There is an oft’ misused word in the American lexicon which like a great many wrongly applied terms in the English language finds its roots in advertising and promotion.

When a product is referred to as, “very unique,” the language is perverted in much the same way as when people use the superlatives, “absolute best,” “virtually incomparable,” or “almost perfect.” There are no degrees of perfection, incomparability, or what constitutes “the best.” These things are unqualified, conclusive, and pure. Just as there is no such thing as “a little bit pregnant,” something is either “unique,” or it’s not.

So it is, with any number of products that marketers refer to as “unique gifts.”

Exactly, what is unique about a porcelain hula dancer doorstop that doubles as a planter, if it is one of thousands of identical items pouring out of a factory in Thailand? And just because that silk tie with the little C3POs on it is unusual, does that really make it unique? How ‘bout the Babe Ruth Rookie card, worth a quarter of a million dollars?

Simple test:

Is there more than one? Yes, there are nine.

(I rest my case.)

u⋅nique

   /yu nik/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [yoo-neek]–adjective

1. existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript.

2. having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.

3. limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area: a species unique to Australia.

4. limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: Certain types of problems have unique solutions.

Source: Dictionary.com

So, what’s with all these “unique gifts” this holiday season? Is something unique simply because it comes from The Unique Gifts Store, or extremelyuniquegifts.com?

Every once in a while, we, at GiftGeeks, come across an accessory for home or office that is truly unique, and aesthetically pleasing to an unusually high degree. Such is the case with the one-of-a- kind world globes from High Roller Toys. These beauties are the product of hundreds of man-hours of skilled craftsmanship, giving rise to ornate and elegant art pieces comprised of precious metals and lustrous gemstones from all over the world.

With each country meticulously inlaid with precisely hand-cut gemstones that are representative of that region, the sheer visual poetry of these globes is striking from every angle. To see the rich abalone pearl from the Great Barrier Reef forming the profile of Australia, and the deep blue lapis lazuli stones that comprise the seas which surround her, is to behold a treasure so precious and rare as to make the spirit soar. Like beholding Chagall’s glass windows, or Tiffany’s lamps, these spectacular desk globes bespeak the artistry of genius.

Often passed on as heirlooms, as no two are the same, these magnificent works of art contain lines of longitude and latitude etched in real gold, with the Equator and International Dateline made of Sterling Silver.

With countries drawn in amethyst, red jasper, green agate, rhodonite, yellow and white mother of pearl, unakite, jade, and other beautifully hued stones from all over the world, Planet Earth is indeed bejeweled in the colors of the rainbow.

Sitting on an ornate three legged stand with a mariner’s compass set in its base, this distinctive and matchless creation brings elegance and class to any study, library, or office.

Available at highrollertoys.com

GiftGeek Rating – 5 STARS