EXCLUSIVECould a $115,000 advent calendar EVER be worth it? Stupendously luxurious Christmas offerings reviewed and ranked
With the Thanksgiving turkey, Champagne, and Black Friday binges behind us, the countdown to Christmas can now begin in earnest.
And what better way to mark the days than with a luxury advent calendar.
Long gone is the era of opening those little numbered doors to reveal a simple picture, or perhaps a small chocolate treat.
Now, top brands offer the chance to unbox their best-selling items – or a miniaturized version – each day, often at a combined cost that is a fraction of what you’d have to pay if you made the purchases individually.
But with price tags ranging from hundreds to even the tens of thousands of dollars, it can be hard to spot those which are a genuine steal, from others that will leave you disappointed.
Here, the Mail has reviewed and ranked this year’s most luxe offerings…
Ladurée - $189
If you can’t wait until Christmas day to treat yourself to the very vest festive foods, the Ladurée advent calendar, filled with artisanal French sweets, may be the one for you.
This calendar is by far the most beautifully designed and packaged luxury offering we saw this year.
Decorated with blue and gold ribbons and baubles, the box is a tribute to the block-printed wallpapers which adorn the walls of some of the world's most beautiful historic buildings.
Inside, its contents are a delicious range of candied fruits, classic Eugénie biscuits in a range of flavors from rose to chocolate, jams and honey.
And there is even a hidden surprise at the very end…
Worth it? It’s a treat that pays off
If you can’t wait until Christmas day to treat yourself to the very vest festive foods, the Ladurée advent calendar, filled with artisanal French sweets, may be the one for you.
Kiehl's - $125
This 24-day calendar has a delightful surprise behind every door. It has a simple, pleasing design, and with a mix of full and travel-sized products, this advent calendar feels like a very good deal.
In fact, you make an almost $200 saving on the combined cost of the individual products.
It includes cult-favorite products like the Ultra Facial Cream and the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask, as well as more specialized offerings like a Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream, which you may not otherwise get to try.
For skincare lovers, this calendar is hard to beat.
Worth it? 100%
This 24-day calendar has a delightful surprise behind every door. It has a simple, pleasing design, and with a mix of full and travel-sized products, this advent calendar feels like a very good deal.
Lark & Berry - $115,000
The stupendous price tag on the most expensive calendar on our list would perhaps be better spent on a housing deposit, or your children’s college fees.
But if you do happen to have a spare $115,000 lying around, this may just be the luxury calendar for you.
It is certainly beautiful.
Inside a custom-made box, styled to look like an old British phone booth, modern jeweler Lark & Berry’s calendar comes with a set of 12 personalizable earrings, necklaces and bracelets all featuring their signature lab-grown diamonds.
The buyer can choose whether they include yellow, rose, or white gold and whether the pieces are bold or delicate.
Lark & Berry have sold twenty of their less expensive calendars (priced at $5,000), five of their mid-range offering ($24,000) and, perhaps unsurprisingly, so far only one of the $115,000 versions.
Worth it? If your name is Melania Trump
The stupendous price tag on the most expensive calendar on our list would perhaps be better spent on a housing deposit, or your children’s college fees.
Inside a custom-made box, styled to look like an old British phone booth, modern jeweler Lark & Berry’s calendar comes with a set of 12 personalizable earrings, necklaces and bracelets all featuring their signature lab-grown diamonds.
Astrid & Miyu - $1,030
If you want to get your hands on this jewelry filled calendar, you may have to be quick – they have sold out every year since they launched three years ago and had a waitlist of 30,000 people for the launch of their 2024 version.
Those who do make the splurge can expect a beautiful box, designed by illustrator Nima Nima Studio, and filled with earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
There are three options for different budgets, the first for $515 is a 12-day calendar that comes with either 18k gold-plated jewelry or a rhodium-plated sterling silver version.
The 24-day version will set you back $1,030, while the most expensive version is the solid-gold calendar, for $1,475.
You’re making about a 50 percent saving by buying in bulk – but be warned that this jewelry is very delicate, and not for girls who prefer a chunkier fit.
The calendar boxes are also designed to be reusable, and can be repurposed into an all-year round jewelry box.
Worth it? If this is your style
If you want to get your hands on this jewelry filled calendar, you may have to be quick – they have sold out every year since they launched three years ago and had a waitlist of 30,000 people for the launch of their 2024 version.
There are three options for different budgets, the first for $515 is a 12-day calendar that comes with either 18k gold-plated jewelry or a rhodium-plated sterling silver version. The 24-day version will set you back $1,030, while the most expensive version is the solid-gold calendar, for $1,475.
Typology - $279.90
At $279.90, the Typology advent calendar also offers a 50 percent saving.
The French skincare brand has partnered with artist Erwan Bouroullec to create a minimalist advent calendar, in keeping with their aesthetic.
Over half the 24 doors reveal full-sized products across a range of skincare and beauty – all with highest quality, natural ingredients. Many are packaged in beautifully chic glass bottles.
The design is very simple, so may not be to the taste of those yearning for festive sparkle.
Worth it? Yes, for skincare junkies
At $279.90, the Typology advent calendar also offers a 50 percent saving. The French skincare brand has partnered with artist Erwan Bouroullec to create a minimalist advent calendar, in keeping with their aesthetic.
Over half the 24 doors reveal full-sized products across a range of skincare and beauty – all with highest quality, natural ingredients. Many are packaged in beautifully chic glass bottles.
Sisley - $825
The second most expensive calendar on our list is also one for skincare fanatics.
Sisley’s advent calendar comes in a glamorous box that opens to reveal a hand-drawn, printed illustration of the Paris skyline.
Each drawer is decorated with another picture and filled with a different skincare product, designed in the Sisley’s French labs.
It is $200 cheaper to buy the calendar than all the individual products, so for Sisley lovers it represents a very good deal.
Worth it? If money’s no object
Sisley’s advent calendar comes in a glamorous box that opens to reveal a hand-drawn, printed illustration of the Paris skyline.
Each drawer is decorated with another picture and filled with a different skincare product, designed in the Sisley’s French labs.
Macy’s - $120
While the packaging on this '12 Days of Luxury' calendar is delightful and festive, with a bow tie for added drama in the unboxing, its contents do not pack such a punch.
There is a great range of big brands here - from La Mer to Lancome - but all of the products are minute to the point of silliness.
The mini lipstick and lip glosses would be be good for slipping into a night-out clutch, but if you’re looking for bang for your buck, this is not the calendar for you.
Worth it? Sadly not
