Executive Gift: A World at Their Fingertips

The intrinsic, functional beauty of globes earns them high honors as appropriate yet cool professional gifts.

Desk globes or table top globes are potent three-dimensional symbols not only of our planet, but also the interconnectedness of earth and sea, countries, history, and peoples. This, along with their elegant visual presence, makes them a perfect gift for that notoriously hard-to-buy-for demographic, the corporate executive (globe-trotting or otherwise).

Make a global statement As with any decorative room accessory, several practical factors must be considered when choosing a globe as a gift, including dimensions, color, and style preferences of the recipient. Cartographers are constantly updating globes as political boundaries continue to change. Larger, more traditional styles tend to have more text, graphics, and detail. If you intend the globe to be used as a reference, choose one of these. Modern styles are uncluttered and sparing in their use of text.

How big?

Most table top globes range between 9 and 12 inches in diameter and height, and are set on a half meridian base that easily fits on a desk. Unlike the classroom globe you may remember, many of today's globes feature illumination and/or raised relief to highlight topographical and political details.

Commemorating a special occasion with your gift? Look for one with an engraveable plaque on the base.

Desk globes are much more compact, in the 3- to 4-inch diameter range. They may be freestanding on a base or part of a desk set. Some of the most striking desk globes are metal spheres that literally "levitate" within a magnetic field created by their base.

A world of options

The most immediate visual impact of both table top globes and desk globes comes from the color of their oceans. Both styles feature choices for every taste.

Naturalistic globes feature blue oceans and green and brown land masses. Traditional styles often feature the antique color scheme of old fashioned maps in warm earthy tones. There are also myriad table top globes and desk globes in beautiful transitional and modern styles that feature clear oceans, graphic black oceans, or subtler neutral or metal-toned palettes.

For all-out glamour, choose an inlaid, hand-cut gemstone globe with a gold or silver stand.

Celestial globes

If you like the globe idea but want a unique twist, consider a celestial globe. These fascinating globes are a gift that is sure to appeal to grown up kids who vividly remember early space exploration. They bring to life heavenly constellations, the movements of the Earth, sun, and stars, and the secrets of navigation. Many also feature illumination, lighting up graphic depictions of celestial images across the hemispheres.