Wondering what to get your nearest and dearest this festive season? Discerning Sybarites can be hard to shop for; but look no further, for we have here the best gifts money can buy.
Whisky Wonder
Whisky lovers will rejoice upon receiving The Glenlivet Winchester Vintage 1966 – one of the most sought after and exquisite whisky collections in the world and the pinnacle of the Glenlivet range. The series of rarefied 50-year-old single malt whiskies have been crafted over generations, matured over decades and hidden within the walls of the Glenlivet distillery. With only 100 bottles of this rare and precious liquid in existence across the globe, the historic Scotch – which is sold in Harrods – is priced at £20,000 and sold in the equally luxurious setting of Harrods for its UK launch.
Pen Friend
Life is short, so why settle for anything less than the best? This is also true of pens. If you have a friend or family member who is in the market for a top-tier pen, allow us to introduce you to the Limited Edition Star Wars Townsend (£295 – £375), the creation of CROSS Pens UK. Commemorating the original 1977 film, this Townsend Star Wars™ writing instrument features deep-etched engravings on brushed platinum plate with an embedded smooth-top jet cabochon. Presented in a luxury gift box with an included Star Wars™ themed pen stand, it’s a beautiful pen – and the perfect gift for any avid Star Wars™ fan.
Art Attack
For the artists in your life: say hello to the Watercolour Compendium – a collaboration between iconic British brands Linley and Winsor & Newton. This limited edition piece has been handcrafted in a bleached sycamore veneer and is complete with a marquetry colour wheel, walnut interior and engravable sterling silver plaque. The luxury artist’s sets will go on sale in December 2016 for a cool £12,500. Suddenly, we want to take up painting.
Bag It
A Chanel bag is the ultimate classic that every woman needs in her wardrobe. Unchanged since its creation by Karl Lagerfeld in 1955, the quilted Chanel bag has been hailed as the holy grail of handbags – and for good reason. This black beauty – although each season a different hue is produced – is the perfect size for work and after office cocktails.
The Notebook
We may be living in a digital age but nothing beats writing a handwritten letter on beautiful paper. Luxury stationer, Smythson, has a superior selection. Rooted in deep heritage, the luxury British brand has long catered to the highly discerning, from European Royalty and the Indian Maharajas to the likes of Grace Kelly, Katharine Hepburn, Claudette Colbert and Vivien Leigh. Influential figures, leading extraordinary lives, from Sigmund Freud to Sir Winston Churchill, have all recognised the timeless purity of Smythson’s creations.
Caviar Calling
Caviar is one of the most luxurious and exclusive foods known to mankind. Or as the author and internationally known gourmet, Ludwin Bemelmans, once said: “Caviar is to dining, what a sable coat is to a girl in evening dress.”
Make your foodie friends’ Christmas by buying them a caviar gift set from Celesta Luxuries – a private supplier of the “food of the kings.” For prices and more information about Celesta Luxuries high-quality caviar products and exclusive and bespoke gifts, visit www.celestaluxuries.com.
Shop to it
Is your loved one searching for a knock-out ensemble for New Year’s Eve? Treat them to premier personal shopping service with an elite personal stylist. Men would do well to consult Daniel Johnson – who featured in the recent BBC documentary ‘The Millionaire’s Gift Guide’. The dapper Johnson charges from £325 upwards for personal styling while, for women, British former fashion editors, Laura Fantacci and Petronella Stofberg’s prices start at £1,000 for services such as home wardrobe consultations, personal stylish and shopping trips.
Champagne Supernova
“My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.”
If your inner circle is concerned about making the same mistake as John Maynard Keynes – aka the most important economist of the 20th – then purchase them some Dom Pérignon – a brand which represents the pinnacle of champagne. We’re not exaggerating: ask any champagne connoisseur as to who invented the fizzy drink and the answer you’ll most likely receive is Dom Pierre Pérignon: a 17th century Benedictine monk who was put in charge of the wine cellar at the Abbey of Hautvillers, just north of the French town of Épernay – a region that is now regarded as the birthplace of bubbly. Pérignon was asked to rid the abbey’s sparkling wine of bubbles – a problem that plagued winemakers at the time. The 19-year-old monk failed to rid the wine of its bubbles but improved the quality by introducing corks – and turned his troubles into a triumph by calling to his abbey compatriots: “Come quickly! I am drinking the stars!”
Fast forward to today and Dom Pérignon is the wine of celebration for any self-respecting Sybarite. Book your at home tasting experience here.
Luxury Tent
Fans of the great outdoors will want to get their hands on the Autonomous tent – a stunning semi-permanent structure designed by star-chitects such as Patricia DiMario and Harry Gesner (whose famous Cooper Wave House design inspired the Sydney Opera House.)
The exquisitely designed yet sustainable solar powered tent an be enjoyed anywhere, all year round without destroying the world’s delicate ecosystems – provided that Sybarites are prepared to splash out US$100,000 for the smaller, 700-square-foot Cocoon version and US$200,000 for the 1,000-square-foot Tipi.
All told, if you know someone who wants to get in touch with nature without sacrificing creature comforts appeals, then the autonomous tent could be the answer to their Christmas prayers.
About Time
The coolest wrists in the world right now are wearing luxury watches that happen to be smart. Translation? A watch that connects to the Internet – in addition to other devices like smartphones or tablets – in order to deliver real-time information to your wrist. Hermès has jumped on the bandwagon with its Hermès Apple Watch – a unique timepiece designed with both utility and beauty in mind. The latest collection features finely handcrafted leather bands from Hermès and Apple- designed watch faces based on the iconic Clipper, Cape Cod, and Espace Hermès watches.
