Unwrap the magic of time with The Vintage Grail Holiday Gift Guide. Discover a treasure trove of timepieces, from our selection of highly coveted pieces from brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, Artisans de Genève, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Complete your holidays with the perfect gift to adorn your wrist.
View Catalogue: https://vintagegrail.com/#flipbook-view-catalogue/1/
Win in the art of gifting with Wedgwood’s Christmas gift collection to give your loved ones presents they can cherish all year long. Their beautifully crafted, hand finished and heritage inspired festive gifts are designed with everyone in mind, whatever their personal taste and style. From gifts that will appeal to tea enthusiasts, home decorators, interior stylists, new parents or those who just love to entertain. Here are some of the notable gifts that will bring joy to any home they are taken to.
The Winter White set brings crisp, calm accents to your colourfully bold mix-and-match Christmas decor, with fine bone china cups illustrated with festive motifs and edged with platinum. The matching saucers are decorated with a striking platinum line and scroll pattern, making these a truly luxurious way to enjoy your post-Christmas-lunch cup of tea and turkey sandwich by the fire.
Being the host for Christmas get togethers is a joy and it is even better if it is done in style. Serve starters and sweets in festive elegance with Wedgwood’s Winter White plate set. Adorned with woodcut-style motifs including mistletoe and a Christmas tree, each piece is made from superior fine bone china.
Keep warm and relax with a cup of wedgwood tea in the company of friends of family this Christmas. With 25 of people’s favourite teas from all corners of the world, Wedgwood’s advent calendar will take you on a tea-drinking journey from the heights of the Himalayas to the great plains of Kenya. Filled with your favourite blends, herbal infusions, and single origin teas, we use only whole leaf teas to ensure the fullest flavour in every cup.
When it comes to decorating your home for festivities Wedgwood’s collection has everything from ornaments to baubles to snow globes. Especially the charm set which is a trio of festive decorations featuring snowflakes and stars to hang and adorn. Crafted from white porcelain and decorated with iconic Wedgwood blue details, they make the perfect gift. Redesigned and refined for 2022, add them to your wish list or give them as a gift to those close to your heart.
A perfect gift for new parents to celebrate new additions to family, Wedgwood Baby’s First Christmas ornament celebrates the first twelve months of little bundle of joys. A polar bear with a scarf available in blue and pink, inscribed with the year 2022 for you to keep and treasure forever. Made from porcelain, it’s finished with a satin ribbon with the message ‘A Magical Wedgwood Christmas’. Packaged in a Wedgwood giftbox, it’ll make the present memorable for years.
Home-bound for the holidays? There’s no perfect time to cosy up with close friends and family with a laugh out loud and heart-warming Christmas flick this long weekend. Here are Gafencu’s top picks of new Christmas movies to stream on Netflix this weekend…
Love Hard
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Chasing Mr. Perfect 3,000 miles from home for a Christmas surprise after swiping right on an online dating app, L.A writer Natalie Baurer (Nina Dobrev) finds out that she has been catfished by Josh Lin (Jimmy O. Yang) and the both get tangled in an unlikely but heart-warming friendship that touches on what it means to be in an honest relationship with others, and yourself.
Single all the way
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Celebrating LGBTQ, this Netflix original follows Peter who asks his best friend, Nick, to play as his boyfriend on a Christmas visit home, but things emotions an unexpected turn when his family chimes in as matchmaker changing their plans — and their feelings for each other.
A Castle For Christmas
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Feel-good
Receiving glowing reviews and starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, the story follows best-selling author Sophie (Brooke Shields) as she escapes to Scotland to avoid a scandal, falling inlove with a castle. Unfortunately, she has to face off with the prickly duke who owns it.
A Boy Called Christmas
Genre: Adventure, Family
Nikolas, a determined young boy who sets out on an adventure to the north pole, searches for his father who has set off for a quest of his own to uncover the magical land of the fabled elves. Along the way, he takes Blitzen, a headstrong reindeer and a devoted pet mouse, bringing home the gift of hope.
Dash & Lily
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Based on the YA novel Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, Dash & Lily plays out into a whirlwind holiday romance when opposites cynical Dash (Austin Abrams) and optimistic Lily (Midori Francis) find themselves exchanging messages and dares back and forth in a red notebook around New York.
David and the elves
Genre: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Young David prepares to move to the big city with his parents but finds himself losing the spirit of Christmas when he meets Albert, the elf. Together they travel to the Tatra mountains to embark on a journey to find David’s grandparents and remind him what the spirit of Christmas is all about. Available in various subs and dubs.
Holiday Rush
Genre: Drama, Family
Popular radio DJ Rush Williams (Romany Malco) has been forced to leave his life of luxury behind to move in with his aunt after suddenly getting fired, bringing along his four spoiled children, stirring up a comedic family drama starring Romany Malco, Sonequa Martin-Green and Darlene Love and directed by Leslie Small.
