Most telescopes look like ungainly pieces of medical equipment. Not the Moonraker, which boasts 23.4-karat-gold finishes and brass and polished aluminum, including a mount made from high-end ash or oak. This model uses an apochromatic lens to produce striking color without the “halo effect”—the mauve blur around the focus point—so it’s the best instrument for admiring the rings of Saturn on a clear night. Wait time approximately three to four months.$16,160; moonrakertelescopes.co.uk
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
116 Luxurious Gifts for the Holidays
The best picks for the most important people on your list, from watches and gadgets to kitchen gear and home design.
This holiday we’ve picked out the most fantastic gifts for the luckiest people in your life, including a 24-carat, gold-plated telescope; the most comfortable alligator-skin gloves on the planet; and a necklace studded with 118 white diamonds and 44 sapphires. Scroll through for 116 essential items in 12 categories—trust us, there’s something for absolutely everyone on your list.
Most telescopes look like ungainly pieces of medical equipment. Not the Moonraker, which boasts 23.4-karat-gold finishes and brass and polished aluminum, including a mount made from high-end ash or oak. This model uses an apochromatic lens to produce striking color without the “halo effect”—the mauve blur around the focus point—so it’s the best instrument for admiring the rings of Saturn on a clear night. Wait time approximately three to four months.$16,160; moonrakertelescopes.co.uk
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Men’s Watches
It took Breguet 10 years of research to finalize the tone of the chimes on this minute repeater. It’s the first and only watch with vertical, not horizontal, hammers, which hit the gongs from below to emit a more clear, pleasing sound through the crystal dial. Protect and store it with Brunello Cucinelli’s virgin-wool-and-cashmere-blend watch roll, fully lined in soft suede with a removable padded roll. Watch, $460,700; +1 (866) 458-7488; Watch roll, $795; breguet.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Men’s Watches
Tradition Minute Repeater Tourbillon 7087 by Breguet
It took Breguet 10 years of research to finalize the tone of the chimes on this minute repeater. It’s the first and only watch with vertical, not horizontal, hammers, which hit the gongs from below to emit a more clear, pleasing sound through the crystal dial. Protect and store it with Brunello Cucinelli’s virgin-wool-and-cashmere-blend watch roll, fully lined in soft suede with a removable padded roll.Watch, $460,700; 866 458-7488; Watch roll, $795; breguet.com
It took Breguet 10 years of research to finalize the tone of the chimes on this minute repeater. It’s the first and only watch with vertical, not horizontal, hammers, which hit the gongs from below to emit a more clear, pleasing sound through the crystal dial. Protect and store it with Brunello Cucinelli’s virgin-wool-and-cashmere-blend watch roll, fully lined in soft suede with a removable padded roll.Watch, $460,700; 866 458-7488; Watch roll, $795; breguet.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Women’s Watches
There’s no missing this watch when it’s on a woman’s wrist. The 18-karat pink-gold case is set with diamonds, and the mother-of-pearl dial floats above five rows of shiny baubles along the band. In a twist on the original design, the watch’s face is set apart by a striking, solitaire diamond nestled into the curve of the dial at 4 o’clock. The other surprise? It’s water-resistant to almost 100 feet. $140,000; cartier.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Women’s Watches
Ballon Blanc Watch by Cartier
There’s no missing this watch when it’s on a woman’s wrist. The 18-karat pink-gold case is set with diamonds, and the mother-of-pearl dial floats above five rows of shiny baubles along the band. In a twist on the original design, the watch’s face is set apart by a striking, solitaire diamond nestled into the curve of the dial at 4 o’clock. The other surprise? It’s water-resistant to almost 100 feet. $140,000; cartier.com
There’s no missing this watch when it’s on a woman’s wrist. The 18-karat pink-gold case is set with diamonds, and the mother-of-pearl dial floats above five rows of shiny baubles along the band. In a twist on the original design, the watch’s face is set apart by a striking, solitaire diamond nestled into the curve of the dial at 4 o’clock. The other surprise? It’s water-resistant to almost 100 feet. $140,000; cartier.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Luggage
The checked Damier Ebène pattern that Louis Vuitton introduced in 1889 gets an update on the brand’s new Keepall Bandoulière 55 bag. The screen-printed design, called Damier Rope, adds a pop of hand-drawn blue to the classic canvas print. With a removable strap and roomy interior, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway. $2,310; louisvuitton.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Luggage
Keepall Bandouliere 55 Bag by Louis Vuitton
