Best graduation gifts 2023: Celebrate their achievement with wine, jewellery and more

While kitchen essentials may seem like a present they’ll need more than they’ll want, the new and improved version of Our Place’s viral always pan is a little different from bog-standard pots and pans, and not just because it’s beautiful.

This is essentially a deep non-stick frying pan you can put in the oven, with a spatula and steamer basket slotting neatly inside, so, if cupboard space is in short supply or if they want as little clutter as possible, it’s a brilliant space-saver.

We’ve fried pancakes, baked cauliflower, boiled and strained pasta and much more in this pan. It negates the need for an oven tray, and charred food simply melts away with soapy hot water, so it’s a dream to clean – although washing-up-averse graduates will have to come to terms with the fact it’s not dishwasher-friendly.

The blue salt colourway we tested has brought a welcome pop of colour to our kitchen, but there are more neutral (as well as brighter) colourways to choose from, too.

For more gift ideas for keen cooks, check out our round-up of the best kitchen knife sets

If a celebratory holiday is on the cards for them, a slick case for their travels is bound to go down well. A gift with serious longevity, too, well-made luggage will last them well beyond their 2023 getaway. A leading brand when it comes to stylish cases, Antler’s expertise is clear in its Clifton range.

Available in both cabin size and as medium and large checked luggage for longer holidays – or for those travellers who can’t resist bringing back more “stuff” than they left with – this suitcase is clearly well-crafted. We were baffled as to how it could be so capacious (we tried the medium) and yet so lightweight and easy to manoeuver. This is down to four wheels, which allow for a smooth ride by swivelling a full 360 degrees.

There’s a TSA combination lock for peace of mind, and plenty of zip-up pockets and compartments inside, as well as a strap for keeping your belongings organised and secure. Better still, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Check out our round-up of the best suitcases and travel bags, for more gift inspiration

There’s something special about jewellery when it comes to celebrating a personal milestone, whether that piece becomes an everyday staple or cherished memento for special occasions.

Understated, classic and delicate in its design, Missoma’s horizon link chain necklace is especially versatile when it comes to everyday wear, and boasts a lovely lustre for a subtle dose of sparkle.

Its simplicity lends it to stacking with silver necklaces and, even better, we love that Missoma only uses recycled sterling silver. 

Like all of its sterling silver pieces, this dainty design is rhodium plated, which should help to protect it from tarnishing or scratching over time – essential for a jewellery gift intended as a keepsake.

For more gifting inspiration, check out our guide to the best online jewellery shops

It only takes a touch of leafy greenery to spruce up a room, so those looking to start afresh after their academic year will love an indoor plant, whether it’s for their new place or to breathe fresh life into their space at home.

Named the marble queen (due to its marbled green and white leaves), this Epipremnum pinnatum plant (which also goes by Lizzie) looks lovely with its vines draping over our chest of drawers.

There’s a range of plant pots you can add to your order, which we think are a worthwhile touch when it comes to gifting, saving your giftee the extra work of finding a nice, well-sized pot for themselves.

A low-maintenance dose of green that should stick around, Lizzie’s also been dubbed “almost unkillable”, as it doesn’t need to be watered regularly and will do well in most light conditions, which makes this indoor plant a thoughtful gift for slightly absent-minded plant parents.

For similar gifts for plant parents, read our round-up of the best houseplants

There’s no better way for a music-lover to graduate than with a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling wireless headphones – its svelte design is just a well-oiled work of art. It’s also packed with features, including music upscaling to hi-res quality; automatic wearing detection, so music pauses automatically when you take the headphones off your head; and quick attention, which lowers the volume when you cover one of the earcups.

It’s wonderous how outside sounds just fade into thin air, adapting to your environment so you can enjoy the sublime sound Sony’s headphones provide. Crisp, detailed and effortlessly melodious, the WH-1000XM5 is one pair of phenomenal over-ear headphones that any music fan or podcast listener will be delighted to receive.

