The Most Expensive Gift at 12 American Retailers

Updated

Buying all the goodies sung about in the holiday classicThe Twelve Days of Christmas will cost $23,439 this year. But what if you want to be an extra-generous Santa in 2010 and buy, say, the most expensive item for sale at each of 12 popular U.S. retailers? Well, according to an unscientific survey by 24/7 Wall St, that would set you back nearly $15 million (thanks mainly to a visit to Tiffany).

Although this will be a tough holiday season for millions of Americans still caught in the recession's clutches, no matter how bad the economy is some people always have a good year. The most fortunate of those have spent their entire lives having one good year after another. And they can afford to splurge.

With that in mind, 24/7 Wall St visited a number of stores and interviewed store managers at large retailers to find their most expensive gifts. Some of the stores, like Tiffany, count the superrich among their regular customers. Others, such as Radio Shack, cater to the middle class. Many of the merchants on this list have customer groups that overlap, and some sell nothing that costs more than a few hundred dollars. But here (in ascending order of cost) is what you'll find on the top shelves of this all-American dozen.

Power Wheels Black Hybrid Escalade
Power Wheels Black Hybrid Escalade

12) TOYS 'R' US
Category: Toy Store
Item: Power Wheels Black Hybrid Escalade
Cost: $379.99

Built to mimic the look of the expensive SUV, the Power Wheels Black Hybrid Escalade, is one expensive toy. Complex in its design and finish as a functioning minicar, the Power Wheels Escalade is priced at $379.99, and in-store assembly will add $25 to its sticker.



Michael Jordan leather jacket
Michael Jordan leather jacket

11) NIKETOWN
Sportswear
Jordan Leather Jacket
$500

Although the flagship Nike store has a wide range of pricey shoes, including the $400 Mercurial Vapor soccer cleats, its most expensive item is the Michael Jordan leather jacket, which currently costs $500. On the more modest side are Niketown's wristbands, which sell for $6.



Rollins Men's Leather Jacket
Rollins Men's Leather Jacket

10) ABERCROMIE & FITCH
Specialty Retail Chain
Rollins Men's Leather Jacket
$600

Abercrombie & Fitch has maintained a certain level of popularity for a number of years by selling moderately priced clothes to youthful customers. The company does feature a more upscale side, however, as illustrated by its $600 Rollins leather jacket for men.



iPhone 4
iPhone 4

9) RADIOSHACK
Discount Consumer Electronics
iPhone 4
$700

RadioShack is usually better-suited for people looking to buy small electronic products than luxury items. This may be slowly changing, however, as the stores start offering more expensive goods. Currently, the costliest item is the 32-GB iPhone 4, priced at $700.



Mac Pro
Mac Pro

8) APPLE STORE
Specialty Consumer Electronics
Mac Pro
$3,499

Speaking of Apple, the most expensive item in the tech icon's ever-popular Apple Store is the dual 2.4-GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon "Westmere" Mac Pro, priced at $3,499. Customers can improve this powerhouse's specs by adding to its memory and graphics, which plumps up its price even more.



SunBrite TV 55
SunBrite TV 55

7) BEST BUY
Consumer Electronics
SunBrite TV 55-Inch Outdoor LCD HDTV
$6,999.99

Although it's not Best Buy's largest TV, the SunBrite TV 55-Inch Outdoor LCD HDTV is both its most expensive TV and costliest item overall. The 1080p, 120-Hz set has an extremely high picture quality. It sports a water-resistant design that protects against rain, dirt and insects, for customers who wish to watch Animal Planet while surrounded by nature.



Ralph Lauren alligator bag
Ralph Lauren alligator bag

6) RALPH LAUREN
Branded Retail
Alligator Bag
$20,000

Ralph Lauren is a classic brand that often likes to dip its toes in ultra-luxury. That's apparent in the company's pricey accessories, which include a $20,000 alligator bag. The reason for this lofty price: Alligator leather is far less common than other types, and it requires a more involved development process.



5) MACY'S
Department Store Chain
Golden Sable Fur Coat
$39,500

One of Macy's most posh in-store shops is "The Fur Vault," the department store's section for animal pelt products. The most notable item there is a golden sable fur coat (photo unavailable -- but trust us, it's a beauty), priced at just under $40,000. An extremely high price for extremely high-quality fur.



diamond ring
diamond ring

4) COSTCO
Big Box Retail Chain
5.11-carat diamond ring
$193,999

Costco is known for bulk and bargains. As a result, it may be surprising to hear that the store features a 5.11-carat diamond ring that costs nearly $200,000. The solitaire ring is on display in Costco's New York City store. However, information on its availability can be found online.



The Big Piano
The Big Piano

3) FAO SCHWARZ
Specialty Toys
The Big Piano
$250,000

Taking the toy market toward extreme extravagance is FAO Schwarz. Many people recognize it from the 1988 film Big, and the store still features a giant floor piano, like the one that plays a prominent role in the film. Today's piano, which is actually bigger than the one in Big, can be purchased for a whopping $250,000, due to its size and technical sophistication.



Breguet Double Tourbillon
Breguet Double Tourbillon

2) TOURNEAU
Luxury Watch Retailer
Breguet Double Tourbillon
$402,000

Although overall watch sales have dropped during the last few years, sales of luxury watches have remained consistent. That's good news for stores like Tourneau, which reap big bucks by selling luxo-watches such as the Double Tourbillon, which is made by Breguet. This complex timepiece is Tourneau's most expensive, featuring a clock-stopping price of $402,000.



Tiffany Majestic necklace
Tiffany Majestic necklace

1) TIFFANY
Luxury Jewelry Retail
The Tiffany Majestic necklace
$12,000,000

Tiffany is, of course, chock-full with a number of dearly priced items. The most impressive is the Tiffany Majestic necklace, which costs $12 million (yes, million). This piece comprises over 300 stones and features a 30.31-carat diamond. It's not Tiffany's most valuable item, however. That honor belongs to the legendary 184-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond. The store puts its value as "priceless."


Also See:Beer-Budget Gifts from High-End Brands


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