For some, ’tis the season to splurge and indulge
THE world’s most luxurious department stores are offering over-thetop Christmas gift ideas such as an R18-million uncut Namibian diamond and a R2.4-million bejewelled bottle of whisky to whet the most indulgent of appetites.
Stores such as Neiman Marcus, Harrods and Selfridges have pulled out all the stops with their jawdropping gift ranges. Topping the list is US luxury retailer Neiman Marcus with its annual “fantasy gift” range. It brags of its “unmatched tradition of offering customers a selection of spectacular and unique holiday gifts sure to make even their wildest dreams come true”.
Its most expensive offering is the 25-carat rough diamond, whose multimillion-rand price tag includes naming rights for the gem and a trip to the Namibian coast where it was found. Says Neiman Marcus on its blog: “As the owner of this diamond, you’ll travel deep into the heart of Africa to discover where your stone began its journey more than one billion years ago.
“The buyer is promised a once-ina-lifetime adventure starting with a trip to the De Beers headquarters in London . . . you’ll meet the master craftsman who will hand-cut and polish the diamond to perfection.”
Then there is the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, one of only 10 in the world, with a price tag of R3.4million. “Like a certain secret agent, you have a penchant for these beautiful British automobiles — and a taste for adventure,” the store says.
At London’s upmarket Selfridges, a R2.4-million bottle of Royal Salute whisky — dressed in gold and diamonds — is waiting to be snapped up. Says Selfridges: “Royal Salute has crafted a whisky blend so rare, so sumptuous that only one man in the world has tasted it — creator and master blender Colin Scott.”
At R2-million, a nine-bottle set of Armand de Brignac champagne is also up for grabs at Selfridges. It includes the 30-litre Midas — the world’s largest bottle of bubbly.
Harrods has a R320 000 food and drink hamper, “Decadence”, as one of its most extravagant gifts. “The quality of the champagne, wines and confectionery is unsurpassed,” it boasts. Included in the hamper are foie gras with truffles, Beluga caviar, Dom Perignon champagne, cognac and a 9.5kg three-tier Christmas cake.