Find more wireless headphone options in our guide to the best

Choosing wine can be overwhelming, and we ourselves have spent plenty of hours studying labels in the supermarket isle to figure out which one to go for. Good Pair Days takes this hassle out of wine shopping by selecting a box for you. And the best part is how customisable this gift is. You can opt for a one-off “surprise box” of three or more bottles, a gift voucher, build-your-own gift box, or gift a minimum of two months of subscription.

It’s also up to you how much you spend. The cheapest box is £35 for three bottles, but you can opt for a higher budget and either alter the number of bottles or keep the three bottles and go for more luxurious wines instead (something a new graduate might not splurge on themselves).

The boxes include details and tasting notes for each of the wines, along with a food recipe to match it with. When setting up an account, you can make notes on the ones you’ve tried to further perfect your profile and find out what you prefer in a wine, so that you’ll be prepared next time the wine list comes your way.

Find more present ideas in our guide to the best gifts for wine-lovers

From learning how to work with the clay to painting and varnishing our final creation (which turned out to be a very pretty jewel-toned trinket pot), we thoroughly enjoyed tapping into our creative side with this pottery making kit from Skulpd. While it’s a lovely gift idea for creative types, it’s also the perfect choice if you plan to spend some extra quality time with a graduate before they fly the nest permanently – and yes, there’s more than enough clay for sharing between you.

The kit comes with everything you’re going to need, including the necessary tools for carving, shaping and smoothing your creation, some white acrylic paint for creating a clean base for your design and the coloured paints you’ll need to do this. We opted for the jewel tone colours but there’s a nice range including pastels and a floral-inspired set. Once you’re happy with the design, the set also has a waterproof matte or glossy varnish to finish it off.

Instructions on how to make a variety of pots, vases and dishes of varying difficulty levels make it easy to get stuck in, regardless of whether they’re confident with a block of clay or a complete beginner.

Squidgy, sticky and not too sweet, these vegan and wheat-free brownies were each a slice of heaven. Arriving as an assortment of rich and fudgy honeycomb brownies smothered in smooth chocolate ganache – which were our personal favourite and didn’t last long – and sticky, toasted pecan brownies, these are perfect for sharing with friends and family while celebrating the big day.

They should also last for up to seven days if they’ve been stored properly (though, we should probably admit we didn’t have the willpower to wait and find out if this claim is true).

As with all of Cutter & Squidge brownies and sweet treats, these can be slotted through letterboxes for convenient gifting, which is perfect if you’re sending your congratulations from afar.

For more present inspiration, check out our guide to the best chocolate gifts

With the end of university comes the perfect opportunity to take a well-deserved break. A passport holder can help them stay organised and this one from Aspinal of London is a little more luxe than what they may buy for themselves.

Handcrafted with fine-grain leather, it certainly looks as premium as it is practical, designed with a grosgrain ribbon to mark the right page and a convenient slip pocket to store boarding passes securely.

To make it extra special and tailored to them, there’s a huge choice of colourways and finishes, such as a peacock blue, an embossed design and a dreamy pool blue (pictured).

The cover can be further personalised with your giftee’s initials, and every colourway is lined with a buttery-soft suede.

Not quite their style? Find more options in our round-up of the best travel wallets

“Almost too good to eat”. That was our initial thought on opening this box of graduation themed biscuits. The beautifully decorated gingerbread come in a variety of shapes – including a cap, robe, scroll and champagne – and can even be personalised for the ultimate treat for their graduation day. Looks aside, these biscuits also taste divine. With a melt in the mouth texture and a subtle spice, they really are amazing to eat and we had to actively stop ourselves from going back for more.

If you don’t want to go all out with the graduate tin, there’s also a smaller letterbox package (£25, Biscuiteers.com) which features the essential cap, robe and scroll and would be a great gift if you’re not going to see them in person on graduation day. Or opt for the graduation jolly ginger (£7.95, Biscuiteers.com) for a sweet extra that tastes just as delicious as all the rest.

This classic quartz watch has a 37mm case and is made from sapphire glass and PVD stainless steel, so it’s particularly robust and water-resistant to an impressive 50m. The watch features timeless two-tone detailing, which we appreciate from an aesthetic and versatility point of view – as it matches both our gold and silver jewellery. Although listed in the men’s section, the watch has a unisex appeal as a less dainty timepiece.