With the holidays just around the corner, there are more than a few reasons to raise your glasses to in celebration. While home-bound with close friends and loved ones this time of the year, a toast to togetherness and new beginnings comes complete with the perfect winter imbibe to share or gift this season, the venerable Louis XIII.
Boasting over 140 years of experience, the luxury cognac maker boasts unparalleled skill, knowledge and sheer savoir-fair in creating deliciously tantalising cognacs, that few can match up to — it’s small wonder, then, that it makes for the most desirable and sought-after of presents.
Making moments into memories, the root of the indelible flavours of Louis XIII lie in the painstaking brewing process each cognac undergoes. Since the master distiller’s founding in 1874, generations of wine cellar experts have amassed and curated a staggering array of eau de vie made from grapes grown in France’s Grande Champagne region.
To ensure the ultimate blend, these experts select from over 1,200 different eau de vie – some younger, some dating back centuries – to create a synergistic whole. Over 250 disparate aromas are instilled within, ranging from the vivid freshness of passion fruit and spice of ginger to rich notes of candied plumbs. Small wonder, then, that drinking Louis XIII has been compared to drinking perfume.
Even as great care has been taken in distilling the cognacs, equal attention is paid to their bottling to ensure the finished product is fit for the eponymous French king the brand takes its name from. As such, each bottle is lovingly handcrafted by artisans of one of two French royal crystal workshops – Baccarat or Saint Louis – transforming the containers into glorious works of art. Epitomising cognac-making both without and within, Louis XIII makes for the perfect present to gift that special someone this festive season.
Stay in touch with LOUIS XIII:
Website: https://www.louisxiii-cognac.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LOUISXIII
Instagram：@LOUISXIIICOGNAC
Youtube：https://www.youtube.com/user/LouisXIIIofficial
Call to join the LOUIS XIII Society:
Hong Kong: +852 37109396
Macau: +853 2871 9699
Whether you buy fake or fir – Christmas trees are going to be in short supply in Hong Kong! It will be a smart idea to sort out your Christmas trees before supply, shipping and other such bottlenecks wreck the festive cheer. Here’s a roundup of our favourite places to buy Christmas trees in Hong Kong:
Chun Hing Garden
Yuen Long
A popular stop for families every holiday season is this Yuen Long set 30-year old landscaping experts. Offering a range of Noble Firs and Douglas Firs from top-tier plantations in the US, they provide a selection of saplings as short as 3ft to evergreens as massive as 20ft (HK$910 to HK$47,000). Not to mention, their wreaths, tree toppers and centerpieces make for beautiful inclusions in your festive decoration.
Also available to order online, deliveries to the home start in late November and can also be picked up afterwards to be sent to EcoPark for recycling.
Anglo Chinese Florist
Central
Having been in the industry for over 60 years, it is one of the city’s most trusted institution and supplier for Christmas trees. Every year, they stock five to six-feet Noble and Douglas Firs (HK$900 to $3,600), as well as beautiful miniature decorated handmade trees and essential festive décor such as wreaths, garlands, poinsettias and ornaments.
Also available online, they offer delivery and removal services, as well as watering kits for your trees.
P&F Garden
Pok Fu Lam
A stroll through this three-decade old local nursery makes a perfect opportunity to create joyful memories with the kids as you browse through their offering of Noble Firs that stand up to six to seven-feet tall (HK$2,900). Here, you can find a range of other festive plants too, from table top trees and wreaths and poinsettias. However due to shipment delays this year, they won’t be taking orders until late November to December when deliveries arrive.
Brighten Floriculture (Flower Market)
Mong Kok
A trip to the Flower Market always makes for a fun and convenient shopping experience with friends and family, especially during the holiday season. Surrounded by festive foliage, the street that stretches from Mong Kok to Prince Edward transforms into an all-out display of shop after shop of Christmas Trees of every shape and type. One store in particular, Brighten Floriculture offers a wide range of quality choices from miniature trees, wreaths, Christmas lights and more.
Alternatively, if you want something truly extravagant and don’t mind the excessive price tag, Rosewood Hong Kong has lavish Noble Fir trees and fresh Christmas wreaths all decked up (HK$1,688 to HK$17,888) with gorgeous ornaments and dripping with sparkles that bound to impress your guests.
However, for those prone to what is called “Christmas tree syndrome”, an allergic reaction to irritating components from the sap of a tree, Indigo Living has just launched their 2021 Christmas Collection of décor and miniature trees specially designed and curated with their international design partners. Choose from a mini 60cm Christmas tree or a family-sized 210cm Noble Pine.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to go all out this holiday season, DaSilva’s Creations may be just the ticket for your grandiose thematic festivities. Having a hand in city’s most spectacular Christmas displays, they are known for their stunning Christmas trees, wreaths and even table settings, of different themes. Their trees come beautifully decorated with ornaments, textured ribbons, bead garlands, crystals, a star topper and LED lights (HK$4,280 to $5,480).
