{"id":79542,"date":"2015-02-14T00:05:53","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T22:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=79542"},"modified":"2015-02-13T14:05:09","modified_gmt":"2015-02-13T12:05:09","slug":"the-most-expensive-valentines-day-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/trending\/79542\/the-most-expensive-valentines-day-gifts\/","title":{"rendered":"The most expensive Valentine’s Day gifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Valentine’s day is one of the most commercially active days on the annual calendar, with billions being spent across the world on flowers, chocolates, perfumes, dinners and the ever-present greeting cards.<\/p>\n

Total Valentine’s day sales are expected to boom to $18.9 billion in the USA alone, with Americans spending an average of $210 dollars each on the day.<\/p>\n

That’s about\u00a0$1.7 billion on candy,\u00a0$2.1 billion on flowers,\u00a0$3.6 billion on an evening out and a whopping $4,8 billion on jewelry, according to MarketResearch. com.<\/p>\n

With all this love (for material goods) in the air, how do you set your gestures and gifts apart from everyone else?<\/p>\n

BusinessTech takes a look at the most expensive items you could buy for your partner from the typical Valentine’s Day gift basket.<\/p>\n

Flowers<\/h3>\n

If you can’t find the words, then say it with flowers. While a dozen red roses (around R400) are the most common expression of love on Valentine’s Day, if you really want to make your significant other feel like one-of-a-kind, you could try find the flower to match.<\/p>\n

Some flowers are so rare that they don’t even have a value (read: they’re priceless) – such as the Kadupul Flower of Sri Lanka, which dies a few short hours after blooming. This flower is effectively inaccessible, and does not give the right message about your love.<\/p>\n

A better gift would be the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid, which is completely man-made (through lots of genetic splicing), and was sold for $245,000 (R2.9 million). It only blooms every 5 years, though, so it’s pretty difficult to come by.<\/p>\n

More attainable (though, not really) is the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid which grows exclusively in the Kanabula National Park in Malaysia. One flower costs $4,600 (R54,000), so a dozen would set you back R650,000.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, the Gloriosa lily, selling for around R115 a flower, is one of the most expensive flowers you can find locally (R1,400 for a dozen).<\/p>\n

As an added bonus, while lilies often symbolise purity and chastity, in ancient Greek times they were linked more to eroticism and sexuality.<\/p>\n

\"Gloriosa<\/a>

Gloriosa Lily<\/p><\/div>\n

Valentine’s Day card<\/h3>\n

While it may be tempting to pop off to Cardies for a last-minute Valentine’s Day card, if you’re looking for something really special, Gilded Age Greetings cards are the way to go.<\/p>\n

Dubbed the “world’s most expensive greeting card maker”, the Gilded Age makes hand-made, one-of-a-kind ‘couture’ cards for every occasion.<\/p>\n

A limited edition Valentine’s Day card will set you back, $395.00 (R4,670).<\/p>\n

\"Gilded<\/a>

Gilded Age Greetings Card<\/p><\/div>\n

Chocolates<\/h3>\n

Sure, you could pop down to the shops and grab a 16-piece box of Ferrero Rocher on Friday for R70.00 – OR you could pre-order the La Madeline au Truffle from Knipschildt.<\/p>\n

The exclusive truffle is made with 70% Valrhona dark chocolate, heavy cream, sugar, truffle oil and vanilla, which serves as the base for the rich decadent ganache which covers a French Perigord truffle (a rare mushroom) found at the truffle’s its centre. A truffle inside a truffle. Decadence all round.<\/p>\n

For one (yes, one 5 gram bite) of these little pieces of decadence, you’ll have to fork out $250 (just under R3,000).<\/p>\n

The world’s most expensive chocolate needs to be ordered in advance, and will require next-day shipment thanks to its shelf-life, so you may be too late order for this Valentine’s day – but keep it in mind for next year.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/a>

La Madeline Au Truffle<\/p><\/div>\n

Teddy bear<\/h3>\n

If you’re looking to get a little bit plush, then you’re likely in the market for a teddy bear to accompany your Valentine’s day basket.<\/p>\n

One brand name\u00a0rings\u00a0when it comes to\u00a0the most “luxurious” teddy bears in the world – Steiff. This company has been making teddies since 1880, and is known for its high level of quality, as well as crafting rare gems and gold into it’s more exclusive products.<\/p>\n

The teddy bear maker teamed up with Louis Vuitton to create a plushy which sold at auction for $2.1 million. Fully dressing in VL, of course.<\/p>\n

In more accessible terms, the company’s site will let you fork out a little over R7,200 for one of its 50cm replica bears from 1908.<\/p>\n

\"Steiff<\/a>

Steiff 1908 exclusive replica<\/p><\/div>\n

Perfume<\/h3>\n

The world’s most expensive perfume is the Clive Christian Imperial Majesty, which sells for $12,700 per ounce (R150,000 per 30ml).<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, it is only sold in a large bottle (500ml) – so there’s no way to avoid spending R2.5 million for the smell.<\/p>\n

More practically (if you could call it that), you can pick up the Salvatore Ferragamo Limited Edition perfume for a ‘mere’ $3,800 (R45,000 for 50ml).<\/p>\n

More affordable, and more accessible, as the scent is sold by Harrods.<\/p>\n

\"Salvatore<\/a>

Salvatore Ferragamo Limited Edition<\/p><\/div>\n

Dinner<\/h3>\n

While you will find many expensive dining experiences across the globe, in South Africa you can find an elite meal at The Test Kitchen in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

For R1,400 per person, you can partake in the restaurant’s gourmand menu, paired with wines.<\/p>\n

After spending over R60,000 the other ‘best value’ luxury Valentine’s day gifts above, this should be considered quite cheap in comparison.<\/p>\n

If you insist on going to the world’s most expensive restaurant, then prepare yourself for a R24,000 (per person) meal at Sublimotion in Ibiza.<\/p>\n

The meal comprises\u00a020 courses, labelled as “gastro-sensory”, and will likely be unforgettable – but you’ll probably have to spend between R60,000 and R100,000 on the flights to get there.<\/p>\n

You’ll also be sitting at a table with 10 other patrons, which could really kill the romantic atmosphere.<\/p>\n