Certain images will forever be associated with Christmas. There's the roaring fireplace, the tree garlanded with lights and the children anticipating Santa Claus' arrival in a state approaching hysteria.
Another image associated with the holiday is that of stockings hung from the mantelpiece, with each family member's name written on them.
And while it's true that some people are most eager to see what's in the absolute largest box under the tree, the stocking stuffer has its own unique charm. It may not be a flat-screen TV or a full drum kit, but its understated size can convey an intimacy that more spectacular items can't.
People who choose to give stocking stuffers are not limited to inexpensive trinkets by any means. Many presents that can fit comfortably in the average stocking convey indulgence and extravagance.
CNBC.com presents a list of 10 luxury gifts whose small sizes are offset by their large price tags.
iPhone 4s 24ct Gold Ambassador Edition
Price: $4,825
Goldstriker International is a U.K. company that gives gadgets a luxury makeover. It collaborated with designer Stuart Hughes to make the iPhone 4 Supreme Diamond Rose, a gold phone that sold for $8 million. Only two were made, so the chance of finding one in your stocking is remote.
A more realistic option is the iPhone 4s 24ct Gold Ambassador Edition from Goldstriker, which was manufactured in a limited run of 100. Fully embellished in gold and with an outer frame inlaid with crystals, it sells for 2,995, or $4,825.
Michael C. Fina 18k Gold Crowned Diamond Eye Skull Cufflinks
Price: $16,125
Michael C. Fina, the jewelry store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, offers many traditional pieces and some unusual designs, including cufflinks carrying the "Superman" insignia or crafted into the shape of a Darth Vader helmet.
The most high-end of these pieces is the $16,125 Gold Crowned Diamond Eye Skull set of cufflinks, which the website declares"fit for any creepy king." The cufflinks are a perfect gift for the high net worth individual who still listens to Iron Maiden.
Diamond Pacifier
Price: $17,000
When a family welcomes a baby into the fold, his or her first Christmas is a special occasion like no other. So why not make it even more extraordinary by putting the $17,000 Diamond Pacifier by Personalized Pacifiers into baby's first stocking?
It has more than 278 pave cut white diamonds, along with a silicone nipple. There is the small matter of Personalized Pacifiers recommending that it not actually be used, but otherwise the company says that it "will become a new classic to that of bronzing baby shoes!"
Sveid Corkscrew
Price: $65,200
Frank Sveid is a Brussels-based designer who specializes in unique items for the home. His creations are sold in very limited quantities due to the extensive workmanship involved, and in some cases his creations are made to order, such as his corkscrew.
According to Sveid's website, the corkscrew's fingertip lever is made of 18 karat gold, and it's presented in a wooden box with the recipient's name engraved on it. Prices start at $65,200.
Amour, Amour Dog Collar
Price: $3.2 million
Some dog owners have such affection for a pet that it gets its own Christmas stocking hung alongside those of human family members. Normally, the dog's stocking would contain something like a chew toy, but for the dog enthusiast with the money to spend and the inclination to spend it, something more is necessary.
I Love Dogs Diamonds sells that "something more" --- the 52 carat Amour, Amour dog collar. This stocking stuffer is festooned with no less than 1,600 diamonds, and it costs $3.2 million to put it around Fido's neck.
See the full list: Extravagant Stocking Stuffers
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