When older is better! Christmas gifts ideas that celebrate the test of time

Published 27 November 2014 ● Last Updated on 6 April 2021

At Secondsguru, we have a soft spot for all things old, so here are some Christmas gift ideas , this season of giving, all carrying a whiff of romance from the past!

Retro Casio watch

We all have friends still pretending it’s the 80s – unwilling to stop playing The Police, dressing up to insane lengths at costume parties, insisting on sitting through Back To The Future reruns – this is the cheapest and awesome-est gift you can get them. The Casio calculator watch has won iconic hearts, from McFly to Sting, and is bound to bring holiday cheer to your friend too.

For the true-blue nerd, get the real deal. Some vintage Casio watches even sport video games, a sure winner.

We recommend:
Casio CA53W calculator watch: S$27 for your nerdy friends. [yes, it’s still in production!]

For more: Original vintage watch prices vary widely. But there is a fair collection available for under-$50 and under-$100. See Amazon and Ebay for new and original ranges.

Rare books

Need a gift for a book lover? For a gift category so specific, the shopping can be unusually hard. Should you buy kindle or go for a traditional hardcover? Has she already read that bestseller? Does he like thrillers or hate them?

Your best bet – buy a book you know they love, and get an early or signed edition. Prices vary widely depending on how popular the book is.

We recommend:
The toys of peace – Saki (1928): S$39
A signed “The King of Torts” by John Grisham: S$65
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (1880 edition): S$92

For more: Amazon and Ebay always have listings – but be careful in selecting reliable resellers. Barnes & Noble has a limited but good collection of rare and collectible books. To savor the shopping experience, visit Gohd Books at Bencoolen Street, Singapore (online shopping also available). If you’re in the mood to splurge, shop from the enviable collection at Picture This, Hong Kong.

Vintage movie posters

Movies come and go, but their posters seemingly stay forever. And that’s great news for us who are slowly getting price out of the original posters market!

We recommend:
Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth: S$33.
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany‘s: S$12

For more: Allposters has a wide and reasonable collection. For those who are willing to pay for an investment, see the range at Picture This, Hong Kong to get a sense of prices, then widen your search for the best deal.

Antique jewellery

Jewellery makes a great gift for your wife, but she’s probably tired of getting it yet again. Ha Ha of course I’m kidding! Still, she would appreciate some variety – this time gift her stones with history. If you don’t have a heirloom to dip into, don’t worry, your cheque book will work as well.

Warning: This gift is strictly for your wife. Any other woman you hand this to will shout “I do!”, actually, make that “I DOOOO”, before you can clarify.

We recommend:

Ying-yang onyx, coral and gold necklace (circa 1960): S$650
19th century clasp set into a modern necklace: S$950

For more: Online curator 1stdibs is our recommendation for online purchase of antiques. Alternately, you could go to your trusted jewellery designer to reset stones or sets with history in your own collection. Secondsguru is happy to recommend Shikha Lamba a jewellary designer who can spin magic to your jewels old and give them a new lease of life. Shikha has her own online store and ships her wares worldwide.

 

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