We’re into December, and for most of us, the annual Christmas shopping spree has begun. If you’re in need of some inspiration, we have some Christmas gift choices for you to consider, no matter what your budget.
Marloe GMT Collection
£700
Marloe Watch Company has released the GMT collection, which comprises two designs, Day and Night. Our favourite of these is Night, with its twilight blue dial, and although it is available with a variety of strap options, we favour the metal bracelet.
GMT watches are on-trend just now but have their roots firmly in the 1950s when they were first designed for Pan Am pilots so that they could know the time in more than one timezone.
The GMT Night has two 24-hour dials on the face, allowing the watch to simultaneously show up to three different time zones. Marloe uses the new Miyota 9075 automatic mechanical movement to achieve this, as it requires a more complex movement than in a standard watch. The watch has a 40-hour power reserve, which is kept topped up by the automatic mechanical movement while it’s being worn.
The minute marks are picked out in stark white, making them stand out clearly against the deep blue of the face for incredible clarity in low light.
It is a great-looking watch with a lovely weight when it’s on the wrist. Take it off and turn it over, and the clear back lets you take a look at that all-important movement and the quality artistry housed within.
If you’re looking for a memorable gift for a watch aficionado, then one of the limited run of 500 GMT Night watches will make the perfect present. At just £700, it’s an excellent price too.
Horl 2 Knife Sharpener
£159
It might sound like an odd thing to want to give a knife sharpener as a Christmas gift but hear us out. Finding a sharp knife when you need it without the faff of having to spend time sharpening it every other use is something that all budding chefs dream of. Your run-of-the-mill kitchen knife sharpener can often do as much harm as it does good, especially if you’re a bit slap-dash with it. Not to mention the possible casualties as the knife and sharpener flail around in some sort of strange ritual akin to a single-person fencing bout — at least, that’s often how it appears in our kitchen!
There is a much easier way to achieve knife-edge perfection: the Horl 2. This neat and purposeful piece of equipment has been created by the German firm to take the stress out of sharpening.
The kit has just two parts — an angled magnetic block and a barrel-shaped sharpener. The block has two pre-defined angles to give the perfect edge for any blade. For larger, more robust blades, you use the 20-degree angle, and for finer blades, the 15-degree angle. The barrel has a different disk at each end, a diamond grinding disc, and a ceramic honing disc.
It’s so simple to use. Place the blade, sharp side upwards, against the magnetic block, then use the grinding disc against the edge, rolling the barrel along the blade in both directions. Then, swap ends of the barrel and use the honing disc to smooth the blade’s surface. Switch the blade around and repeat the process on the other side.
The result is a perfectly sharp knife in no time at all. It might take a little longer to sharpen the first time you use it, but each time after that, it should just be a couple of passes of the disc.
Not only is it simple, but the design is great, too — the barrel’s body and the magnetic block are made of oak (a walnut version is available) and look stylish and modern. It’s a perfect kitchen-based gift that will last for years to come.
Pen Heaven
Fountain Pen £125
Journal £32
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a language lover or journal writer, Pen Heaven is the place to look. As we spend more time typing and less time writing with actual ink, buying a beautiful fountain pen is now a luxury rather than a necessity, which is a real shame.
We love this sparkly little number from Benu, named Vodka On The Rocks. The resin body and screw close cap have silver and iridescent glitter embedded within them, giving a fabulously flamboyant look to the pen.
It has a nice chunky feel, making it easy to hold securely as you write. The stainless steel nib flows well and glides smoothly across the page, making it effortless to use. It comes with an ink cartridge but can be fitted with a converter for bottled ink, which can be bought separately.
And why not couple that with a Chianti leather journal to keep the theme going? Made in Italy using genuine leather and other locally sourced materials, each handmade Chianti journal is unique, as the edges are stone-marbled, ensuring there are no two the same. The leather cover feels great as you hold it, with a slightly textured surface and tie detail adding to the experience.
Perfect for those who like to keep a journal or diary or an aspiring author, the journal can also be personalised, making it a stunning and thoughtful Christmas gift.
The Cocktail Deck
£15
A lovely stocking filler idea for the amateur mixologist in your life, The Cocktail Deck contains 52 cocktail cards with a mix of classic and modern choices. Each card tells you what type of glass the drink is usually served in, as well as the ingredients and method for making it.
As well as the recipe cards, the pack includes a wooden stand into which you can pop the card, making it nice and easy to read as you’re mixing, and a little booklet with hints and tips to help you create the perfect pour.
These great recipes will keep the Christmas and New Year parties flowing and increase your cocktail repertoire, too.
The Little Book For Coffee Lovers by Felicity Hart
£9
Budding baristas will love opening this on Christmas day; it’s packed with nuggets of information, from how coffee was discovered to unlocking the secrets of coffee blends from around the world.
There’s a guide to latte art and a host of different coffee-based recipes to keep you wide awake until the new year. This homage to the coffee bean will make Christmas Day a full-flavour affair for any coffee lover.
Feel-Good Gardening by Claire Stares
£13
We’re all aware of how much better we feel when we spend time in nature, but do we make the most of our gardens to de-stress and unwind? Feel-Good Gardening is a compact guide to help understand the link between good mental health, physical exercise and nature.
If you’re on the hunt for a stocking filler for a loved one who could do with taking a beat and becoming more zen, this could be the perfect gift. Stares breaks it down into digestible parts, explaining the facts first, then suggesting little projects and giving helpful hints and tips throughout.
It’s a great little book to dip in and out of, making gardening more accessible to novices, making it a more relaxed experience to lower the blood pressure rather than feeling like you should be Alan Titchmarsh by page 10.
Tomatin Whisky Gift Pack
£27
What better time than Christmas to try out a new whisky or two? This Tomatin Whisky taster gift set includes three 15cl bottles, showcasing the revitalised range of Tomatin single malt whiskies. There’s a miniature of the 12-year-old, 14-year-old and Legacy expressions, each offering something different.
For a whisky lover who loves a bit of variety, this is a perfect way to pick out a new favourite blend, setting you up with the perfect birthday present for them once they have tried them all.
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