The Answer To The Yearly Christmas Shopping Dilemma: What to Buy For That Millionaire Next Door --The Porsche Design/Harrods Advent Calendar

by Susan Kime (RSS feed)
Nov 22nd 2010 at 7:01PM

Those who have grown up with Christian traditions have seen Advent Calendars -- coming out prior to Thanksgiving, usually in stores and shops that want to get Christmas decor underway, sometimes even before Hallowe'en. Many of these calendars take the form of large rectangular cards with 24 "windows", one of which is opened every day during Advent. Each window opens to reveal an image, a poem, or part of a story such as the Nativity story itself. More elaborate Advent Calendars have a small gift concealed in each window, such as a toy or a chocolate item.

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a season observed in many Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25th. This year, Advent begins on November 28th. And this year, the humble Advent Calendar idea has certainly received a new, high end interpretation ( see above) from the Porsche Design Group and Harrods of London. It costs $1,000,000 USD.

Now, this Calendar was written about in Luxist before, in September. Evidently, Harrods is providing much more exposure, as the Calendar, one of only five available worldwide, is being showcased in the Knightsbridge store's Menswear department of Harrods in London, until Friday 3rd December 2010. Standing at more than 1.75 metres tall ( a little under six feet tall), it undoubtedly proves to be the ultimate Christmas gift for millionaires who are historically impossible to shop for. This is something they really do not have.

Behind each of the calendar's 24 windows, illuminated by light bars, reveals unique surprises from Porsche Design in anticipation of Christmas. Three particularly special, concealed highlights include a Porsche Design P'6910 Indicator Chronograph timepiece in rose gold, an individually customizable Porsche Design Kitchen, and a 8.5 metre long (approximately 27-28 feet long) RFF28 Speedboat, designed by the Porsche Design Studio in Austria. In addition to this trio, there are many other products by Porsche Design --including sunglasses made of 18 carat yellow gold, fine writing tools, cufflinks and the premium running shoe Bounce:S². Some of the other products and compositions are represented symbolically on aluminum plates.

Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods, said: "Harrods has long been associated with unveiling innovative and highly exclusive products and we are delighted to be welcoming Porsche Design's unique Advent Calendar."

Tags: Harrods, Harrods Advent calendar 2010, Harrods Christmas, Porsche Design Studio, Porsche designed Advent calendar, Porsche designed Christmas Advent Calendar