Also Read: Festive home decor to brighten your Christmas celebrations
Festive home decor, when done right, can brighten any Christmas celebration
With temperatures falling steadily of late, everyone is inevitably reminded of the approach of one of the year’s most festive and enjoyable seasons – Christmas. As most Hongkongers have been prudently and cautiously staying indoors since January this year due to Covid-19-related health concerns, this has unwittingly treated them to the luxury of constantly being being able to connect with loved ones at home. The perfect culmination to this is the upcoming Christmas holiday, a perfect and auspicious time to celebrate in the upcoming holidays together under with all those you love under one roof. To ensure everyone is in a conducive mood for the Yuletide festivities, jazzing up your home with colourful, finely-crafted, exotic and artistically-designed decor, notably a Christmas tree, ornaments, lights and table settings, is a vital must.
Christmas tree
Any celebration of the year’s grandest holiday will never be complete without the display of an iconic, decor-laden Christmas tree, a tradition said to have originated in Germany in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Though Christians are a minority in Hong Kong, most upmarket abodes in the city will look all the more festive and elegant if adorned with a 10ft-tall authentic fir tree sourced directly from a North American or European farm. Finding an artificial Christmas tree is easy, but authentic trees are also readily available in various florists and other shops in town. And the good news is that aside from right-to-your-doorstep delivery, some shops even offer the extra service of recycling a Christmas tree after it has brought cheer and joy during the Yuletide festivities.
Christmas ornaments
A vast array of attention-grabbing Christmas ornaments can easily be found in major stores such as IKEA, as well as in upmarket shops in luxury shopping malls, notably ifc and Pacific Place on Hong Kong Island and K11 in Tsim Sha Tsui. They offer a wide selection of the most attractive decorative items that family members will enjoy setting up on a Christmas tree, perfect for family bonding time over a relaxing weekend. If wary of shopping for Christmas decor in person, a viable option is to shop online at Amazon or even Taobao – which stocks ornaments of every imaginable shape and hue – and arranging their shipment to Hong Kong before Christmas. For optimum ornamental impact, it’s best to start by distributing your statement timepieces evenly across the tree. Then, in the spaces between, hang the smaller, more colourful decorations, while being careful to avoid clumping. Finish with an angel or star at the tree top.
Christmas lights
The sight of frenetic and vibrant movements of bright, flashing and dancing lights never fail to delight and lift the spirit of anyone and everyone, whether you’re young or not-so-young. Head immediately to IKEA or any one or several of the major shopping malls in town if in some rush to purchase and set up indoor or outdoor Christmas lights much earlier than the day of the Yuletide celebration.
Those blessed with a garden outside the home is certainly in an enviable situation to enjoy and even show off a dazzling, bright and attention-grabbing outdoor display of Christmas lights set up in an artificial or authentic tree or shrub in the external space. A set of lights for external use is certainly designed to withstand the elements, including rains. If you’re struggling with a confusing array of Christmas lights, making the best choice may pose some challenge and even some degree of difficulty. When unable to make a choice of indoor lights, an easy way out of this not-so-complicated fix is to simply pay a visit to the most luxurious and upmarket Christmas lights display in any of the major local shopping malls for quick reference and even assistance in the selection of the most impressive, suitable and grandest Yuletide lights for your home.
‘Tis the season to rejoice and celebrate with beloved friends and family, and what better way to do so than to share a festive feast in the comfort and safety of your own home? Besides providing an excuse to gather your loved ones, it serves as the perfect reason to show off your well-honed table setting skills. If you’re at a loss for where to begin, fear not, for the Gafencu team has some top tips to ensure your dinner table is dressed to impress, no matter what its shape or size.
Long rectangular table with a festive cottage setting
The long length of a rectangular table provides a large space for big dinner groups and are perfect for those who enjoy their decorations down to every detail. Impress guests with a winter wonderland theme with a floral-lace tablecloth styled with rustic accents such as acorns, wicker placemats or a wooden centrepiece, like the Firewood Crackle wreath from Van der Bloom. A finish touch to add to the woody undertone is loosely folding in a cinnamon stick with a serviette and twine for every plate.
The perfect winter-wonderland colour combinations: White, brown & peach or baby blue
Simply elegant round table setting
Round tables are a little tricker to tablescape given its shape. It’s best to avoid large centerpieces as they make conversations across the table awkward. In this case, keeping it simple really creates maximum impact. Pour your creativity into selecting the perfect tableware instead. Patterned plates are sure to make an impression here like, Gucci’s Herbarium dinner plate.
