Delight your dad with this selection of thoughtful gifts.

Mother’s Day is a big deal, as anyone who has ever forgotten and felt the wrath of their mum can attest. And rightly so – for shame if you did – because even in these so-called enlightened times, women bear the brunt of domestic tasks and childcare. But increasingly, dads are pulling at least some of the weight. And while you could argue that in a patriarchal society men are celebrated every day of the year, Father’s Day is the 24-hour period when you have to at least acknowledge the great job your old man did raising a well-adjusted individual such as yourself (even if statistically he put in less effort than your mum). But how to mark this occasion? Convention suggests a token of gratitude. The problem is that men of a certain age are notoriously difficult to buy presents for, and there’s only so much beer and whisky you can palm off on the guy before he starts wondering if you think he is an alcoholic (or your local off licence thinks the same about you). So here then we present a glut of gifts guaranteed to get you in his good books – till next year, at least.

We know what you’re thinking: “Socks?” Despite empirical evidence to the contrary, a man can never own too many pairs of socks. But no matter where you sit on the age-old quantity/quality confabulation, it is possible to have both in one package, as proven by this 15-pair set by London Sock Co. That’s box-fresh socks for more than an entire fortnight after his big day, all in different hues so as not to confuse someone of his dotage (worth pointing out when he unwraps it). Or you could look at this another way and instead of giving something for him to wear any old day, bestow an item that only comes out for special occasions – a luxury that they might never buy themselves – such as cufflinks. And certainly not any old cufflinks, but an exclusive Father’s Day twinset by Alice Made This. Willed into being in factories across the UK, it’s a nod to Britain’s industrial heyday that might trigger nostalgic recollections from his youth each time he puts them to use – or at the very least provide a gentle reminder as to who his favourite child is when he comes to filling out his will.

Give a man a spa day and he can go to a spa for a day; but give him the means to have a spa every day, and that’s him sorted, really. The plush robe that’s the centrepiece of this set (another exclusive) by Soho Home is more worldly Sir Sean Connery-era James Bond than galaxy-weary Arthur Dent (he’ll get the reference even if you don’t). It comes with a shaving set, soap and bowl, for tackling those face bristles, plus a cooling balm. And because he’s the kind of guy who has lived life to its fullest, he’ll have plenty of material should he wish to use this (ahem, exclusive) Smythson notebook set to pen his memoirs. At the very least he can use it to write himself lists. Did you mention that he can be a bit forgetful these days? You probably should.

He gave you quality time, now it’s time to give some back. This striking Swiss-made timepiece has been crafted by Bell & Ross, the watchmaker favoured by astronauts and bomb-disposal experts, so more than suitable for your dad, depending on his vocation. Its mechanism beats a formidable eight times a second and it comes with a vibrant orange GMT hand – a feature used by pilots but no doubt something he can put into action on his next far-flung golfing excursion – all housed in satin-polished steel case. And if in the past you might have contributed to the wear and tear of his wallet, the least you can do is get him a new one. Berluti’s Italian-made Jagua polished-leather bifold is a thing of beauty that over time will gain interest, even if he grumbles that the money in his bank account doesn’t.

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