Seemingly destined for desk bound travelers given the luxurious wood box. Yet such compasses were originally essential instruments used on small fishing dories and lifeboats. Our daily language has borrowed a multitude of nautical expressions, one of which is: set course for. Thats what a compass does.Truly a wonderful and thoughtful gift for the man who has everything. Distressed and French finished wood box, brass compass with a precision dry compass card showing which course to sail.