Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video,
we'll discuss timeless gifts for the gentlemen in your life.
Now we've written extensively about gift-giving on the Gentleman's Gazette, for this one reason:
gift-giving can be tricky. It's more of an art than a science. There are stakes involved: great
gifts will reap appreciation and bad gifts create disappointment in your personal relationships.
Gifts you give reflect the knowledge and love you have the person you're giving them to
so it's worth the time to invest to learn how to do it well. You may need to give gifts as part
of your work or business so the stakes are still there but they're no less important. A bad gift
might cost you a client but a good gift might open a new door. Now, Raphael and Teresa once
received an engraved Cutco knife from a company touting the power of business gifts but it failed
miserably. This company didn't know or perhaps didn't take the time to research
that Raphael and Teresa are avid home chefs and have very specific knife preferences.
A knife that failed a basic sharpness test on arrival not only failed to impress them
but also reflected that the company did not truly know them and also was trying to buy their
attention and not earn it. In our how to give great gifts article which you can check out here,
we lay out 10 principles on the art of selecting what you will give. It's worth reading closely
to learn the techniques that you can employ to make sure that your choice is lined up perfectly
for the recipient. Like any action, it makes sense to know the end goal with gift-giving:
ensure if you're thoughtful, carefully considered and chosen specifically for the recipient.
Most individuals will pick up on whether or not a gift was personalized and whether or
not you put much thought into it. That doesn't make it any easier to do, so the question is,
are there truly timeless gifts that you're able to fall back on? Now, we think so.
And even though the 10 principles are key, there are gifts that never go out of style. Timeless
gifts usually feature a few key characteristics, one of which is it's high quality. This means the
product you're purchasing has a higher degree of value, a longer potential lifespan or excellence
compared to similar products or services. These products are created using the best quality
material available and durable construction methods for the best longevity. For example,
you can choose wool or cashmere over polyester. The next key characteristic is that it's classic.
Fads and trends can make for tricky gifts because they don't last. They might be the
hot gift item then but they will quickly lose their value. And the next key characteristic
is that it's life-enhancing. Will this gift help the recipient enjoy life more? Consider practical
gifts carefully as they can send a different message than a gift that's been designed. And
without further ado, here's our list of our most timeless gifts that fall into six main categories.
Number one, we have luxury food products. Now, we're starting with food because it's got
universal appeal. We all have to eat and specialty food items can be a thoughtful gift for the people
in your life. And we think with food, it's important that you select something that is
special and not an everyday food item. A fruit basket might be classic but to us, it's neither
interesting or unique. How to make a food gift special? Try looking for things that are rare,
imported or too expensive for everyday eating. Now, start by considering the tastes of your
recipient and then try selecting something like 30-year aged balsamic vinegar; the real
stuff is actually really hard to find: caviar or wagyu beef, premium olive oil or a real new york
cheesecake. You can also consider using websites like Goldbelly to send a whole range of nostalgia
food items as gifts. Number two, we have fine cookware. For the enthusiastic home chef, cookware
or a cooking accessory is a great gift if you know their taste. Some classic enduring kitchen gifts
include a cast-iron skillet, a carbon steel pan, other cast iron pans like a dutch oven or
a brazer, a monogrammed apron, a salt and pepper mill or Japanese knives like Shun. Number three:
premium spirits. Premium spirits depend very much on the tastes of the recipient but they can be an
excellent gift for even the most comprehensive bar owner. Now to make this gift special, avoid basic
bar staple spirits like Jack Daniels or Beefeater Gin which is available at almost any store.
Instead, try visiting your local store; no, not Costco, but then ask them for their recommendation
on what spirit would make a great gift. For example, gin, scotch, whiskey or bourbon.
Number four: personally curated gift baskets or subscriptions. Giving a gift that is personally
assembled for their recipient is a touching gift purely for the effort it requires. Pre-assembled
gift baskets should be avoided and they are often filled with packaging more than the product. And
the contents are paltry relative to the overall look. For example, a creative and specific Pickle
and Jerky subscription which you pay a steep premium and they still lack that personal touch.
A gift basket can contain any assortment of things that your recipient might like. A selection of
gourmet cheeses from your local cheese store with olives, fig spread, cheese knives, a mini
cutting board, fresh pears, charcuterie and nuts. A selection of liqueurs and bitters for cocktail
fanatics, a selection of exotic IPAs for the hops lovers, you can make kits for a specific cocktail.
Number five: classic accessories that are not sized. Now buying clothing and accessories for
adapting can be a bit of a challenge as they may have their own vision for their personal style.
However, gifting accessories can considerably lighten the risk because
there are a few key ones that are not sized. Our top recommendations for timeless accessories are
scarves. We recommend choosing premium materials like alpaca or cashmere for warmth and longevity.
Try choosing muted or solid colors or classic patterns like a black watch tartan that will
pair nicely with an overcoat in tan or navy, you want some contrast. Check out our selection of
scarves at the Fort Belvedere shop here. And next, we have cufflinks. Cufflinks are the ultimate
gentleman's accessory. A traditional pair can last a lifetime and can be worn for weddings,
cocktail parties, black tie events or even to the office. For a reserve gent, opt for a monkey's
fist in silver or gold. Next, we have wallets. Now, wallets are one of the most overlooked gift
options but despite their everyday carry purpose, why not have a functional wallet that expresses
some style and uniqueness? Now, most men's wallet choices are quite boring: black and brown,
come on! Don't be afraid of a little color. The wallet will most likely be in a coat pocket most
of the time anyway. Now, our Fort Belvedere wallets are two-toned for a pop of color.
Check out our color combinations here in the shop. Next, we have classic sunglasses. Now, sunglasses
are probably the trickiest of this category but a classic frame is always going to have a
place in a gentleman's wardrobe. We recommend you stick with the true classics for gifts
such as aviators, wayfarers, and club masters from Ray-Ban and Persols 649 and 714. Now, our next key
area is going to be personal care gifts. Personal care can be, well, very personal. This is the one
gift area you should truly tread lightly and should only attempt to purchase a gift in this
area if you're very close to the recipient. Now, we love traditional bar soap for instance but that
doesn't mean that the recipient will interpret the gesture as a kind one, instead, they may interpret
it as a verdict on their hygiene. However, if you know your recipient well enough to understand some
of their preferences, there are some personal care items that make excellent gifts. Given that there
is so much variety in fragrances, a scent can be a great addition to any man's collection. Now, we've
done a couple of fragrance videos lately. Creed is a premium fragrance brand that we happen to love.
Check out our video on Creed here. We've also done eight classic fragrances as well as a follow-up
called 10 more classic fragrances. All three of these videos have some great options to choose
from. Other personal care options include a premium shaving cream or soap, check out
our guides here. Now, we like the Truefit & Hill shaving cream bowl, a double-edged razor handle
for the man who likes a great shave; see our guide here. Our team favors the Mercure Slant
and the Merkur Futur handles, a shaving brush for a man who already enjoys a double-edged razor
shave. We have a list of shaving brush options that range in price from $9 to $250; check out
our guide here. Now for more ideas, check out our favorite grooming products video here. Today,
I'm wearing a black wool turtleneck with a gray small checked pair of dress pants, with a pair of
black Chelsea boots, finishing off the outfit with a gray pair of Fort Belvedere socks and of course,
you can always find socks like these and other great accessories at the Fort Belvedere shop here.