Every pick is chosen for someone specific, with a reason to buy it and an honest reason to skip it.
Thanksgiving
Small, well-made things to bring when someone else is cooking.
Thursday, October 29 · new picks daily
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For the one who still writes letters
A 4x6 leather-bound notebook in red, made in the USA. Small enough to live in a bag, which suits a running record of dates, trips and letters worth keeping.
Skip it if neither of you writes by hand; it will stay blank on a shelf
$60.00Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Fellow
For the early commute
A ceramic-lined steel travel mug, so coffee doesn't taste metallic, with a twist-lock leak-proof lid, a thin drinking lip and hours of heat. Fits most cup holders and is dishwasher safe.
Skip it if they already carry a favorite tumbler, or want more than 16 oz
$34.95Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Editor’s pickVossAginFor her
A milestone anniversary
A two-carat round lab-grown diamond, F–G color and VS1 clarity with AGI certification, set to float on the chain in 14k white or yellow gold. A milestone piece with a certificate to go with it.
Skip it if you'd rather give a natural diamond or she seldom wears necklaces
VossAgin offer
$1,921 off
Enter at VossAgin checkout. Valid through March 31, 2027.
$2,720Price as of Oct 29, 8:12 PM ET Details
Zwiesel 1872
For the table where the good bottle gets opened
A handmade one-liter decanter in Tritan crystal, a lead-free glass that resists chipping and is dishwasher safe without clouding, made in Germany. Wine aerates as it runs down the sides, and you pour by gripping it from under the base.
Skip it if they don't drink red wine, or already own a decanter they like
$102.00Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
BellroyFor him
For the man trading in a bulky wallet
Heat-bonded leather layers instead of stitching keep it slim, and a magnetic closure snaps shut over six to ten cards and flat bills. In our view, the cleanest swap for a bulky wallet.
Skip it if he keeps coins and receipts in his wallet; it is built for cards and a few flat bills
$159.00Price as of Oct 29, 7:30 PM ET Details
NEST New York
For a guest-room nightstand
A small votive of flowering bamboo, white florals, green notes and citrus, in frosted-stripe glass with a 20 to 28 hour burn. A fresh counterpoint to heavy winter spice, and it is small enough for a desk or a nightstand.
Skip it if they want a scent that reads as wintry rather than green and bright
$21.00Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Picks we already recommend, cheaper today by the retailer’s own numbers. Prices checked hourly.
Maison MargielaFor her
For an anniversary, if she likes warm scents
A warm, subtly sweet amber skin scent that Margiela frames around an ideal partner, in eau de parfum strength for longer wear. The romantic story makes it, we think, a natural anniversary pick.
Skip it if she wears only fresh, citrusy or green scents
$172.49Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $230.00 (25% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 7:30 PM ET Details
DysonFor her
For her daily styling routine
Dries, curls, waves, shapes and smooths with one tool, and pairs with the MyDyson app to save her own styling settings. Dyson's heat control keeps air under 302°F. A splurge for a daily styling routine.
Skip it if she air-dries and rarely styles, or her hair is curly or coily; Dyson makes a separate version for that
$499.99List Price: $649.99 (23% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 7:30 PM ET Details
Baxter of CaliforniaFor him
For the man who skips skincare
A fragrance-free, oil-free moisturizer for normal to oily skin that absorbs quickly and dries to a matte finish, which suits the man who dislikes the feel of lotion.
Skip it if his skin runs dry; this formula is made for normal to oily skin
$23.80List Price: $28.00 (15% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Maison Margiela
For someone who likes to try new scents
Four 0.24 oz eau de toilette minis from the Replica line: Beachwalk, Jazz Club, By the Fireplace and Afternoon Delight. A way to try several scents before committing to a full bottle.
Skip it if the recipient has worn one signature scent for years
$49.30Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $58.00 (15% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Godiva
For thanking a whole team at once
Thirty Belgian chocolates in milk, dark and white, with ganache, caramel, fruit and praliné centers, in Godiva's gold box. Kosher certified, and sized for sharing around an office or a family table.
