The Last-minute, Insanely Rare Gift Guide
Let’s face it: some of us are chronically bad at giving gifts. You might be a procrastinator whose Christmas Eve tradition is scouring the stores for last-minute gifts in a frenzied panic, or maybe you just have a knack for picking out gifts that the intended recipient already has. Either way, our Insanely Rare Holiday Gift Guide is here to help. From limited-edition sneakers that are impossible to find to that #oldCéline runway piece that got away, our catalog is filled with unique and coveted pieces that are sure to impress even the pickiest of recipients. Since our extensive list spans 150 gifts, we’ve narrowed it down to a few for starters and highlighted what makes them so supremely giftable.
The Vintage Originals That Started It All
Christian Dior Vintage Saddle Bag
Back In The Saddle: Dior’s cult handbag has galloped back into the spotlight. Current Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri reissued the equestrian-inspired shape to great success in 2018. The original, designed by John Galliano, made its debut on the summer 2000 Dior runway, and this version from the 2002 collection hails from those early days of the bag’s entrance onto the scene.
Louis Vuitton Monogram Pochette Accessoires, Prada Vela Mini Handle Bag, Prada Vitello Sport Bowler Bag | Shop More Vintage Bags
Y2K LV: Add up the Louis Vuitton logo (timeless) and the tiny bag trend (search was up 544% this year) and multiply that by the fact that this bag is vintage (style released in 1992, bag made in 2000) and that equals a super-coveted gifting trifecta.
Never Not Nylon: Miuccia Prada rocked runway expectations when she sent her signature nylon backpack down the catwalk in 1984. Thirty-five years later, the unconventional fabric is still on the scene (and getting an eco-revamp with Re-Nylon) and as coveted as ever. Get your hands on one of the pieces that started it all with this vintage original.
Take The Models Bowling: 2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Prada’s Bowling Bag, an occasion marked by the re-release of the iconic bag. What to get for the Miuccia fan who wants something extra special: the original, in light sage and black Vitello leather.
Time Of The Season
Concord C1 Watch, Patek Philippe T150 Annual Calendar Watch, Zenith Defy Classic Tourbillon Sea Watch|Shop More Watches
Only 25 of these Concord C1 watches were ever made. That’s fewer than the number of days in the shortest month of a leap year, which this timepiece can track seamlessly thanks to its perpetual calendar complication. Plus, turn it over and you can see through time with the exhibition caseback.
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of their collaboration, Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. released this special watch in a limited run of only 150 pieces. The Tiffany & Co. signed dial is highly collectible, and highly giftable.
Have you been nautical or nice? Zenith’s limited-edition Sea Watch is both. A deep dive into the details reveals a “blue wave” dial, date and tourbillon complications, and a chronograph function with a sweep seconds hand, 30 minute counter and 12 hour counter. There are always more fish in the sea, but there are only 250 of these.
Hype For The Holidays
Nike Dunk Low Pro SB ‘What the Dunk’ Sneakers
Curious what the sneakerhead in your life really wants to unbox? How about over 35 pairs of Nike’s coveted Dunk SB releases all in one ultimate pair of mismatched, mashed-up kicks. Featuring everything from the Pigeon to the Jedi, it’s like getting over $40k worth of sneakers for just under $7k.
Nike Crocodile Air Force 1 Low Lux 25th Anniversary Sneakers, Louis Vuitton Figure of Speech MCA Low-Top Trainers, Pharrell Williams x Adidas 2017 NMD HU TR Respira Friends & Family Sneakers | Shop More Rare Sneakers
Coveted Croc: When a pair of kicks comes with its own special-edition briefcase, you know they’re serious. Never released publicly serious. Only 1 of 25 serious. Authentication slip signed by Tim Cook serious.
Gallery Drop: Released exclusively at Virgil Abloh’s 2019 Figures of Speech exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and coinciding Chi-town popup, these safety-orange trainers sold out on day one.
WWPG: What would Pharrell gift? These uber-collectible collab sneakers that were never publicly released, and were only available as a present to his inner circle for holiday 2017.
Gallery-Worthy Gifts
David Hockney, White Porcelain, Tron Meyers, Sea Shelf Sculpture, Pablo Picasso, Untitled | Shop More Art
Splash Out: A limited edition, signed lithograph by one of the world’s most expensive living artists is guaranteed gifting gold. In White Porcelain, Hockney’s bright, cheerful colors and characteristic gestural marks bring a domestic scene to life, part of his mid-’80s Moving Focus series.
Industrial-Strength Gifting: Norweigan artist and architect Tron Meyer’s works are as much about aesthetics as they are about medium and materials. In Sea Shelf Sculpture, drips of metal frozen from the welding process serve as a visible representation of the artist’s process.
Pablo Honey: Go full-on Picasso with the gift of a limited edition ceramic piece. When the artist decamped to the South of France in the late ’40s and took up residence in the town of Vallauris, a new era in his prolific creative practice was born. The experimental ceramics he created there using innovative techniques are now highly collectible.
Vintage Gifting Gold
Cartier Vintage Silverium Panthère Bracelet, Cartier Vintage Diamond Trinity Hoop Earrings, Tiffany & Co. Vintage 18K Link Necklace | Shop More Jewelry
The panther is so iconic to Cartier, it’s no surprise it warranted its own unique finish. Trademarked in 1987, Silverium was invented by Cartier to achieve the cat’s sleek black coat, seen in double on this vintage Panthère bracelet.
Pioneering designer Paloma Picasso joined Tiffany & Co. in 1980, bringing her bold aesthetic with her. With inspiration ranging from nature to subway graffiti, she has created iconic designs for the brand, and a few exceedingly rare ones, like this 18K yellow gold necklace.
The Cartier Trinity collection is gifting gold — three times the gold actually, with 18K rose, yellow and white gold beautifully teamed up together. It’s three times the sentiment too. The gold hues of these vintage, diamond-studded earrings represent love, fidelity and friendship.
Holiday But Make It Runway
Prada Embellished Tweed Fur-Trimmed Coat, Saint Laurent Leather Top, Valentino Counting Hands Dress |Shop More Runway