While the high-quality watch feels hard-wearing, it’s lightweight and sits comfortably on our wrist. We also appreciate the fact it displays the day and date too. We’ve been wearing the watch daily and love the dial’s black Roman numerals and intricate pattern. The key details make this piece feel special and it’s an ideal graduation gift that they can enjoy for years to come. We’ve found the watch adds effortless elegant style to any outfit, whether we’re going to work, are out with friends or simply need reminding of the time.

A hybrid instant camera with an attention-grabbing retro design, the Instax mini evo is the perfect way to document the wild shenanigans of a graduation party. The 35mm digital camera is paired with an Instax film printer, meaning you can check your shots and add filters and other analogue effects before committing the memory to paper. The Fujifilm app even lets you use the Instax printer to print pictures taken on your phone.

A wellbeing-focused gift can help them feel pampered and more prepared for whatever comes next. Neom is a popular port of call when it comes to mood-boosting products with premium appeal, and its wellbeing pod mini is specifically designed for using in smaller spaces and on the go. It’s wireless and pretty dinky, being car cup holder-sized for the morning commute.

Pleasingly easy to set up, use and charge with the included USB cable,  we appreciated the three different intensity settings. While it is slightly too noisy for you to use in a shared space – expect a very low hum when it’s in use – we found it was perfect for keeping on our desk when working from home.

With the starter pack, we received the “boost your energy” 100 per cent essential oil, which smelled sublime and left us feeling refreshed after we used it early in the morning. There are also scents focused on de-stressing, calming and more.

Find more oil and reed diffuser options in our guide to the best

Send your graduate off into the big, wide world with the perfect work bag. The Cambridge Satchel Company is great for working and studying bags, and offers satchels in different colours, leather grains and sizes.

We found the Emily bag from The Cambridge Satchel Company to be the perfect size to accommodate a work laptop, wallet, phone, kindle, charger, keys and all the other essentials.

The inner pocket is handy for travel cards, office ID and smaller bits that will be useful for office life, while the length of the handles means you can carry it by hand or on the shoulder.

If your giftee isn’t a fan of leather, take a look at our guide to the best vegan handbag brands

Graduating means moving on and, potentially, moving out. The dorm days are over and a “grown-up” flat is waiting on the other side, meaning a proper (and clean) kitchen. To help your graduate get ready to put that kitchen to use, a cookbook is the perfect present.

New Feast is a Middle Eastern cookbook with vegetarian recipes inspired by Turkish, Lebanese, Syrian, Jordan, Northern African and Moorish Spanish cuisine.

From salads, dips and breads to hearty mains, these dishes are made for sharing and, therefore, perfect for the next dinner party. These flavoursome foods taste amazing and, trust us, they look quite impressive, too.

If this one won’t cut the mustard, we’ve rounded up all kinds of cookbooks, from vegan to sustainable tomes

For graduates flying the nest permanently after university, Perfect Draft’s beer dispenser will seriously impress their new housemates. Their ticket to fresh, cold draught beer at home, the pump is compatible with a wide range of 6l kegs from more than 50 brands, from Stella Artois to Leffe and Camden Hells.

The temperature indicator shows when the beer is at optimal coolness (around 3C) while the display shows volume and freshness. Staying carbonated for 30 days, the sleek black design will slot seamlessly into their new home, pouring the perfect pint every time.

Find more beer dispenser options in our guide to the best

Whether they’re moving back home or into a new one, celebrate your graduate with a beautiful candle set. Some people light them straightaway, while others keep more aesthetically pleasing ones to add to the decor – either way, these gorgeous candles from Diptyque make the perfect present.

The miniaturised candle selection features some of the brand’s most favoured fragrances (baies, figuier and roses) and are sure to bring about a sense of calm as your grad goes out to make their mark on the world.

Even once the candle has been used, they can keep the glass holders around the house, so the gift keeps on giving.

Whether used for journaling and diary entries, doodling or for jotting down anything relating to their life admin, stationery can be a genuinely useful gift (and a nice change from the notes app in their phone). Any old notebook may seem a little bit humdrum to present to them as a graduation gift, though this one from Papier is anything but.

