It's The Little Things
Add These 11 Things To Every Man's List
Shopping for the man who has everything is exhausting. Particularly when he already has two Porsches, a watch collection worth more than your first house, and a wine cellar that requires its own insurance policy.
Forget another cashmere sweater. Forget the monogrammed leather wallet. And for God's sake, forget the novelty golf balls.
At this level, gift-giving isn't about generosity. It's about demonstrating that you understand the difference between expensive and exceptional. Here are eleven gifts for the gentleman whose greatest inconvenience is wondering whats next in life.
1. Buben & Zörweg Watch Safe
Estimated Price: $25,000–$150,000+
When your collection of Patek Philippes, Rolexes and obscure Swiss independents has outgrown the sock drawer, it's time for a Buben & Zörweg. These magnificent creations combine sophisticated security, mechanical watch winders and cabinetry worthy of a Bond villain's penthouse. Because apparently owning $500,000 worth of watches isn't enough. You need a six-figure piece of furniture to admire them in.
2. Pebble Beach Automotive Weekend
Estimated Price: $15,000–$50,000+
For the gentleman who believes automobiles reached their artistic pinnacle somewhere between a 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa and a 1962 Aston Martin DB4. Arrange a spectacular Monterey Car Week weekend with premium Concours d'Elegance hospitality, exclusive automotive events and luxurious accommodations. He'll spend three days discussing chassis numbers with men who wear $40,000 watches and pretend not to notice.
3. BlueCube Cold Plunge
Estimated Price: $10,000–$25,000+
Remember when taking a cold shower was considered punishment? Now it's a status symbol. BlueCube creates premium cold plunges for gentlemen who have decided that deliberately freezing themselves is the secret to longevity. Beautifully engineered, unapologetically expensive and guaranteed to provide endless opportunities to tell dinner guests about your morning routine. The ultimate luxury: paying five figures to be uncomfortable for 5 minutes.
4. A Birth-Year Bottle of Extraordinary Wine
Estimated Price: $5,000–$50,000+
Anyone can buy a great Bordeaux. But presenting a properly authenticated bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux or Domaine de la Romanée-Conti from the recipient's birth year? That's sophistication. Assuming, of course, it was a decent vintage. A rare bottle with impeccable provenance says something rather wonderful: you've aged beautifully, even if the wine has appreciated considerably faster.
5. Concours-Level Automotive Detailing
Estimated Price: $3,000–$12,000+
The ordinary man takes his car through a wash. The extraordinary man has specialists spend several days correcting microscopic imperfections in paint that already looks perfect. We're talking painstaking paint correction, premium ceramic coating, meticulous interior restoration and wheels-off detailing. Your Ferrari will emerge looking better than the day it left Maranello. You'll immediately become terrified of driving it.
6. The Ultimate Aman Escape
Estimated Price: $20,000–$75,000+
There are luxury hotels, and then there is Aman. Book a spectacular private villa at Amanzoe in Greece, complete with personalized service, private dining and a yacht excursion. It's the kind of place where tranquility has been elevated to an art form and privacy is practically a religion. No crowds, no screaming children, no breakfast buffet. Just understated perfection and a bill that could finance a small country's infrastructure.
7. VistaJet Private Aviation Membership
Estimated Price: $200,000+ depending on commitment
First class is lovely, provided you enjoy sharing an aircraft with strangers. A VistaJet membership offers something infinitely more civilized: access to private aviation without the inconvenience of owning the aircraft. Personalized service, beautiful cabins and the ability to avoid the terminal circus. Because once you've experienced private flying, being asked to remove your shoes at airport security feels like a violation of basic human rights.
8. Montegrappa Limited-Edition Fountain Pen
Estimated Price: $5,000–$30,000+
In an age when most correspondence consists of poorly punctuated text messages, a Montegrappa fountain pen is an exquisite act of rebellion. Handcrafted in Italy, often incorporating precious metals and intricate detailing, these limited-edition writing instruments are miniature works of art. Perfect for signing acquisitions, important contracts or the occasional seven-figure check. Although, naturally, you'll still use your iPhone to send the thank-you note.
9. Watches and Wonders Geneva & The Four Seasons
Estimated Price: $20,000–$50,000+
For the gentleman who insists he doesn't need another watch but somehow returns from Switzerland with three. Arrange a VIP trip to Watches and Wonders Geneva, the annual gathering of horology's most prestigious names, with a spectacular suite at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues. Add private boutique appointments, exceptional dining and a chauffeured Mercedes. Naturally, he'll spend hours examining movements invisible to the naked eye while explaining why a $90,000 perpetual calendar is actually tremendous value. Exhibition and private-event access must be arranged separately.
10. A Private Massage Every Friday for an Entire Year
Estimated Price: $15,000–$30,000+
Forget a spa gift certificate. That's practically an insult. Instead, arrange for an exceptional private massage therapist to arrive at his residence every Friday afternoon for 52 glorious weeks. Ninety minutes of expertly delivered relaxation, preferably followed by a perfectly chilled martini and absolutely no telephone calls. No scheduling, no driving, no waiting room filled with people discussing their chakras. Just a standing appointment devoted entirely to the most important person in his life. Himself.
11. A Private Villa on Lake Como for the Entire Month of July
Estimated Price: $100,000–$300,000+
Not a sprawling hotel. Not a rented apartment with a view of a parking lot. We're talking about a small, exquisitely appointed waterfront villa on Lake Como, preferably near Laglio, Tremezzo or Cernobbio. Private dock, Riva boat, chef, housekeeper, beautiful gardens and just enough bedrooms to discourage unwanted relatives. Spend July drinking exceptional Barolo, cruising to Bellagio and pretending you're terribly busy with important European affairs. George Clooney may live nearby, but there's absolutely no reason to invite him over.
Luxury isn't about buying something someone needs. That's what Amazon is for.
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