The Bond Street purveyor of luxury objets and accoutrements arrives on MR PORTER in time for peak present season.

We have all at some point been faced with that singular dilemma – what to buy the friend who appears to have everything? It is tiresome and takes up too much real estate in our brain that could be used for other, more profitable activities. That dilemma is several orders of magnitude bigger though when the person you are buying for is the offspring of a king, really does have everything, and you are a crowned head yourself.

Such was Queen Mary’s dilemma when her granddaughter Princess Margaret reached her 18th birthday in 1948. But the old Queen knew just what to do – she went to New Bond Street and to Asprey for some jewellery. And why would she go anywhere else? Founded in 1781 by Mr William Asprey as a purveyor of “articles of exclusive design and high quality”, it has held the Royal Warrant – that ultimate seal of regal approval – from every British monarch; from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II.

The long-term regal approval should be no surprise though, because Asprey is the ultimate purveyor of what royal houses run on: luxury. Initially working with silk, Mr William Asprey’s son and grandson, Messers William and Charles Asprey, soon expanded the business into the metallic arts, and with some considerable success. However, it was as makers of dressing cases that they became primarily known in the Victorian period and beyond. Asprey not only made superb cases in the traditional manner, they also reconceived them for the new railway age, constructing leather models in new styles and, for the first time, making them truly portable. To have an Asprey case became a mark of discernment, like an IWC watch is today.

The spirit of innovation survives to this day on the shop floor and in the workshops above the New Bond Street store. Asprey’s business now encompasses timepieces – they recently partnered with Bovet 1822 and Rolex – jewellery, leatherwear, crystal, china and, of course, silverware, a range of which is now available on MR PORTER in time for the gifting season.

At MR PORTER, we are always happy to hear the reassuring tinkle of a pre-dinner cocktail shaker, whatever the weather. But there is no denying that our shakers are now making more of an appearance than usual. And just as our choice of cocktail says something about us – we are dry-gin martini men, through and through – so does the vessel in which we make them.

The silversmiths above the New Bond Street store have long been known for their deft hand and expert eye, both of which are evidenced in Asprey’s tableware. This pair of sterling silver salt and pepper shakers neatly references its playful range of silver egg cups, talons and all.

A dog-eared business card is as much of a social faux pas as a dirty finger nail – in other words, it’s unacceptable. Which is where Asprey comes in. Not only is this case a beautiful object in itself – one can imagine Lord Byron dispensing calling cards from its depths – it is thin enough to slip into a breast pocket, but sturdy enough to keep your cards in pristine condition. The state of your nails is down to you.

To be truly stylish is to invest in any activity, be it extraordinary or everyday, a certain verve and cool. This is exactly what this Asprey-hallmarked sterling silver bottle opener, made in the workshops above the store, does so well. Has the removal of a bottle top from a Belgian beer ever been smarter?

The Golden Age of Air Travel might seems as distant as the Jurassic period, but you can still evoke the style of those long-gone days with this sterling-silver cocktail shaker made with a twist lid and black, white and blue enamel details by the craftsmen at Asprey’s London workshops.

Indecision, as Mr Joe Strummer of The Clash famously pointed out, is really quite annoying. So let this sterling silver dice help you along the way. You might not want to rely on it for that currency arbitrage deal, but it will up your parlour-games game on those long, late-December afternoons.

**Shop the entire Asprey collection here **