Classics of everyday design No 58

I think I have an unexpected everyday design classic in my pocket. Hang on a moment; I'll fish it out. Hmm. It's a bit battered. In fact, it looks as if it's been around the world several times, and through the proverbial wars. It has worked extremely hard for its living, has travelled with me far and wide, has been dropped more times than can have been good for it, and lost its lustre a long time ago. What is it? My Nokia 6310 mobile phone.

In recent months, several people – from cab drivers to fellow journalists – have told me to hang on to my 6310. A good phone that, they chorus. A classic. Is it? It looks a bit like a tiny coffin to me, a miniature hi-tech version of an Egyptian sarcophagus. But, I've just glanced through what appears to be an almost infinite number of websites concerned with the minutiae of mobile phones, and the 6310 does indeed appear to be a well-regarded design. Why? For the same reason that I'm unwilling to give up my 6310 unless it gives up on me. It is, as far as these things go, simple and reliable. And, it's powered by a battery that usually lasts a week before it needs to be recharged. A huge improvement on the mobiles I used before it.

I like the way my 6310 has enabled me to connect my laptop to the satellite phone system and send articles to Guardian from the most remote places. I like the fact that it works anywhere in the world and yet, no one would give it a second glance. Here is a mobile free from cameras and pretty much every other superfluous gadget, that allows me to communicate wherever there is a signal to be picked up. My 6310 even came to the rescue when I was caught in the eye of a Caribbean storm two years ago and my sailing boat refused to budge as the clouds darkened around me. I'd forgotten I had it with me, butwas very glad I had packed it – albeit switched off and with just one blip left on the battery indicator – in my holiday bag.

The 6310 went on sale in 2001, so, by mobile phone standards, it's already a museum piece a gizmo from a distant past when all many people wanted, or needed, was a mobile to simply make calls. It seems, though, that the 6310 enjoys a loyal following, and there's a lively market for refurbished, secondhand models selling for around £60.

So here's an interesting thing: an everyday design classic that certainly works well, but can hardly be called good-looking. Maybe you think it is (perhaps it looks better in a silver casing?). Mine was originally finished in bling black-and-gold – if you can recall John Player Special cigarette packets or JPS Formula One Lotuses of the 1970s, you'll know the sort of thing.

Was the black and gold 6310 casing a knowing example of retro design, I wonder?