Neiman Marcus, Dallas, has unveiled its 2003 Christmas Book. The 77th version of the catalog is filled with an amazing assortment of unique, imaginative, and dreamy holiday offerings. Among the items in this year’s book are a one-of-a-kind diamond ring and a Swarovski crystal-diamond chandelier.

Included among the wonderland of gifts in this year’s Christmas Book are some extraordinary fantasy gifts. Among them are:

DIAMOND RING
This stunning diamond ring features a one-of-a-kind natural fancy yellow diamond of 44.6 cts. The diamond can be laser inscribed on the girdle with a personal message of up to 2,000 characters. The ring is made of 18k gold and is accented with a total of six cts. of white diamonds on the sides of the main attraction. It’s a rarity—so rare in fact that the company only has one. ($800,000, page 33)

SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL “BLOSSOM” CHANDELIER
This chandelier was inspired by Japanese cherry trees and is called simply “Blossom.” It is the creation of Dutch industrial designer Tord Boontje for Swarovski, the legendary Austrian Crystal company. Blurring the lines between interior design, art, and fashion, “Blossom” is leading the re-invention of the crystal chandelier. It was handcrafted in Milan and made of steel with 200 twinkling LED lights intermingled with pink Swarovski cherry blossoms. ($24,855, page 132)

Other items included in this year’s book are his and hers robots ($400,000 per pair, page 23), limited edition 2004 BMW 645i Coupe ($75,170, page 107), luxury ice fishing houses (from $27,000, page 15), Bombardier Learjets (Prices range from $7,737,000- $12,743,000 — models include Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 45XR and Learjet 60, page 26), and Neiman Marcus exclusive Louis Vuitton luggage ($50,000, page 27).

First published in 1926 as a 16-page catalogue, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book was originally intended as a Christmas card to its best customers. Building each year on that heritage, the book has retained its personal touch while evolving into a relied-upon source of suggestions for customers committed to giving unique and dramatic gifts to their loved ones.

“The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is a holiday tradition and kicks off the gift buying season for many of our customers,” said Brendan Hoffman, President and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct.

Internationally acclaimed children’s book illustrator and author Sara Fanelli designed this year’s cover.

Neiman Marcus has chosen The Alzheimer’s Association to benefit from the sale of selected items in the 2003 Christmas Book. The Alzheimer’s Association is the world leader in research and support of Alzheimer’s, a complex disease of the brain that affects more than four million Americans. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Cover Art- inspired items and of all gifts displayed on pages 140-148 will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Neiman Marcus Christmas Book will be distributed to 1.8 million homes in the United States and around the world. Subscriptions to the 2003 Christmas Book can be ordered for $15 by calling 1-800 NEIMANS (634-6267). In addition, The Neiman Marcus website, www.neimanmarcus.com, will feature the entire Christmas Book online, making it possible for customers who have not received the book to order their holiday gifts directly from the site.

JCK