two brands X47 and X17, X47 is the only notebook/ diary producer that supplies both the hardware, i.e. the books and calendars, and has massive know-how (applications/methods) in using them.

How sustainable is X47?

Production in Germany

We produce in Germany, which means short transport distances and strict social and technical requirements.
We print with ink, not laser, which reduces particulate matter, is ozone-free and saves electricity (no heat).
We print digitally, thus reducing waste to set the machines, unlike offset printing.
We start our own production of magnetic flap boxes (in which the leather products are presented). Until recently, we sourced these from the Far East for cost reasons.

Purchasing material

Our leather comes from Belgium and Italy. This means three things: strictest environmental requirements for the production of the leather, short distances and social correctness.
The leather fibre material and the vegan material come from Germany: Strictest environmental regulations in the production of the leather, short distances and social correctness.
We source our paper from sustainable FSC-certified cultivation. Our paper mill is located in France – here too, maximum environmental requirements, social correctness and short distances.
The steel of the spring bar comes from Italy, the production is in Switzerland.

Packaging and shipping

We ship C02-neutral with Gogreen,
We use as little plastic as possible for the protection and packaging of our goods. Plastic cannot be avoided for the specialised trade, because the goods have to be protected. But for direct shipping to our private customers, we do this as far as possible. When it comes to avoiding plastic, there is always a conflict between protecting the goods, simplicity in the production process, costs and sustainability.

Other

We have 20 different varieties of fruit, blackberries and grapes on our farm property and leave the garden as wild as possible to provide habitats for bees and birds. We have our own pond – a healthy biotope, with fish, water lilies, newts, lots of insects … and herons.
We are planning solar panels on the roof for our own sustainable electricity supply in the future.
And: 80% of the boss comes to work by bike😊.

Who’s behind X47?

X47 – which includes the two brands X47 and X17 – is managed by 3 people:

Cendrine Jurke (customer service, production, warehouse, personnel, organisation) is responsible for all repetitive processes, i.e. everything that has to be done repeatedly and regularly.
Matthias Jurke (financial accounting and IT technology) is responsible for all hardware, software, payments, financial statements …
Matthias Büttner (new products, methods, marketing) is responsible for … the rest.

Of course, there are many more people behind X47. Our employees, some of whom have been with us for a very long time, the many suppliers, especially the leather maker and the Swiss who produce the spring bar for us.

Questions about the X47 products

How do I find the right, perfect X47 for me?

X47 has a large selection of products. It’s easy to lose the overview. Call us at 0049-681-96724-43 and we will be happy to advise you. If you have a question about self-organisation or the use of methods, you can ask to be put through to the boss directly. Or arrange a telephone appointment.

We have fun finding the right one for you. Honestly!

These are the questions we will ask you:

What are you looking for a solution for?
Which format do you prefer? A5, A6 or A7?
Which leather do you particularly like?
Have you already decided on a calendar?
Which ruler do you prefer for your notes?
Do you also like an index book for addresses or dates?
Do you prefer to write with a biro, pencil or fountain pen?

How is X47 different from other organisers?

There is also a short film on this question: Why X47?

There are many differences when comparing X47 with Tempus, Filofax, Time/System or others.

X47 is a book-by-book system. We use small booklets, not individual pages. The booklets are bound lengthwise to spines using the spring bar and a tube – not punched and held in place by a ring element. This has many advantages: Lighter, flatter and easier to write on.
X47 uses the best leather available. We have leather from Belgium and Italy – never from the Far East. This way we can ensure that all production standards are met and that the people in production are also safe.
X47 has a face. Matthias Büttner, Cendrine Jurke and Matthias Jurke stand behind X47 as people and as a face. We are a sworn team and stand by what we do. And we’ve been doing it together since 2005.
X47 has a high level of competence in self-leadership and self-leadership methods. We do not see ourselves solely as a manufacturer of schedulers, but as a solution provider. Hardware and software, or better: brainware. Our knowledge is in our heads, but also in our books. That is a unique selling point.
We have our own paper – specially developed for notebooks and calendars. Extremely ink-resistant and therefore also ideal for the many fountain pen fans.
We produce exclusively in Germany and Switzerland.
We print our calendars in-house, in Saarbrücken.
We are proud to be method-open. We complement our own layout with competent partners. For example, we produce the focus planner for Lars Bobach, have the detailed planners from Weekview in our range, have reissued the legendary Happiness Diary by Dr Großmann and are open to new concepts.

Is the X47 paper filler resistant?

To cut a long story short: Yes!

We have had our own paper since 2020, which is made just for us and is tailored to the special requirements of an appointment planner. One of the main requirements is suitability for ink, because many of our customers also like to write with a fountain pen. In addition, the pencil must also rub and the biros must glide well.

Since then, we have received many emails confirming this and the paper is also praised in the forums. There are two videos that might be of interest to you:

Video 1: New paper for X17 and X47!

Video 2: Own paper for X47 – the fountain pen ink suitability test

Video 1: New paper for X17 and X47!

Video 2: Own paper for x47 – the fountain pen ink suitability test

Can I return a product that I don’t like?

Yes.

We only want satisfied customers. If you have ordered something and are not happy with it, then send the product back to us. What is important – and you would agree with this – is the condition of the product.

We have already received leather covers back that were scratched – once we could even read something, because the timer was used as a base for a note. We have already received booklets back that were written on – of course, none of that is possible.

