Christmas gift guide: speciality presents and gifts from auction

Watches

A vintage or pre-loved timekeeper is about style, status and storytelling. 

Buying – and collecting – mechanical wristwatches, was a hobby that grew in the 1980s and even with the advent of the smartphone, classic vintage styles are in demand.

Examples of watches at auction this season include this Rolex explorer at Sterling Vault estimated at £5000-8000 on November 26.

A Rolex explorer at Sterling Vault estimated at £5000-8000 on November 26.

View a selection of watches at auction via thesaleroom.com here.

Read thesaleroom.com’s guide on buying watches at auction for tips.

There are also guides on the following brands: Rolex, Omega, Breitling, IWC, Cartier tank, Tudor, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Jaeger-LeCoultre watches.

Jewellery

‘Pre-loved' jewels by luxury designer names are priced at a fraction of the cost of buying a similar brand new item and some of the vintage styles are extremely popular and back in vogue.

Examples of jewellery at auction this season include this Art Deco style 14ct blue tourmaline and diamond ring with an estimate of £80-120 at Wootton Auction Rooms on December 3.

An Art Deco style 14ct blue tourmaline and diamond ring with an estimate of £80-120 at Wootton Auction Rooms on December 3.

View more jewellery items at auction here.

Read thesaleroom.com’s buying guide on jewellery here. Read more about necklaces, jewellery with gemstones and brands Tiffany and Cartier.

Silver

Antique or vintage silver items make a great present. From novelty tableware to photo frames, there is plenty to choose from at auction such as this pair of novelty silver condiments, in the form of rabbits.

The rabbits are estimated at £200-220 at Charterhouse Auctioneers on December 3-4.

Novelty silver rabbit condiment estimated at £200-220 at Charterhouse Auctioneers on December 3-4.

Victorian silver novelty items are ever popular. However be sure to know your silver from your silver plate.

Toys

A Dinky toy made in the year of birth or a cute vintage teddy bear make fun presents for adults at Christmas.

Auctions offer a wide range of vintage and antique toys from Star Wars figures to porcelain dolls.

At Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood Sporting, Collectors and Maritime sale is a large selection of toys and collectables including this group of three Dinky toys.

A group of three boxed Dinky cars estimated at £30-50 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood Sporting, Collectors and Maritime sale on December 15.

The December 15 sale includes this group of three boxed cars: a two-tone silver/white no 198 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, a playworn no 113 MGB Sports Car  and no 135 Triumph 2000. All three are estimated at £30-50. Read more about this lot of Dinky cars here.

View toys coming up for auction here.

Whisky

Help them add to an extensive vintage collection - or just help spice up their festive season with a specially selected bottle of whisky. Auction is probably the quickest and easiest way to source wonderful whiskies, and may come pretty affordably too, depending on what you're looking for. 

Lacy Scott & Knight's upcoming Wine, Ports and Spirits auction on December 11 includes this job lot of Auld Lang Syne scotch whisky. 

This selection of Auld Lang Syne Scotch Whisky and spirit miniatures has an estimate of £25-35 at Lacy Scott & Knight on December 11.

It includes on 70cl bottle of Auld Lang Syne Scotch Whisky (40%), two bottles of Rutherford's Spirit of Burns commemorative whisky in stone flagon, 70cl (40% and various spirit miniatures to include Burns Nectar malt liqueur, offered together with an estimate of £25-35. 

Read more about collecting whisky here. And have a look at the selection of bottles going under the hammer here. 

Wine

Another perennially popular gift, wine is much in evidence on thesaleroom.com, especially as some auction houses hold specialist sales in preparation for Christmas. 

From single vintage bottles to extensive job lots, you can find, whites, reds and an assortment of ports and desert wines to suit any palate. 

On December 12, Hartleys holds its Fine Wines, Port and Whisky sale. 

These four bottles of 1989 Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon have a combined estimate of £50-90 at Hartley's Fine Wines, Port and Whisky sale on December 12.

Among the lots is this series of four bottles of 1989 Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Read about why wines are known as 'passion investments' and get more tips and tactics for collecting here. Then go stock up on a selection of wines and spirits on thesaleroom.com. 
 

Handbags

Why not bag a bit of vintage for the fashionista in your life? Not only can handbags (and other accessories) at auction come with a bit of history to them, they can also be yours for just a fraction of their original retail price. 

This 'Street Chic' Dior bag has an estimate of £400-600 at Sworders' Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale, which takes place on December 8-9.

This Dior 'Street Chic' shoulder bag is offered with an estimate of £400-600 at Sworders' Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale of December 8-9.

The bag is made of white leather and monogrammed Diorissimo vanilla canvas with silver-toned hardware.

If you do decide to go to the auction route to buy a designer handbag, make sure you know how to spot a fake. Get more tips on buying handbags here. 

Posters and prints

Return to a favourite place (remember travelling?), invest in a special aviation diagramme or simple buy something pretty for a loved on to hang on a wall. Of course you could go for a paintings, but there is plenty out there that is charming, rare and more affordable if you go down the works on paper route. 

Take, for example, this poster for the London Police, offered at Sworders' London Auction on December 15. 

This poster for the London Police is offered at Sworders' London Auction on December 15 with an estimate of £100-200.

Suitable for fans of 1960s design or the capital as well as someone who might work in law and order today, this poster is available with an estimate of £100-200. 

Go to thesaleroom.com to find more examples of posters and prints available for Christmas shopping.