The checked Damier Ebène pattern that Louis Vuitton introduced in 1889 gets an update on the brand’s new Keepall Bandoulière 55 bag. The screen-printed design, called Damier Rope, adds a pop of hand-drawn blue to the classic canvas print. With a removable strap and roomy interior, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway. $2,310; louisvuitton.com
The checked Damier Ebène pattern that Louis Vuitton introduced in 1889 gets an update on the brand’s new Keepall Bandoulière 55 bag. The screen-printed design, called Damier Rope, adds a pop of hand-drawn blue to the classic canvas print. With a removable strap and roomy interior, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway. $2,310; louisvuitton.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Men’s Accessories
Here’s a guarantee for the lucky recipient: These are the softest gloves ever made. Crafted in Italy and lined with a blend of 70 percent cashmere and 30 percent silk, they stylishly protect and warm your hands with thin, versatile lambskin leather covered by an outer layer of American alligator skin. $4,875; loropiana.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Men’s Accessories
Gilles Gloves by Loro Piana
Here’s a guarantee for the lucky recipient: These are the softest gloves ever made. Crafted in Italy and lined with a blend of 70 percent cashmere and 30 percent silk, they stylishly protect and warm your hands with thin, versatile lambskin leather covered by an outer layer of American alligator skin. $4,875; loropiana.com
Here’s a guarantee for the lucky recipient: These are the softest gloves ever made. Crafted in Italy and lined with a blend of 70 percent cashmere and 30 percent silk, they stylishly protect and warm your hands with thin, versatile lambskin leather covered by an outer layer of American alligator skin. $4,875; loropiana.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
When it’s time to sign that biggest-ever contract, make sure to do it with a pen that has a sense of history. The design of this 24-karat, gold-plated fountain pen is based on Chinese lacquer art panels that have hung in Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace since 1770. Each one is first painted in black and then burned by hand to bring out a subtle finish. It’s individually numbered and comes in a handsome black wooden case. Limited to 120 pieces, $9,500; graf-von-faber-castell.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Gadgets
The coolest-looking speaker on the market, this 17-inch-tall machine offers 360-degree music via a reflector that sends sound waves outward in a perfect sphere. But the real joy is its tactile qualities: Basic commands can be controlled on the speaker itself, as well as through an app, even as the aluminum design appears to hover above the ground. $1,895; bang-olufsen.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Gadgets
BeoSound 2 by Bang & Olufsen
The coolest-looking speaker on the market, this 17-inch-tall machine offers 360-degree music via a reflector that sends sound waves outward in a perfect sphere. But the real joy is its tactile qualities: Basic commands can be controlled on the speaker itself, as well as through an app, even as the aluminum design appears to hover above the ground. $1,895; bang-olufsen.com
The coolest-looking speaker on the market, this 17-inch-tall machine offers 360-degree music via a reflector that sends sound waves outward in a perfect sphere. But the real joy is its tactile qualities: Basic commands can be controlled on the speaker itself, as well as through an app, even as the aluminum design appears to hover above the ground. $1,895; bang-olufsen.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
It’s only right that Armani would cloak its hardware in a luxurious leather case lined with velvet. The German-made tool set consists of eight wrenches, one hammer, two Phillips and two flathead screwdrivers, and two sizes of pump pliers. When closed, the set measures a mere 10 inches by 12 inches, the size of a small bag that can fit flat under the front seat of a car. $1,460; armanicasa.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Kitchen
Copper cookware gets all the praise, but silver is the metal that conducts heat best. Handmade by artisans in Istanbul, the Soy frying pan is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation than copper is, making it ideal for kitchen duty aboard ships and beachfront estates with high humidity and salty sea breezes. Allow for one month’s waiting time. $3,915 for the 26cm version pictured; etsy.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Kitchen
Frying Pan by Soy
Copper cookware gets all the praise, but silver is the metal that conducts heat best. Handmade by artisans in Istanbul, the Soy frying pan is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation than copper is, making it ideal for kitchen duty aboard ships and beachfront estates with high humidity and salty sea breezes. Allow for one month’s waiting time. $3,915 for the 26cm version pictured; etsy.com