With a luxury feel about it, the design is simple and sophisticated, and there are five different hues to choose from, including green pine, a warm rust tone and the navy colourway we tried. What’s more, Papier’s classic notebooks are well made, using paper stemming from FSC-certified forests, and crafted from upcycled leather.

For an added sense of occasion, it can be personalised with your graduate’s monogram in silver, gold or rose gold foil.

An e-reader that’s also a digital notebook, the Kindle Scribe comes with a stylus that allows you to sketch, make handwritten notes in books, sign PDFs, or jot down memos on blank and lined notebook pages. Unlike tablets with polished glass displays (which can feel like writing on, well, glass) the Kindle Scribe’s matte e-ink display feels like physical paper under your pen’s nib.

Of course, it’s a fantastic e-reader too, and the biggest Amazon makes. More text on screen means less page flipping and a more comfortable reading experience, though it does make the Scribe a little less portable than smaller Kindles.

Many students plan to travel after graduating, to blow off steam and explore the world. The skin function starter kit is a great way to make sure the recent graduate in your life can enjoy some little luxuries during their travels.

The kit comes in a handy travel bag and all the products smell amazing, particularly the hand cream, which will be perfect for tired, sun-beaten hands at the end of the day.

Using both the cream cleanser and foaming cleanser are great for a double cleanse, and the full-size (65ml) hydra-repair day cream has more product than even a standard 50ml moisturiser, but comes in a handy portable tube.

If you’re looking to pull out all the stops and treat a beauty obsessive, look no further than Dyson’s coveted airwrap. Yes, it’s pricey, but it’s an investment tool that they’ll cherish for years to come, post-uni. Streamlining your hair care regime, it styles and dries simultaneously for a salon-worthy hairdo. The latest iteration of the tool arrived last year with notable improvements including an attachment to smooth flyaways and ability to change airflows with the click of a switch.

Complete with a smoothing dryer, two barrels (30mm and 40mm), soft and firm smoothing brushes, round volumising brush, a filter cleaning brush and a storage case, create bouncy blow drys, tight curls, sleek straight looks or wavy styles with ease.

Find more styling and haircare gift ideas with a little help from our guides

A timeless keepsake they can cherish now and forever, cufflinks are a great way to express personal flair on all kinds of special and formal occasions in the years to come. When they may need to look smart and suited, these Ted Baker cufflinks could be just the ticket.

The pair boasts contemporary style with a striking geometric design and Ted Baker branding. In the centre, the marbled detailing is the pièce de résistance.

Although the silver-coloured pair we tested (which boasted a lovely lustre) is now out of stock, you can plump for the gunmetal-coloured plating instead.

As they’re not pieces of fine jewellery, they’re a decent price from a luxury brand. A classic gift and something they can put to use straightaway and wear on their graduation day.

Lego has had somewhat of a renaissance in recent years – perhaps most surprisingly among Gen Z. With collections including Harry Potter, mindful botanical sets, Batman, Technic and icons such as the Eiffel Tower and Barceolona stadium, there’s something for every taste – and our graduating tester found Lego’s Star Wars Millennium Falcon both challenging and perfect for display.

Comprising 1,335 pieces, it took around eight hours overall to build. Packed with details – including an opening cockpit, battle shooters and hidden compartments to delight fans of the sci-fi franchise – it contains seven movie characters, including Finn and Chewbacca, while its impressive size (14cm x 44cm x 32cm) means it will take pride of place in any recent graduate’s room.

Not a fan of Star Wars? We’ve rounded up more Lego sets for adults

Graduates with a keen eye for fashion will love this pair of classic sunnies from French brand Jimmy Fairly. You can’t go wrong with an oval silhouette, as it suits most face shapes. This pair boast an in-vogue geometric frame and gold-hued JF logos at the temple, awarding them a luxe feel.

The sleek noir black finish is easily styled while the plant-based bio-acetate frame is pleasingly lightweight. Whether they’re jetting off on holiday to celebrate graduating or in need of a new statement pair for post-uni life, the Jimmy Fairly specs are a fail-safe gift.

If your giftee is a sporty type, check out our guide to the best running sunglasses