Centerpiece for a round table: A tall centrepiece adds dimension to the small structure but is advisable to keep it narrow while wide centrepieces are better short and round to fit the shape of the table better.
Warm Christmas square table setting
A square table can either make or break the impact of a luxurious table setting display, but don’t be afraid to break a few rules as this type of table can be versatile to style. Whether you opt for a tall, attention-grabbing centrepiece, or intersperse the surface with decorative patterns like those featured on the Bernardaud and Artedona tablewares, a nice finishing touch is to lay out elegantly-tied white-and-red striped ribbons around the table napkins of each guest’s plate for a sweet candy cane touch.
Other festive decorations can include: Christmas flower centrepieces and gold coated utensils or white candles in a see-through glass will bring a warm and festive ambiance to the table.
Christmas garland oval table setting
Boasting the perfect combination of an elongated shape and circular curves, oval tables are ideal for Christmas feasts. For a truly festive presentation, replacing a table runner with an arrangement of dark and light shades of green leaves or herbs to act as garlands can’t go wrong. Add holly fruits or pomegranates as Christmas ball ornaments to further enliven the dining table. The warm hues and strong colour contrast can be perfectly matched with cooler toned tableware such as the floral Voile Plate in white from Franc Franc or the Anthemion blue plate from Wedgewood.
Festive colour combinations: Green, red, white and gold.
Feature image from stylewithlace.com
Spring delightful Christmas surprises each day of this festive month with unique advent calendars that aren’t stocked with chocolates. From luxurious fragrances and cosmetics, to a rare tea collection set. Count the days down to Christmas with a friend or loved one with these memorable presents:
Essential cosmetics
There’s no better way to share Christmas cheer than to bring joy to your female loved one with a luxurious collection of cosmetics and fragrances that will certainly make her face glow. The Christmas Countdown Calendar by French luxury brand, Dior, offers 24-days of delightful surprises with miniature packaged make-up essentials.
Price: HK$2,900
Bath and grooming luxuries
Lift the mood of a special someone by gifting her a collection of aromatic luxuries which can be infused in bath and grooming routines for a daily spa experience. The Jo Malone advent calendar packs a selection of signature fragrances, bath and body products, as well as miniature candles for each day of the month until Christmas.
Price: HK$3,470
Rare tea collection
Enjoy a collection of rare tea that offers comforting warmth that will last until Christmas day. The Rare Tea Collection at Fortnum & Mason have been put together by tea experts in a seasonal array of the brand’s loose leaf tea in tin which can be set into their different wooden advent calendars.
Price: HK$1,047 Up (wooden advent calendar) + HK$943 (tea refill pack)
Christmas tree ornaments
To keep up with the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree for the festive holidays, an advent calendar of modern Christmas ornaments will provide the family with a fun activity shared by members as they count down the days to Christmas. The advent calendar book of porcelain tree ornaments, designed by stylish home decor brand, Wedgewood, lends a frosty twist to the classic festive colours with blue and white decorations of seasonal favourites, as well as Wedgewood iconic pieces.
Price: HK$6,747
Travel bugs and holidaymakers will be enlivened by positive news that a possible “travel bubble” is underway. While the Hong Kong government is still arranging talks with 11 countries, including Japan, Thailand, France and Switzerland, frequent travellers have something to look forward to in the coming months, especially with the looming change in season and the approach of the festive Christmas holidays.
In hopes of delightful travel prospects in the coming months, the following places will be worth visiting when the travel curbs are lifted:
Phuket, Thailand
Thailand offers the brightest prospects of opening a travel bubble with Hong Kong. As November marks the end of the wet season in the country, it is the perfect time for beach lovers to plan an island hopping vacation to the Phi Phi Islands and a warm Christmas on the tropical beaches of Phuket.
Southern Okinawa, Japan
Frequent travellers to Japan might be initially disappointed by prospects of Tokyo and Osaka getting stricken off the list of travel bubble destinations, for now. However, tourism lawmaker, Yiu Si-wing suggests looking at southern Okinawa as a possible travel destination option. Rainfall and humidity are relatively lower in November and the weather stays warm all year round, which makes for a comfortable time to explore beaches, golf courses and historic sites of the region, such as Peace Prayer Park and Himeyuri Monument . The region is also well-known for its brown sugar and sugarcane juice.
Switzerland
While it looks unlikely for countries like Australia, France and Germany to open their borders to tourists in the near-term, prospects of holidays in Switzerland look brighter and more promising. In the case that a flight out to the Swiss Alps becomes part of your holiday plans in winter, you can consider hoping on the St. Bernina Express to take in the breathtaking Alpine landscapes, but not before you take a ski trip down St. Mortiz.
