The Buying Guide: The 10 best luxury accessories for adults who have everything

Finding a thoughtful gift for someone who appears to have everything is one of the great festive dilemmas. These are the individuals who buy what they want long before anyone can get to it, and seem to have no discernible wish list left to fulfil. 

Shopping for them becomes an exercise in second-guessing tastes, predicting needs, and hoping for that elusive sense of surprise. And yet, it is precisely because they want for nothing that the search becomes even more personal and challenging.

Luxury accessories for adults, however, offer a rare sweet spot. They feel indulgent and premium without being excessive, and tend to be universally appreciated since a good level of consideration would have gone into it. Essentially, they are practical yet premium.

The following curation of 10 unique luxury accessories has been guided by criteria that make gifting effortless: items that are mainly unisex, offered in standard sizing, highly functional, shareable among family members, or easily re-giftable should they not suit the recipient. Most of all, they suit budgets of anything between $200 and $2,200.

Our Legacy No Time Watch Bracelet

Price: US$925 (approx. $1,199)

A cheeky play on watch culture, the No Time Watch Bracelet transforms a classic rectangle watch silhouette into sleek, monochromatic wristwear. Crafted in brushed sterling silver, this unisex, size-friendly, and subtly subversive bracelet should appeal to fashion-forward individuals and collectors alike. 

While it keeps the form of a dress watch, the dial is fudged blank except for raised indices and a faux crown. Its minimalist aesthetic and buffed black Chromexcel leather bracelet with contrast white stitching pairs well with everything from tailored shirts to knits to a casual denim ensemble. A statement for self-expression rather than utility, this made-in-Portugal piece is perfect for someone with a sense of humour.

Cartier Eyewear Panthere Classic Rimless Gold-Tone Optical Glasses

Price: US$1,630 (approx. $2,115)

Everybody loves sunglasses, but they tend to be purpose- and size-specific. Sports shades are also tricky to gift since the shape, fit, and lens colour need to drill down into individual requirements. For that bespectacled loved one, how about a pair of sensible yet sophisticated glasses?

No one we know in their right mind would turn down a Cartier pair, especially if it comes adorned with the house’s iconic panthere emblem at both temples. As a design motif here, it is not too elaborate to veer into ostentation yet offers a touch of glamour. These rimless, octagonal-lens gold-tone glasses suit virtually any face shape and skin tone. We think this makes a high-reward, low-risk luxury gift.

YSSO Equestrian Dream Gold-Plated Brooch

Price: US$435 (approx. $564)

Just so you know, brooches are having a moment right now, and this upcoming Chinese New Year is the Year of the Horse. This gold-plated, 4cm by 3.5cm brooch feels both modern and nostalgic, thanks to its striking, graphic appeal. It can be worn on a suit lapel, over the chest on a stiff knit or silk, as a scarf knot decoration, or as a necklace pendant.

Handmade in Athens, it is modelled in the likeness of the Hippoi Areioi, which is one of the four immortal horses in Greek mythology. It also features responsible artisanal craftsmanship while the brand adheres to fair-trade principles, qualifying it as a product under Net-a-Porter’s Net Sustain programme. More than an accessory, it is a conversation-starter.

Seiko Silver Arabic‑Numeral Pocket Watch

Price: $197

This classic stainless steel pocket watch from Seiko captures the brand’s heritage of reliability, durability, and understated elegance. With a clean white dial marked by easy-to-read black Arabic numerals and covered with the brand’s proprietary Hardlex mineral glass, it offers a timeless appeal. 

Its versatile 38.3mm size, with a thickness of 8.3mm, makes it truly genderless. While the watch comes with a medium-gauge stainless steel curb chain with a belt clip, one could easily swap it out for a cord or metal necklace. Its simplicity in style and function makes it a winner in our books. It is also made in Japan.

Max Mara Camel Hair and Silk-Blend Fleece Scarf

Price: US$915 (approx. $1,187)

First, it’s made of rare and valuable camel hair. Second, it’s transformable from a throw-over scarf into a cape. Third, its neutral brown shade channels quiet luxury and goes with everything.

Four, its generous one-size construction is highly flattering and suits most silhouettes. Five, its silk-blended material is lightweight yet offers exceptional insulation thanks to the camel hair. Six, it boasts a plush, teddy-like texture that is oh-so-cosy.

As you can see, we think this scarf can do no wrong. If it is meant as a present for a jet-setter, we guarantee it would be put to frequent use — from Hokkaido to Monaco to Amsterdam. While it’s a women’s wear item, we don’t see how a metrosexual man cannot carry it off.

Rapport Three‑Watch Roll

Price: $461

Crafted in grained leather with a subtle chevron embossing and lined in soft suede, this watch roll offers a secure yet elegant way to carry up to three timepieces. Secured with a front buckle fastening, its compact design makes it ideal for travel or rotation between daily watches.

But this case’s utility goes beyond timepieces — the roll can also be used to carry bracelets and necklaces. In fact, Rapport offers a wide range of single- or triple-watch rolls in various leather treatments and colours to suit any kind of recipient.

Otiumberg Concero Ear Cuff

Price: $196

The single-ear cuff is becoming increasingly popular for its ability to elevate one’s look instantly without the need for piercings. And this lightweight, multi-band cuff strikes a good balance between wearability and style with an edge.

Crafted from responsibly sourced sterling silver and shaped into a fluid silhouette, it is unisex, slips on easily, and pairs seamlessly with other accessories. Its 14k polished gold vermeil plating is also thicker and more long-lasting than standard gold-plating. 

FOB Paris R40 Pocket Watch

Price: $1,725

This made-in-France creation reimagines the traditional pocket watch for the 21st-century city slicker in too-cool matte black PVD. Housed in a 40mm stainless-steel case and powered by an automatic mechanical movement, it exposes its balance wheel with a window on the dial, which features the hands, indices, and chapter ring in monochromatic hues. 

The skeletonised movement, offering a 40-hour power reserve, is also visible through the anti-reflective mineral glass exhibition caseback. The watch comes with an 80cm black PVD Venetian-mesh chain, but can also be paired with a leather strap to transform into the statement R100 cuff watch (available here in gold, silver, or matte black) through the brand’s modular system. 

The Conran Shop Gray Alpaca Tartan Throw

Price: US$490 (approx. $635)

Who can resist a baby alpaca wool throw? Warm, feather-light, and luxurious on skin, it isn’t just a great accent for soft lifestyle furnishings, but its 180cm by 130cm size offers double-duty as a body wrap. We can imagine cuddling up with it on a cold day, or packing it with us on a winter holiday or overnight road trip. 

You can’t go wrong with this piece’s grey tartan design, which won’t show dirt or staining easily. Its beauty also lies in its material: It is made of 11 per cent polyamide, blended with a high 89 per cent Peruvian alpaca sourced from small Andean communities that herd and harvest the wool sustainably using ancient practices. This is a fantastic alternative to equally precious cashmere.

Emanuele Bicocchi Cheval Chain Necklace

Price: $285.03

A mid-weight silver chain is a versatile essential in every man and woman’s accessory wardrobe, and this 50cm piece by Italian jeweller Emanuele Bicocchi hits the target. Crafted in sterling silver with sculptural equestrian-inspired links, it strikes the balance between boldness and wearability. 

Its genderless appeal and contemporary aesthetic make it an ideal gift for those who enjoy putting on some bling without excessive ornamentation. This necklace can be worn solo for casual days, or layered with multiple chains for a more assertive look. We are quite sure that your intended recipient would already have the typical box, cable, rope, and ball chains in his or her daily-wear collection, but this one would be a welcome addition.

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