Skip it if the gift is for one person living alone, or anyone sharing it avoids nuts; several pieces contain hazelnut, almond or pecan
$56.46Typical price: $65.00 (13% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Maison MargielaFor him
For a partner who likes warm scents
A warm, spicy scent of pink pepper, rum, tobacco leaf and vanilla, in the apothecary-style Replica bottle. Choosing a scent says you know him well, which is why this is a partner's gift.
Skip it if he has a signature cologne he loves, or prefers fresh citrus scents to warm, sweet ones
$144.49Limited time dealEnds by Nov 4List Price: $170.00 (15% less)Sale price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
gorjanaFor her
For a woman who stacks her earrings
Small huggies with a white crystal and a fine chain detail, plated in 18k gold over brass. Easy to wear daily on their own, or to add a little sparkle to an ear stack she already wears.
Skip it if she wears only solid gold or has sensitive ears; gorjana says its plated brass can carry traces of nickel
$52.00Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Hydro Flask
For the hiker or beach-day planner
A 20-liter backpack cooler with padded straps, a watertight zipper and welded seams, which Hydro Flask says keeps food cold up to 36 hours. Made for hikes, beach days and picnics where a hard cooler is a chore to carry.
Skip it if they mostly picnic from the car or already own a good soft cooler; at about 3 lb empty it is built to be carried
$199.95Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Weatherman
For a city walker or commuter
A compact auto-open umbrella with a fiberglass-reinforced frame that Weatherman wind-tunnel tested to 55 mph, a 50-inch arc and a recycled water-repellent canopy. It folds to 19.5 inches for a work bag.
Skip it if they rarely walk anywhere in the rain, or already carry a sturdy travel umbrella they like
$74.99Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
VossAginFor her
Her first pair of diamond studs
Half a carat of lab-grown diamonds, G color and VS clarity, in 14k gold over sterling silver. Classic studs she can wear every day, from the office to dinner.
Skip it if she prefers solid gold settings or already wears diamond studs daily
VossAgin offer
$282 off
Enter at VossAgin checkout. Valid through January 31, 2027.
$370Price as of Oct 29, 8:12 PM ET Details
Augustinus Bader
For someone with a serious skincare routine
Augustinus Bader's fragrance-free, vegan face cream in its richer texture, which the brand suggests for normal to dry skin and cold, dry climates. A skincare splurge most people admire but rarely buy for themselves.
Skip it if they have oily skin or a routine they are loyal to; skincare is personal, so tuck the gift receipt in
$195.00Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Smeg
For the tea or pour-over drinker
A 1.7-liter stainless steel kettle in Smeg's rounded 1950s shape, with auto shut-off, a soft-opening lid, a removable limescale filter and a 360° base. It lives on the counter, so the look matters as much as the boil.
Skip it if their kitchen already has a kettle they chose for its looks, or counter space is tight; it stands about 10 inches tall
$169.98Price as of Oct 29, 8:17 PM ET Details
Luxury gifts for women who have everything: 10 considered picks, by budget and by the woman you're buying forShe already owns the obvious things. Ten luxury gifts, from a gold-plated chain to Akoya pearls, for a mother, friend, sister, colleague or partner, each with an honest reason to skip.
Luxury retirement gifts: 10 well-made picks for the next chapter, from colleague to parentRetirement hands someone their time back. Ten well-made gifts for the hobbies, trips and slower mornings ahead, sorted by who you are buying for, with an honest reason to skip each one.
50th birthday gift ideas: 10 milestone gifts worth keeping, for her and for himA 50th birthday deserves a gift that will still be in use at 60. Ten milestone picks from under $100 to a Swiss watch, marked for her, for him or for anyone, with an honest reason to skip each one.We don’t run a testing lab and we won’t pretend to. Every pick is chosen from the maker’s and retailer’s own information, with our reasoning shown and a reason to skip it.
How we pick