Of all the times of year for restraint, Christmas is not one of them. It’s a season for opulence, sparkle, glitter and gold – to throw sensible ideas to the wind and to indulge in treats. The quality of a gift, as ever, is key. A single beautiful, well-made item – a handmade game of draughts that the family will enjoy throughout the year, a Swiss watch that will last a lifetime, classic earrings can be passed down through generations – will be the gift that’s cherished again and again when the tree comes down and the wrapping’s been folded back into a drawer. These are things to save up for – and then to savour giving.
For the best-dressed hound
Hermès rope and leather dog lead, £600, and dog bowl in oak wood, £950, 020 7499 8856
For budding architects
Tiffany & Co set of ten building blocks in sterling silver and American walnut, £1,550, tiffany.com
For the phone in your life
Fendi x Chaos gold-mesh smartphone pouch, £1,450, fendi.com
You’ll want more than one
Carolina Bucci K.I.S.S. yellow-gold bracelet, £6,100, carolinabucci.com
Advertisement
A knockout cocktail ring
Van Cleef & Arpels yellow-gold and pavé diamond ring, £17,600, vancleefarpels.com
Nice and chunky
Pragnell Cuba chain bracelet in yellow gold, £7,750, pragnell.co.uk
Party bag!
Miu Miu white leather bag, £2,020, miumiu.com
A fashionable pudding
Dolce & Gabbana and Fiasconaro panettone with Sicilian almonds, £33, world.dolcegabbana.com
Time to dream
Cartier Exceptional limited-edition clock in silvered obsidian and stainless steel, £10,300, 020 7408 9192
Advertisement
Meet your master
Rolex GMT-Master II Oystersteel and Everose-gold watch with black dial, £11,850, rolex.com
Ding dong!
Buccellati Macri earrings with brilliant-cut diamonds in black and yellow gold, £11,500, buccellati.com
Seventies chic
Dior medium Bobby bag in dark tan calfskin, £2,700, dior.com
Spring in the air
Carolina Herrera Saffron Lazuli eau de parfum, £235, harrods.com
More tea?
Fortnum & Mason glass teapot, £58, fortnumandmason.com
Advertisement
Never be cold again
Bamford cosy cable sweater, £495, bamford.com
Show your hands
Hublot Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP white-gold watch with sapphire dial and leather strap, £43,600, hublot.com
The sweet smell of good gifting
Loewe Scent of Marihuana candle, £145, loewe.com
Perfect skin
Augustinus Bader Supreme Kit, £890, augustinusbader.com
Sleek sounds
KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers, £2,250 a pair, kef.com
Advertisement
A medley of kisses
Hermès lipstick piano set containing 24 colours of the Rouge Hermès collection, £1,400, selfridges.com
What a dish
Valerie Objects acacia wood dish, €154; big wood lid, €46; medium ceramic dish, €44; medium wood lid, €42, valerie-objects.com
Never lose your airpods again
Chanel tweed Airpods case, £730, chanel.com
Blue steel
Tudor Black Bay steel watch with blue dial, £2,760, tudorwatch.com
There’s a party on my feet!
Jimmy Choo fuchsia and chilli satin pump with jewelled buckle, £795, jimmychoo.com
Advertisement
Ace!
Liberty Maxine-print playing cards, £15.99, libertylondon.com
Wrist candy
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Calendar pink-gold watch, £22,200, jaeger-lecoultre.com
How to sparkle
Vashi constellation diamond earrings, £980, vashi.com
The top table
B&B Italia limited-edition sculptural bamboo table, £21,059, bebitalia.com
Post-lunch stroll, anyone?
Connolly x Sebastian Conran binocular hip flask and tumbler case, £3,000, 020 7952 6708
Art fizz
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2012 x Yayoi Kusama limited-edition champagne, £160, selfridges.com
Looking good
Alexander McQueen rose-gold jewelled glasses, £255, alexandermcqueen.com
Yes, this is a table
Roche Bobois Evol table designed by Cédric Ragot, £1,310, roche-bobois.com
Precious pendant
Kiki McDonough pendant in green amethyst and diamond with yellow gold, £3,500, kiki.co.uk
Timing is everything
Omega Speedmaster yellow-gold watch with leather strap, £16,960, omegawatches.com
Nuggets of gold
Elizabeth Gage 18ct yellow-gold bracelet, £9,000, elizabeth-gage.com
Hero boots
Sweethearts of the Rodeo lambskin leather boots, £995, sweetheartsoftherodeo.co.uk
The ultimate shirt
SMR Days cotton tunic, £175, smrdays.com
Bliss in a box
Charbonnel et Walker Christmas milk chocolate and truffle selection, £35, charbonnel.co.uk
Small is beautiful
Deauville mini bag, £1,530, louisvuitton.com
Good morning, Santa
Alex Eagle made-to-order cotton dressing gown, £340, alexeagle.co.uk
Gorgeous hardware
Celine by Hedi Slimane Sulky fabric and calfskin bag, £2,100, celine.com
Design classic
Minotti leather table, £1,728, minottilondon.com
Check me out
Burberry Olympia bag, £1,350, 020 7806 8904
Power diamonds
Jessica McCormack 18ct-gold Livewire earrings with diamonds, £35,000, jessicamccormack.com
Get off the sofa!
Orlebar Brown Oleta trainers, £195, 020 3417 6390
Watch and learn
Tag Heuer Carrera chronograph 160 Years special-edition watch, £4,895, tagheuer.com
Memories are made of this
At Last! Creative magnetic photo framewith 27 magnets, £192, atlastcreative.com
Make sparks
Debonnaire sterling silver matchbox, £1,340, debonnaire.com
Work out in style
Loro Piana 1kg weights, £1,815, and skipping rope, £580, loropiana.com
The hunk
Breitling Chronomat watch, £6,650, breitling.com
Lustre for life
Fope 18ct yellow-gold and diamond pavébracelet, from £7,630, fope.com
Cut-glass perfection
Thomas Goode Moser bar Rosalin tumbler, £65, 020 7499 2823
The missing links
Pomellato Iconica rose-gold bracelet, £16,800, pomellato.com
Hello, Mr Suave
Patek Philippe perpetual calendar Ref 5320Gwhite-gold watch with brown alligator strap, £71,040, patek.com
Hoops of delight
Chopard earrings from Haute Joaillerie collection with diamonds set in ethical Fairmined-certified 18-carat white gold, POA, 020 7046 7808
Gucci glamour
Gucci GG canvas shoulder bagwith leather details, £1,190, gucci.com
Sensual scent
Maison Christian Dior Oud Rosewood personalised eau de parfum, 450ml, £405, dior.com
The game is on
Brunello Cucinelli wooden noughts and crosses set, £580, brunellocucinelli.com
Photographer’s assistant: George House
Stylist assistants: Anousha Payne, Harvey Waller
Editorial assistants: Alice Manners, Violet Caldecott
