9 picks
For hosts, family and the people you most want to get right, whatever you celebrate: things for the table, the sofa and the season.
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Saint LaurentFor her
For the woman who layers over a coat
A large 135 cm square in 70% cashmere and 30% silk, with fine stripes framed by a solid brown border. Big enough to wear as a shawl over a coat, and soft enough for everyday wear.
Skip it if she prefers bright colors or small neck scarves; this is a large, muted square
$569Price as of Nov 1, 8:59 AM ET Details
Apple
For the runner, hiker or swimmer
A 49mm Grade 5 titanium case with a flat sapphire face, dual-frequency GPS, water resistance to 100 m and up to 50 hours of normal battery life. Built for long runs, hikes and swims, yet plain enough to wear to work.
Skip it if they use an Android phone; it needs an iPhone 11 or later to set up
$699.99List Price: $799.00 (12% less)Sale price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
TissotFor him
For a milestone birthday
A Swiss automatic with an 80-hour power reserve, sapphire crystal, see-through case back and 100 m water resistance, on a quick-release steel bracelet. A milestone watch he can wear with a suit or a T-shirt.
Skip it if he wears a smartwatch daily, or a pale blue dial is louder than his taste
$850.00Price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
Breville
For the coffee lover who wants espresso at home
An espresso machine with a built-in conical burr grinder, 25 grind settings, assisted tamping and a steam wand for milk microfoam. It doses and tamps for you, which shortens the learning curve for café drinks at home.
Skip it if you have limited counter space or prefer a one-button pod machine
$799.95Price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
GarminFor him
For the man who trains and travels
A stainless steel smartwatch on a brown leather strap with a bright color display, a built-in flashlight and up to 12 days of battery, so it looks at home at dinner and still tracks his workouts.
Skip it if he lives in the Apple Watch ecosystem, or prefers a mechanical watch
$549.99List Price: $599.99 (8% less)Sale price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
Ooni
For pizza night at home
A countertop electric oven that heats from 70°F to 850°F for 12-inch pizzas indoors, with one-touch presets, and is just as useful for roasting vegetables or baking. Pizza night through the winter, no patio required.
Skip it if counter space is tight, or the household rarely makes pizza at home
$699.00Price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
Prada
For a long winter commute
Pure cashmere in charcoal grey, 280 cm long and 30 cm wide, with fringed ends and a small triangle-logo patch near one end. Long enough to loop twice around the neck and plain enough for any winter coat.
Skip it if they run warm or live somewhere mild; a long cashmere scarf is a cold-weather piece
$708Price as of Nov 1, 8:59 AM ET Details
The Pearl SourceFor her
For a classic piece she will keep for decades
A single 18-inch strand of 6.5–7mm white Akoya cultured pearls, AA+ grade, with a 14K white gold clasp, boxed with a certificate. Princess length, which in our view is the easiest to wear with almost anything she owns.
Skip it if she rarely wears necklaces or already owns a white pearl strand
$770.00Price as of Nov 1, 10:17 AM ET Details
TateossianFor him
For the man with a cufflink collection
Rhodium-plated sterling silver with a twisted, sculptural frame around a domed orange spiny oyster stone, from an edition of 35. A bright, collectible pair for a man who already owns the plain silver ones.
Skip it if he never wears double-cuff shirts, or prefers cufflinks that stay in the background
$795Price as of Nov 1, 8:59 AM ET Details
Make the list before you shop: everyone you need to buy for, a budget for each person and a date by which it must arrive. It keeps you from overspending on the first few names and rushing the last ones at the end of the year.
Shop the hardest people first, usually partners, parents and anyone who “has everything”, while stock is full and shipping is reliable. Leave hosts, colleagues and small extras for later, since good options at those prices stay easy to find.
Consumables and small luxuries work best here: candles, good olive oil, chocolate, a beautiful notebook. They are welcome in any home and never take up space.
This is the range for the people you know well. Choose something they will use for months, such as a throw for the sofa, an upgrade to the kitchen or a fragrance for the season, and add a short handwritten note.
Retailers publish their own holiday shipping deadlines, and they change every year. Check them on the product page before you order, and for anything personalised allow at least an extra week.