Georg Jensen on getting your home ready, Scandinavian style
To create a Nordic winter wonderland in your home, look no further than the December Tales collection by Copenhagen graphic designers All the Way to Paris. Its winter animals, seasonal icons and patterns are laser-cut into steel ornaments that look beautiful hung throughout your home.
Candlelight is the essence of a Scandinavian Christmas. Georg Jensen's simple yet stylish Advent crown candleholders make stunning table centrepieces, either on their own or entwined with Christmas greenery. Another festive table decoration is our pillar candles, which are decorated with whimsical landscapes for a magical touch. Finally, no tree is complete without a star at the top nd our design is a modern twist on a traditional icon.
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From £11; 8a The Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LR
Melvyn Kirtley, chief gemologist and vice-president of high jewellery for Tiffany & Co, tells how to pick quality diamonds
If you're looking to purchase a diamond, I would stress first how important it is that you do so from a reputable brand such as ours, which is known for offering the finest and rarest quality stones. There are numerous elements that create the overall beauty of a diamond, with cut being the most important – it's all about the precise positioning, shape and angle of the facets. Carat weight, colour and clarity also work together to create an overall sparkle that will show beauty and determine value. The whiter and more transparent the diamond, the greater its rarity and value. At Tiffany & Co, we accept only diamonds that meet our strict standards, including diamonds that don't exhibit any inference of colour when viewed face-up.
9–11 The Courtyard, The Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LQ
Robin Sinha, Leica Akademie tutor and freelance photographer, offers advice on buying gadget gifts
Leica has some new cameras being launched soon that would make great presents. First up is the Sofort, our first-ever instant camera – it's such fun to use. We've also updated the D-Lux, our most popular compact camera. The D-Lux 109 is amazing for point-and-shoot, but the manual settings are there if you want to develop your skills. We've even put together a special D-Lux Christmas bundle.
Leica is also bringing out a new T system just before Christmas. It's ideal for a keen amateur who may not be fussed about technicality but wants to improve picture quality. There aren't many cameras like it on the market – it's totally touchscreen, which will appeal to the iPhone generation, but the quality of the image it takes is on another level.
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