We were curious at this time of year what could be the world's most expensive Christmas items. So, we did a little research and found 5 things to tell you about – an ugly holiday sweater, advent calendar, Christmas tree, an ornament or bauble, and a dinner sure to satisfy a true epicurean. Personally, we'd take the advent calendar as you'll read below how special it is. Let's dive in and see what you could buy if money were no object during Christmas. Some of these things are from 2021 and others from the past according to our research.
Most Expensive Advent Calendar
In 2021, this Advent calendar weighs a huge 108 pounds and costs $10M+. Designed by Debbie Wingham, a designer who also created the world’s most expensive Christmas tree in 2019. It was commissioned by a Swiss family who wanted to celebrate their upcoming 12 months of travel with the 12 days of Christmas. The family plans to travel to Paris, Dubai, New York, and Disneyland as part of their destinations.
It’s made from reclaimed ebony and lacquered in black diamond paint. Wingham hand-painted the artwork inside of each of the calendar’s windows to reflect the family’s travel destinations. The calendar included along with other items the following:
“a Paris Chanel purse embellished in diamonds, which is valued at $23,216, as well as a gold Arabian lamp with diamond and emerald details. The lamp — which is supposed to signify the family’s forthcoming trip to Dubai — cost a whopping $87,559.”
You'd also find a pair of Chanel ski goggles for hitting the slopes and an artisan-made Disney ornament. We're pretty sure the family is happy with the calendar, and if they're not, we'll take it!
Source: The New York Post
Most Expensive Christmas Tree
Debbie Wingham also designed the most expensive Christmas tree in 2019 worth $15M at the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Marbella, Spain. The 19-foot tree was dubbed “the world's most expensive” due to the actual ornaments on it. Ornaments included over 500 pieces handcrafted by designers from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, and Cartier. The current Guinness Book of World Record holder for an actual tree plus ornaments is held by Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel for their $11.4 million tree in 2010. It was decorated with luxury bracelets, necklaces, and watches.
Back to the $15M tree…
“Wingham brought the lavish scene to life — hanging diamond and sapphire encrusted nutcrackers; tchotchkes covered in luxury furs, leathers and some 3,000 Swarovski crystal-bedazzled ostrich eggs with gold-leaf and diamond dust.”
Talk about a fancy tree to have in a hotel lobby. Check out some of the handcrafted ornaments on it –
A 3-carat pink diamond ornament worth $2.6 million
$590,000 spent on nine 3-carat black diamond decorations
$5.5 million red oval diamond
Sources: The New York Post and Forbes
Most Expensive Christmas Bauble
We could not find what year this ornament was sold in and we're quite sure there might be more expensive ones now (see the tree ornaments above). But, let's focus on this amazing piece of art. One of the most expensive Christmas baubles in its time, it cost over 6 figures and took a year to make. Created by Embee Jewels of London in association with Hallmark Jewellers years ago and sold for charity. Here’s a description of the piece –
“The ornament itself is composed with 1,578 diamonds encrusted in 18-carat white gold. Two rings made of 188 red rubies surround the body of the ornament. It took over 130 hours just to set the gems in the piece. But this doesn’t stop here. It also sports 31-carat diamonds fastened into the sphere itself. The National Association of Goldsmiths valued the bauble at $130,000.”
How would you like its shininess around your tree? It's one of our favorites on this list.
Source: Alux.com
Most Expensive Ugly Sweater
A U.K. artist has designed the most expensive ugly Christmas sweater made of silk, Swarovski crystals, diamonds, and 24-carat gold. It took Aidan Liban 3,000 hours to make the sweater which is selling for $39,654.00 (£30,000). He plans to donate some of the proceeds to the U.K.'s National Health Service.
Lisban spent his life savings on the sweater totaling $9,252 (£7,000) for the materials. He came up with the idea for the piece during the Coronavirus lockdown in the U.K. and wanted to create something fun to dispel all of the heavy news and to make people happy. It is definitely one of a kind.
“The Italian silk sweater has more than 150 diamonds, almost 2,000 Swarovski crystals and 24-carat gold thread.”
One thing's for sure – whoever the buyer is they're sure to stand out at a holiday party. For that price, they should wear the sweater every month of the year!
Source: Fox Business
Most Expensive Christmas Dinner
To round out our list of the most expensive Christmas things is a rarified dinner created by Chef Ben Spalding in 2012 that cost a whopping $200K and provided fine dining for a party of four. A rare breed of turkey was served in an edible 50-carat gold leaf paper worth $9,600! Who knew there was such a thing as edible 50-carat gold paper?
“Spalding's gourmet dinner included a £37,000 bottle of 1907 Piper-Heidsieck champagne, a whole Alba white truffle valued at £3,500, £5,000 worth of Almas Caviar and a 150-year old balsamic that cost £1,030.”
It's fascinating to see what each appetizer, entree, dessert, and ingredients were served. Check out this graphic to see what the party of four enjoyed.
Source: Fine Dining Lovers
Hope you enjoyed this aspirational shopping list and may all your shopping be fun. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
