A 15 million dollar Christmas tree

COURTESY OF KEMPINSKI HOTEL BAHÍA

A $15 million Christmas tree sounds excessive, extravagant, lavish, decadent...Yes, but before looking for more qualifications, some clarifications are necessary.

The record value of what the media has dubbed the “Most Expensive Christmas Tree In The World” has been claimed by a beachfront luxury hotel near Marbella in the south of Spain.

To be clear, the astronomical value attached to it isn’t precisely for the tree per se. It’s for the decorations. And what adornments!

COURTESY OF KEMPINSKI HOTEL BAHÍA

Dripping with real diamonds, the tree is the product of a partnership between the Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Estepona, near Marbella on the Spanish Costa del Sol, and celebrity designer Debbie Wingham, a British artist who has crafted showy, life-sized desserts of Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner among others.

She has made her name in the luxury world with other extravagant creations including the most expensive wedding cake in the world, commissioned by a client in Dubai and valued at €50 million euros and the most expensive shoes in the world, a pair of sandals made with gold, pink and blue diamonds worth €15 million.

Along with the high-value stones, including pink, red, white and black diamonds, the tree has edible treats and traditional decorations. 

The Kempinski Hotel Bahia, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is one of the Kempinski Hotels—“Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, created in 1897 and with a portfolio of 78 five-star hotels and residences in 34 countries,” according to its website. A night at the Kempinski Hotel Bahía costs between €160 and €620 for special winter promotion.

COURTESY OF KEMPINSKI HOTEL BAHÍA

The tree in Spain was unveiled this week at a reception during which the hotel management explained that the flawlessly-cut and ethically-sourced decorations include three carat pink diamonds, four carat sapphires, oval red diamonds, black and white diamonds and a mixture of designed jewelry from luxury brands.

Art Deco-inspired, the other “baubles” on the tree take the form of luxury items like perfume bottles and martini glasses, 3D printed chocolate peacocks and classic decorations such as snowflakes, fairies and beautifully decorated baubles, carefully curated with diamond dust and 24-karat gold.

There are other Christmas trees that have claimed the title of “Most Expensive”: One was designed by Van Cleef & Arpels and unveiled on December 7, 2001, at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles. It also was encrusted with diamonds and featured the ‘Lutece,’ a $2.6 million emerald-and-diamond-necklace and earring set at its top.

The current  Guinness World Record holder for the world's most expensive Christmas tree is the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, valued at about $11 million. Shown in 2010, it stood at 43.2 feet and was lavishly decorated with 181 pieces of jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces and watches.

 THE EMIRATES PALACE HOTEL CHRISTMAS TREE IN ABU DHABI 

From Forbes (edited)