But if you take your time to look at all the products, treat them with care and then send them back to us – intact, then everything is fine. You don’t need to pack the products properly again – we can do that well.

Only the products must not be used.

And if you are undecided and need more than two weeks to make up your mind – then we would appreciate a call or a short message.

It would be good if you only dispose of the cardboard packaging when you are sure that you want to keep everything.

Where is X47 produced?

We produce in Germany.

The company is based in Saarbrücken.
The employees are from the vicinity.
The calendars are printed and bound in Saarbrücken.
The leather comes from Belgium or Italy.
The spring bar comes from Switzerland.
The leather maker is located near Frankfurt.
The paper mill is in France.

What kind of materials does X47 use?

Only the best leather.

We only buy our leather in Belgium and Italy from the tanneries located there. First class goods. Best European raw material. Best tanning materials, strictly according to European guidelines. We know ourselves in the circle of other customers, such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Dior.

The leather fibre material we use for Steel is recycled leather and is produced in Germany.

The vegan material – rubber-refined cellulose – is also produced in Germany.

The steel we use for the spring bars is highly refined and is also called “surgical steel”. It is common in the fine watch industry. Here, too, we feel at home in the circle of big brands: TAG Heuer, Breitling, IWC …

The paper is the finest you can get. It is made especially for us in a paper mill in France.

Can spring bars be retrofitted or replaced?

Yes! Mostly.

Timer A6: You can add a fourth spring bar. Watch this video: Adding a spring bar: Adding a spring bar.
Also: Minitimer A7, Kompakt A6, Slimline A6, Slimline A5, Timer A5 (middle rails), DUO1, DUO4
Not possible: MaBook A5, MaBook A6, outer rails of Timer A5.

If you would prefer 4 spring bars for the A6 timer, then order it this way. We will do it then.

Print quality

We have also changed our production with the new paper. We now print ourselves, in-house, digitally, with toner, not laser.

There are many good reasons for this and the disadvantage that the print image is no longer quite as fine as in offset printing.

Reasons for switching production (from outside printing in a print shop to printing in-house):

We reduce paper waste. In offset printing, up to 10% of the paper sheets end up in the paper bin, just to adjust the level of the ruling. With our digital printing, that’s not even 1%.
We reduce paper waste because we dispose of fewer unsold calendars at the end of the year. With offset printing, set-up costs are very high and short-run production is very expensive. But since we have the ambition to always be able to supply our customers, we always had to plan a little more generously and dispose of the rest. This is now perfect. We can reprint even the smallest quantities.
We can also produce short runs economically. Some runs are not economically justifiable via offset printing. But we want to maintain the diversity of our calendars and also guarantee reliability in delivery.

We have decided to produce with ink – not laser – because …

Ink requires less energy – no heat during printing.
Ink is more stable in printing – no heat and thus no influence on the paper.
Ink does not produce fine dust.
Ink does not emit ozone.
The printer lasts longer than a laser. Fewer mechanical parts and no temperature fluctuations.

So a very ecological system.

The print quality doesn’t come close to offset or laser printing, that’s a fact.

But like everything in life – you have to weigh things up. We opted for the more ecological and partly more economical option.

Questions about the methods

Which method is ideal for me?

That is a challenging question. Feel free to call and ask for the boss. He loves such questions.

A diary is not (only) meant for fixing appointments, but for self-management. Here we refer to a tutorial: “Why you need a calendar” and to the films that explain the calendars, for example, the Weekly calendar “classic” or the Monthly planner.

In a personal interview you would answer the following questions:

Where do you stand? How do you organise yourself at the moment?
What are you missing? What are you looking for?
What do you do for a living? What does your daily programme look like?

Methods for beginners:

For beginners in self-organisation, the “5×3-Method” is highly recommended. You start in the morning by writing down the 3 most important tasks of the day – and thus trigger a self-guiding process.
With the FlowBook, you compulsorily find your goals and work on them every day, so that you constantly develop yourself further.
The “creative feeling” method is also suitable for beginners. The weekly calendar contains annual goals, monthly goals, a focus of the week and monthly reviews.
The fourth method for beginners, but then with a focus on mindfulness and goal orientation, is the Mindfulnessence method by Irene Paulsen-Langeberg. The concept consists of two parts. The first part is the goal-setting booklet with simple, practical approaches to goal-setting (eulogy, bucket list, areas of life), the second part then the implementation in the day.
For minimalists, Dr. Gustav Großmann’s system is useful. The 5×3 method is similar to Dr. Großmann’s system. The Happiness Diary is a small part of the iceberg of the famous Großmann Method. You write down the most promising moves to achieve your goals (behind this is the How? plan) and also take an inspiration every day of the month (inspiration for self-improvement). The Grossmann Method is opulent and rich in inspirations for life success.

Advanced methods:

The “focus planner” is made for the self-employed. If you can get involved with the focus planner and follow the rules, you will get very far very quickly – without losing sight of yourself or your family. Clear leader.
For planning freaks, the Weekview products are perfect. Here you can really let off steam and plan and reflect on everything down to the last detail. Everything your heart desire
For those who want to set themselves up anew, the concept of the “ICH method” is recommended. Here you can systematically work out your goals and break them down into daily activities. A complex subject. For self-optimisation freaks. Holistic.
This method has no special inserts – you put together your own calendars, notes and other aids (memo cards, index cards, folding planners …) for implementation.

FAQ