You’ve spent the last 11 months making all the right choices. You’ve put the needs of others before your own. You’ve considered your future ahead of the baser instincts of the now. It’s an impressive level of personal discipline few can match and we’re here to remind you to stop and smell the roses. Nobody’s wish list is exactly the same, but the “grail” items below should at least inspire some ideas of your own. Afterall, you’ve earned it.
Panerai Radiomir 1940 Acciaio
Whether you’re buying the first or expanding a collection, it’s hard to go wrong treating yourself to a classic. Panerai, revered by enthusiasts and collectors alike, has introduced an update to their celebrated Radiomir 1940 line with the Panerai Radiomir 1940 Acciaio PAM 512 (PAM00512). Revealed earlier this year, the 42mm timepiece is waterproof to 100 meters and features a hand-wound mechanical P.999 in-house movement with a 60 hour power reserve. It’s one of the smallest in the wide range of Panerai’s calibres – making the timepiece one of the thinnest in the collection while still exhibiting many of the brand’s traditional design elements that Panerai enthusiasts have come to covet.
The Japanese know their whisky. This year, they apparently know it better than anyone else. Yamazaki’s Sherry Cask offering has been called the “World Whiskey of the Year” by Jim Murray at the Whisky Bible who praised the spirit as a work of “near incredible genius”. Like many fine things on this earth though, claiming a bottle for yourself won’t be easy. Hunting on European eBay auctions is your best bet for success but be prepared to pay well over the $160 sticker price.
Leica cameras have always been renowned by photographers for their exceptional image quality and iconic hardware design. The M-P stands atop the pantheon of models that they’ve released over the decades, combining the best of digital imaging technology (24-megapixel full-frame sensor) with world class aesthetics (minus the brand’s iconic red dot). It’s easy to use, easy to carry and compatible with all Leica glass released since 1954. The body alone starts at $8,000.
Not all rewards have to break the bank. Paying $50 for 10 pencils inside a velvet lined box still probably violates your notion of sensible expenditures. The Palomino Blackwing 602 requires no introduction for fans of writing instruments and pencils in particular. It was the pencil of choice for greats like Steinbeck and called “the best pencil ever made.” In other words, it’s the type of pencil that deserves a velvet lined case. If writing is a passion, there is no better way to indulge it.
John Lobb’s reputation for making some of the world’s finest shoes hasn’t changed in over 150 years. The company’s bespoke process represents the pinnacle of personalization and begins with a detailed measurement session. A hornbeam wood last is then created by the company’s Paris atelier and used as a guide for your foot. A final measurement sessions is helps further customize and mold a customers designed shoe into the footwear of their dreams. The entire process takes an average of 50 hours by the firm’s Paris-based craftsmen. Expect to pay upwards of $3,500 for the privilege.
If anyone (a.k.a. your better half) questions you when this arrives at the door, you’ve got a way out. It’s technically the most affordable OLED TV ever produced. They don’t need to know that paying $3,500 for a 55-inch set is quite the premium compared to traditional LED and LCD models. Still, for anyone who holds picture quality above all else the added price is easily worth it. Experts agree that this curved display produces the best picture they’ve ever seen, creating inky blacks and dazzling whites.
After 65 years of building some of the world’s finest hi-fi gear in upstate New York, McIntosh finally decided to release a headphone amp this year and the wait was definitely worth it. The 25.5 pound solid-state amp looks like a miniaturized version of the company’s famed amps and is more than capable of driving phenomenal sound out of even the world’s most notoriously power hungry headphones.
A navy blazer never goes out of style. This take on the wardrobe staple from Baglioli is built to fit with the comfort of a cardigan while still maintaining a tailored silhouette. The textured hopsack material adds a slightly more casual vibe, making it the perfect option for life outside of the office.
Bang & Olfusen’s latest floor standing speakers are as much a work of art as they are a work of sonic excellence. They’re designed as an homage to the company’s most successful floorstanding speaker of all time – the original BeoLab 8000. The 21 front wooden panels, dubbed “lamellas”, make the biggest splash but the addition of WiSA audio compatibility for a truly wireless speaker setup is the real show stopper.
Who doesn’t know about the Porsche 911? The question is, what if you could own a version that simultaneously honored the tradition of the the early air-cooled classics while still improving on their faults? The Porsche 911, reimagined by Singer is exactly that. It combines the best of Porsche produced parts from the 1963 – 1998 era, along with some elements improved on by Singer to create the best of all possible worlds. The result is what Car and Driver calls, “The best early ’70s Porsche 911 that never existed.”