Copper cookware gets all the praise, but silver is the metal that conducts heat best. Handmade by artisans in Istanbul, the Soy frying pan is more resistant to corrosion and oxidation than copper is, making it ideal for kitchen duty aboard ships and beachfront estates with high humidity and salty sea breezes. Allow for one month’s waiting time. $3,915 for the 26cm version pictured; etsy.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Get in a celebratory mood with these trays and coasters from interior designer Kelly Behun, who collaborated with Barneys New York on more than 40 home furnishings and tabletop accessories. The collection is partly inspired by the gallerist Holly Solomon, known for her adventurous, irreverent style. Tray, $495; coasters, $190 each; barneys.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
This teapot, created by Austrian industrial designer Thomas Feichtner in 2008, is the ultimate gift for those who live in their kitchen. Its faceted edges give it a dynamic, reflective effect, and the long, tapered spout on one side is balanced by a handle, made of Swiss pine, that provides enough counterweight to allow for spill-free, one-handed pouring. $18,000; ateliercourbet.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Jewelry
A show-stopper in every sense, this necklace contains 44 sapphires and 118 white diamonds, chosen and set by hand at Graff’s Mayfair workshop. The stones are linked together with an invisible set of platinum wires, so each one stands out on its own. Price upon request; +1 (212) 355-9292, graffdiamonds.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Jewelry
Sapphire and Diamond Necklace by Graff
A show-stopper in every sense, this necklace contains 44 sapphires and 118 white diamonds, chosen and set by hand at Graff’s Mayfair workshop. The stones are linked together with an invisible set of platinum wires, so each one stands out on its own. Price upon request; +1 (212) 355-9292, graffdiamonds.com
A show-stopper in every sense, this necklace contains 44 sapphires and 118 white diamonds, chosen and set by hand at Graff’s Mayfair workshop. The stones are linked together with an invisible set of platinum wires, so each one stands out on its own. Price upon request; +1 (212) 355-9292, graffdiamonds.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
These daring earrings hold more than 25 carats of spinels, a red stone that’s in high demand among gem connoisseurs but is rarely this large. An additional 1.5 carats of diamonds trace the shape of a lotus bloom for your flower-loving significant other. $78,000; +1 (212) 861-0606; munnuthegempalace.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Home Design
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Home Design
Time Maze Clock by Daniel Libeskind
One of the world’s most successful architects has designed a clock that recalls projects he’s completed in Berlin, Hong Kong, and Denver—full of broken surfaces, cuts, and jagged openings. The clock’s cool dial, found at the center of the 20-inch structure, is easy to miss. $220; alessi.com
One of the world’s most successful architects has designed a clock that recalls projects he’s completed in Berlin, Hong Kong, and Denver—full of broken surfaces, cuts, and jagged openings. The clock’s cool dial, found at the center of the 20-inch structure, is easy to miss. $220; alessi.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
This special bar-in-a-box carryall comes in Ralph Lauren’s classic saddle leather, and the tartan wool fabric inside is drawn from the curtains at the brand’s famed Polo Bar restaurant in New York. A crystal decanter and four old fashioned glasses are decorated with the RL signature polo player; cocktail picks shaped like a mallet and an equestrian-inspired nut bowl fill out the motif. $3,995; ralphlauren.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Women’s Accessories
This update on Moncler’s popular Grenoble jacket has a hood trimmed in rabbit fur and a contrasting collar tucked inside for better protection against mountain winds, whether in Gstaad or Niseko. Made with technical nylon, it comes with front zipped pockets, a belted waist, and a zipped pocket at the sleeve—handy on the slopes and beyond. $2,050; 646 768-7022
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
Women’s Accessories
Beverly Grenoble Jacket by Moncler
This update on Moncler’s popular Grenoble jacket has a hood trimmed in rabbit fur and a contrasting collar tucked inside for better protection against mountain winds, whether in Gstaad or Niseko. Made with technical nylon, it comes with front zipped pockets, a belted waist, and a zipped pocket at the sleeve—handy on the slopes and beyond. $2,050; moncler.com
This update on Moncler’s popular Grenoble jacket has a hood trimmed in rabbit fur and a contrasting collar tucked inside for better protection against mountain winds, whether in Gstaad or Niseko. Made with technical nylon, it comes with front zipped pockets, a belted waist, and a zipped pocket at the sleeve—handy on the slopes and beyond. $2,050; moncler.com
Photographer: Wyne Veen for Bloomberg Pursuits Magazine
