Holiday Gift Guide 2026: Hand-Carved Stone Objects for Giving Fewer, Better Things

From the studio:

Every December, we hear the same question: what do you give the person who already has what they want?

Our answer, after years of making objects for giving: not more. Give fewer, better things. One considered piece always makes a deeper impact than a stack of generic ones. One object with a story (a stone pulled from the Andes, carved by hand in a workshop you can picture) carries weight the gift wrap cannot.

This is our 2026 holiday guide, organized by the person you’re shopping for rather than the price. Everything is hand-carved from Peruvian gemstones in workshops across northern Peru. Everything ships from our studio in Pacasmayo in time for the holidays with standard delivery, with expedited options available through mid-December.

For the host who has everything

The person on your list who already owns the glassware, the candles, the cutting boards, and the throw blankets. Give them something they wouldn’t source for themselves.

Wavy Gemstone Candelabra ($169 to $189). Available in Creamy Soapstone, Jasper, and Serpentine Green. Flips to hold two or three taper candles. The playful piece they’ll use at every dinner party for the next decade.

Puzzle Coasters, Set of Four ($199). Hand-carved opalescent soapstone, these 4 lovely stone coasters interlock into a simple, iconic puzzle on the table between rounds of coffee or cocktails. If someone can solve it in time for the hot-plate to arrive, it also functions as a hot trivet.

For the new homeowner

The friend who just closed on a place, the couple who just moved in, the sibling settling into a first apartment that feels like a big deal.

Cone Jewel Box in Angelite ($149). A hand-carved wooden jewel box with a solid blue angelite stone sphere handle. The kind of considered object that immediately finds its place in any room, perfect for holiday treats, favorite jewelry, or for de-digitizing and putting away the airpods and other bits in your pocket at the end of the day.

Organic Catchall ($59). These simple, organic stone dishes are a delight to use throughout the home, adding a natural touch to a modern space, an elegant stone to elevate a little nook that’s recently been put together. Hand-carved in soapstone, angelite, rust jasper and red jasper. They can be used on the dinner table for salt or nuts, they can capture coins and keys at the front door, or they can become the place to hold rings when washing dishes or wrapping up the day.

For the puzzle lover

The person on your list who still does the Sunday crossword in pen. The friend whose coffee table is already covered in objects of this kind.

XL Gemstone Cube Puzzle ($325). A 7-piece gemstone puzzle that can solve a perfect cube or endless other creative configurations. This piece is an interactive sculpture, meant to draw in guests on the coffee table or after dinner. No two Super Cubes are made from the same combination of stones making each a true one-of-a-kind gift.

Gemstone Cube Puzzle ($99). The more accessible classic version of its big brother. The same seven shapes, same seven stones, one perfect cube. This one is delightful on a desktop where a moment of analog pause is welcome throughout the day.

For the designer, architect, or engineer

The person who thinks in form, geometry, and material. Who would notice a bad gift immediately.

Kinetic Spin Top ($99). A hand-carved gemstone and brass spinning top. This piece comes with the simple pleasure of assembling the hand polished brass pieces with the hard stone disk. It makes for a very satisfying tactile analog break for the desk. Available in Turquoise, Pink Jasper, and Green Nefrite.

Puzzle Coasters ($199). This is one of our favorites to give. The pieces solve a daily styling problem with an object that has geometric interest of its own. The nice clink of the stones being joined together is also a nice appeal to someone who appreciates nice materials!

For the quiet friend

The one who already has a meditation practice, or might be looking to start one.

Sphere Incense Holder ($59). A hand-carved solid stone sphere, simple and elegant, able to hold a single stick of incense and ground the space with a little more intention. Available in multiple stone colors.

Stone Casita ($129). A sculptural incense burner and desk cord weight, carved from a solid block of soapstone or serpentine. Dual-purpose, slow-living object.

For the game night host

The friend whose table is where everyone ends up. Who already owns the board games, the bar cart, the vinyl.

Tangram Puzzle ($129). Hand-carved wooden cachimbo board with colorful, carved tan pieces. Nice to leave out on the coffee table between rounds and invite play between scheduled fun times.

Giant Gemstone Dice, Set of Four ($129). Oversized dice in Rhodonite, Angelite, Black Onyx, and Red Jasper. Heirloom-weight game pieces that stack nicely on the shelf when not in use.

For the small host gift

The dinner you were invited to last-minute. The teacher. The neighbor who watered your plants.

Decorative Gemstone Laundry Clip ($39). A hand-carved sculptural clip, scaled up from a clothespin, in Serpentine Green, Dumortierite Blue, Rhodonite Pink, Celeste Blue, or Orange Jasper. Playful, small, and surprisingly dense in the hand.

Organic Catchall ($59). These simple, organic stone dishes are a delight to use throughout the home. Hand-carved in soapstone, angelite, rust jasper and red jasper. They can be used on the dinner table for salt or nuts, they can capture coins and keys at the front door, or they can become the place to hold rings when washing dishes or wrapping up the day.

For the luxury gift

The one that signals real appreciation. A tenth anniversary, a milestone, a retirement.

XL Super Tangram ($495). Our premium puzzle meant to adorn any coffee table and invite more play on the regular. This puzzle is hand-carved from a striking mix of Andean gemstones,  each stone carefully selected to match the tones of its neighbouring tan pieces. Endless fun, whether solving within the box or breaking-free into creative play, the Tangram is a phenomenal gift. 

XL Gemstone Cube Puzzle ($325). A 7-piece gemstone puzzle that can solve a perfect cube or endless other creative configurations. This piece is an interactive sculpture, meant to draw in guests on the coffee table or after dinner. No two Super Cubes are made from the same combination of stones making each a true one-of-a-kind gift.

A note on holiday ordering

We ship from our studio in Pacasmayo, Peru. Standard delivery to the United States is roughly 7 to 10 business days. For holiday delivery, we recommend ordering by December 10th.

For large orders, corporate gifting, or custom pieces, contact us at hola@dar-proyectos.com. We work with design studios and architecture firms directly for client gifting at the end of the year.

A note on how we make things

Every DAR piece is hand-carved from Andean gemstones in small workshops across northern Peru, with master craftsmen we have worked with for over a decade. Nothing is factory-made. Every object carries the natural variation of the stone it was carved from, which means your gift is literally one of one.