Can you smell the sweet aroma of roses and ganache in the air? The arrival of Valentine’s Day is almost here, and that means gift giving in the form of bouquets, truffles and Hallmark cards. But what do you give the amour who has everything? What happens when an unlimited budget equals unlimited possibilities? These questions set Previews® Inside Out on a path to discover the ultimate gifts that say, “I love you” in grand fashion.
Le Weekend
A romantic rendezvous in the City of Lights may seem obvious—unless, of course, you have the fireworks of the “Love… by George V” package at the city’s Four Seasons hotel. Woo your love with an arrival in a Hermes Rolls Royce Phantom, a 1964 Krug Champagne aperitif in the hotel’s candlelit wine cellar and dinner by two-Michelin-star chef Eric Briffard in your penthouse suite overlooking the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Couer. The package costs about $41,302 USD, including round-trip transfers and an in-suite champagne breakfast on February 15.
Ring of Fire
Deep red often denotes passion—so why not gift your beloved an exquisitely rare Art Deco ring with a cushion cut Burmese ruby? Totaling approximately 3.16 carat, the ring is surrounded by approximately .20 carats of micro set diamonds, in a hand-made platinum mounting—only adding to its beauty. For $235,000, one special lady will undoubtedly feel like your one and only.
Heaven Scent
For the ultimate sensual splurge, you must give your sweetheart the perfume of all perfumes: the Imperial Majesty by Clive Christian. At an asking price of $215,000, each Imperial Majesty perfume bottle is handmade with Bacarrat crystal and features diamond encrustations, earning it the title of “The World’s Most Expensive Perfume.” And if you’re not quite prepared to hunt down one of the only 10 Imperial Majesty perfume bottles in the world? There is always Clive Christian ‘s “No. 1” in a gold-crowned 1.6-ounce bottle available at Bergdorf Goodman and Nordstrom for $865.
Haute Chocolate
It’s tempting to think “chocolate is chocolate”—but try telling that to Connecticut Chocolatier Knipschild, the maker of La Madeine au Truffe. Priced at $250 for only 1.9 ounces, La Madeline was hailed as the most expensive chocolate in the world by Forbes. Ensconced in a ganache made from vanilla, truffle oil, heavy cream and Valrhona dark chocolate, the rare French Perigord (mushroom) truffle is “enrobed in Valrhona dark chocolate and then rolled in fine cocoa powder” and comes “lying on a bed of sugar pearls in a silver box tied with a ribbon.”
Castle in the Sky
There have been entire books dedicated to Tuscan food, wine and sun, and now you can give your significant other the gift of la bella vita—by purchasing a romantic medieval castle in Florence, Bagno a Ripoli. Dating back to the 12th century, this expansive estate exudes the rustic beauty of Italy at every turn—from the ancient castle with its Romanesque church to the farm, villa, tower and arable and wooded land with olive trees. For $9,580,900 USD, its 20 bedrooms and 21,520 square feet will lure you and your lover into a Tuscan dream you’ll never want to wake up from.
