USA: From space rockets to custom built doll houses, luxury holiday gifts are available for the wealthy shopper

What better gift to give during the holiday season than a trip to outer space? How about a 25-carat, rare green diamond? It's the season to go shopping, and Neiman Marcus, Robb Report Magazine, and FAO Schwarz are enticing big budget shoppers with some million dollar gift ideas. Via its "Christmas Book" catalogue, Neiman Marcus has a variety of high-end purchases, beginning with a trip aboard Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spacecraft. The gift includes a six-person charter of the spacecraft, which will take passengers 63 miles above sea level. Following a return to Earth, guests will enjoy four all-inclusive nights on Branson's private island in the British Virgin Islands. The space adventure comes with an out-of-this-world price tag of 1,764,000 U.S. Dollars (USD). If staying grounded is more your thrill, Neiman's offers the GG Quad, a combination of European sports car and motorcycle. The high-performance quad machine is street legal and can reach speeds of 115 miles per hour. But be prepared to pay a high price for high speed, the GG Quad is listed at 56,465 USD. For those with children, and the appropriate financial means, is the Backyard Water Park. Selling for 100,000 USD, the package includes 26 interactive water columns, manoeuvrable cannons, spray faces, and ground sprays. The park will have a programmable control panel to optimize water usage and is assured safe for children of all ages. The latest in eco-friendly commuting is available for the holidays: the His and Hers Twike commuter vehicle. Completely gasoline and emission-free, the two-seater features an electric power system that can be supplemented with human pedal power to reach speeds of 55 miles per hour. The little vehicle comes with a large price, however, at 40,000 USD. In it's 23rd Annual Ultimate Gift Guide, Robb Report Magazine offers another selection of high-end retail and real estate gift suggestions. The magazine's chief luxury officer, Carol Brodie said that readers are always looking for the latest and greatest luxury gifts. "What we have every year in our gift guide - there's always an experience that's land, sea, or sky because the truly affluent people are obsessed with going to places that no one has gone before," she said. And to fulfil that obsession, Robb Report offers a Rocket Racing League team. Priced at 80 million US dollars, the package includes two racing rockets, which can speed through the air at speeds of 280 miles per hour. The owner of the gift will also receive a truck and trailer, a customized rocket hanger, and the all-important rocket-flying classes. From rockets to rocks, a 25-carat green diamond would make anyone happy for the holidays. The cushion-cut stone is set in a gold ring that features and additional seven carats of black diamonds. The price for the rare jewel is a sparkling 7.3 million USD. For some, these luxury items and their extravagant price tags may seem a bit outrageous. But Brodie said there are many buyers vying for these gifts. Who are they? Brodie explained, "These multi, multimillionaires have worked very hard for their money and they want to experience the best that life has to offer. Who are they? They could live next door to you. They could be your neighbour. Usually it's the person who is very low-key, who is not in the news; it's probably not Donald Trump. It's probably the man who owns a 350-foot yacht and uses it twice a year. It's the industrialist. It's the people who aren't famous for being rich; they're famous for being fabulous." For the fabulously wealthy parent, New York toy store FAO Schwarz offers a variety of high-priced gifts sure to brighten any Christmas morning. Known for their stuffed animals, FAO offers a life-size woolly mammoth, which comes with an equally sized price of 12,000 USD. Fans of dolls will go wild with custom built doll houses. Base priced at 10,000 USD, the house will be build to specification, allowing the purchaser to replicate his or her own home, including paint colour, lighting, even the fabric of the furniture. Many of the luxury items FAO offers up for sale are traditional toys, not necessarily the technology-driven toys populating the market today. CEO of FAO Schwarz, Edward Schmults said that the traditional toys come at such a high price because they are designed to be family heirlooms. "To me it's about the quality. They tend to be hand-made, artisan quality and I like the sense that these are cross-generational presents, meaning a parent might give them to a child, they'll be in the family for years, then the child will give them to their child. That gives them a sense of value, that these are durable products with a very long life span," he said. Toy train enthusiasts will be excited about FAO's custom Lionel Train Set. Much like the doll house, the train set will be build to the buyers specifications, from track and trestle to trees and terrain. The price for the railroad and table is 10,000 USD. But not everyone is so willing to pay the high prices for custom made toys. Parent Tara Levinson said that her child would be just as happy with a cheaper present. "Personally, I think that kids are fine with a five-dollar gift. They enjoy the excitement of opening something up and seeing it, and I think that's probably a lot more for the parents who are buying the custom gifts," said Levinson. Another mother, Yvette Sethy-Callahan agreed. She said it's clear who the expensive gifts are for. "Probably, for the parents, living vicariously through their kids. We come and we look around at everything and we say, wow remember this, wow remember that, or wouldn't you love to have this? So that's probably why." But for those who have the financial means and willingness to drop the cash, luxury holiday gifts can be the perfect answer for the person on your list who has - almost - everything.

ITN Source | December 3, 2006

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