A Festive Series
Cassandra's Festive Wish List
Cassandra Goad, founder and CEO of her namesake luxury jewellery brand, shares her go-to stocking fillers and favourite Christmas traditions. Her credentials? A self-described ‘Christmasphile’, she has been in charge of her family’s stockings for over 30 years and as a jewellery designer, she’s always hearing what people are hoping to find under the tree…
The perfect practical gift for a stocking?
A portable charger is a great practical addition to anyone’s stocking.
What is your favourite Christmas tradition?
On Christmas Eve, I love attending midnight mass at my local church. It always feels special to welcome in Christmas Day within the peaceful, candlelit atmosphere of the church.
At home or abroad for the festive season?
Always at home - nothing is better than home comforts in the festive season!
A new year’s resolution?
This year I am determined to spend more time in my garden. Being among my flowers brings me so much joy and I love that I am able to decorate my London boutique with homegrown flowers from the countryside!
The Cassandra Goad jewel on your wish list?
The hardest part of my job is creating beautiful jewels every day and not being able to keep them all! I am especially in love with my new Roi Soleil pendant featuring chrome diopside - a rare gemstone usually found in small crystals. Finding crystals of this size and such a rich green colour is truly extraordinary, making this jewel incredibly special.
What is your role on Christmas day?
I am completely hopeless in the kitchen so I focus my energies on the tablescape and lighting as many candles as I can find surfaces for!
The perfect edible addition to any stocking?
Christmas is a time of indulgence and there is nothing more indulgent than the Chocolate Detective’s chocolate ‘Bird’s Eggs’. Not only are they beautifully painted but they are also scrumptious!
A little luxury?
You can never go wrong with gifting someone some lovely hand soap from Diptyque. It is such a lovely gift to give that will bring your loved one a little moment of luxury throughout the coming year.
What is your Quality Street chocolate pick?
It has to be a toffee finger!
Best part of a Christmas feast?
I think I may be in the minority here, but the best part of a Christmas feast is devils on horseback (prunes wrapped in bacon) - I look forward to them every year.
Your go to gift
I love to gift memberships to museums and art galleries such as the V&A or the Tate. For under 30s the National Art Pass is a great option as it gives discounted entrance to a variety of galleries and museums throughout London.
How do you battle the post-Christmas-feast slump?
We always go on a nice long walk post lunch to keep everyone from falling asleep for the rest of the day!
Your favourite way to give back during the festive season?
Each year, I donate a Christmas dinner to Crisis at Christmas on behalf of every member of my family and also my staff. Sharing a festive meal with loved ones means so much to me, and it feels only right to help ensure that others can experience that same warmth and nourishment on Christmas Day.
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