Don't Call Me Scrooge

It's the holiday season, so it must be time to drop extraordinary amounts of money on unique gifts. Neiman Marcus has long led the pack in offering crazy, exclusive and ultra-expensive gifts for the ultimate holiday season. This year, its pushing an Aston Martin designed by Daniel Craig, a behind-the-scenes look at Boucheron and a private jet round-the-world trip for four among its exclusive deals. Yowzers!

But there's a newcomer to the holiday catalog blowout. Tiffany & Co. As we wrote here, the jeweler is offering a custom-made Tiffany Blue motorcycle created with Indian Motorcycle Co., a solid sterling silver greenhouse and a trip through Kenya that features an 11-day safari through the Samburu National Reserve.

Of course, it's Tiffany, so we all know the jewelry is the thing, which is why one lucky buyer can design their own 8-carat diamond ring and four recipients can count down to Christmas with a beautiful Tiffany advent calendar.

Since it's Tiffany, this is no ordinary advent calendar. 

The beautiful calendar, which alone is a gorgeous gift, contains 24 Tiffany must-haves, each of which comes wrapped in the iconic Tiffany blue box. 

Obviously, all this fantastic Tiffany swag comes at a price. A cool $112,000. 

Cue the end of my fantasy...

At least I'm not alone. It's a fantasy piece for 99.9 percent of the world (most of whom are more likely to opt for a jewelry advent calendar from UK high street retailer Marks and Spencer, which goes for a more affordable $25).

But here's something to think about. With the global economy becoming more fragile and uncertain with slowing growth and escalating trade conflicts, are grand gifts like this out of place? Or is it the opposite. In a time of potential uncertainty, when people feel that things will not improve any time soon, should we be celebrating the beautiful and the extravagant, even if it comes with a costly price tag?

Part of me wants to go all Scrooge on you and launch into a diatribe about how unnecessary things like this are (bah humbug!). 

The other part of me became really caught up in the calendar. And isn't that the point? 

This is sensational PR. A quick Google search for Tiffany + Advent Calendar came up with about a bajillion hits, which is an impressive win. Anything that generates excitement about diamonds and jewelry is good for everyone.

After all, there's nothing necessary about diamonds and jewelry. No one needs an engagement ring, or a wedding ring, or an anniversary gift, or a just-because-I-love-you gift. 

No one needs it until you think about the millions of people throughout the world whose existence depends upon people celebrating life's key moments with rings and bracelets and necklaces and, yes, maybe even a luxury advent calendar from Tiffany & Co. 

Sticking with the holiday spirit, I want to wish all our friends and readers a happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year.

Have a fabulous weekend!