Personalised Christmas gift: a photo engraved on slate, who it suits and when to order

The trouble with Christmas presents is always the same people: the grandparents, the father-in-law, the aunt who says she doesn’t need anything. A photo engraved on slate often solves the problem. It isn’t one more thing to put away in a cupboard, it’s a memory that goes on the sideboard, and you won’t find it ready-made in a shop.

We engrave these slates to order in our workshop in Talais, in the Médoc. Here is how to choose the photo for each person, and the timetable to follow so the slate arrives before the 24th.

A different photo for each person

For grandparents. The photo of the grandchildren, of course, and ideally a recent one, from this year. If there are three or four of them in the picture, choose the 30 × 30 cm square slate: it is the one that keeps the faces large enough. A photo where the children are squeezed up against each other comes out better than one where they stand in a line, far away.

For parents. A memory from the summer holidays, a graduation photo, a picture from one of the children’s weddings. A photo that tells something about the year that is ending.

For someone who loves their dog more than anything. A portrait of the animal, on the 28 cm round slate, with its name underneath. A light-coloured dog on a dark background, like our “Luna” slate, stands out very well.

For a couple. Their photo of the year, or one from their first Christmas together. The ideas for Valentine’s Day work at Christmas too.

Adding a Christmas touch, without overdoing it

The slate stays in the living room all year round. A giant pine tree engraved right in the middle works in December and wears thin by March. It is better to keep the photo in the centre and add one discreet detail.

In advanced mode, on the personalisation page, you can add text and motifs. For Christmas:

• a line of text: “Christmas 2026”, the family name, or the grandchildren’s names;
• a small motif: snowflake, pine tree, star or gift;
• a frame of little stars around the photo.

A name or a date reads from a distance. A three-line sentence much less so: keep long messages for the card.

Several slates for the whole family

One slate for each grandmother, one for the godfather, one for the aunt: delivery is free within France from three slates in the same order. Each slate can have its own photo and its own text, and everything ships in the same parcel.

The timetable to have it before Christmas

Count the steps:

1. you design the slate online and place your order;
2. we engrave it, clean it and pack it within 48 to 72 hours;
3. the carrier delivers it in 3 to 5 working days, by Colissimo or to a pick-up point.

Normally that comes to a week to ten days. In December, parcels are delayed everywhere. Our advice: order before 10 December. If you live nearby, collection from the workshop in Talais is free and saves you the shipping days.

If we have doubts about your photo (too dark, too many people in it), we write to you before engraving. And if you would rather not deal with it yourself, the workshop layout option (€20) lets us rework the crop and contrast, with a mockup sent by email before engraving. That adds a round trip, so order a little earlier.

Having it delivered directly

The grandparents live at the other end of France? At checkout, tick “It’s a gift” and enter their address. The parcel goes straight to them, with no invoice inside, and with your short note on a card. You receive the invoice by email.

What to know before giving it

Our slates are painted before engraving, and that paint is not meant for contact with food. So it isn’t a cheese board for the Christmas Eve dinner: it is a decorative object, delivered with a support to stand it upright, and pads under the slate so it doesn’t scratch the furniture.

To choose the right photo, we have written a full guide: engraving a photo on slate, which photo to choose. And to get started, everything happens in the shop: the 30 × 30 cm square slate or the 28 cm round slate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the last date to order an engraved slate so it arrives before Christmas?

We recommend ordering before 10 December for delivery. The slate is engraved within 48 to 72 hours, then shipping takes 3 to 5 working days, and carriers are slower in December. If you collect it from the workshop in Talais, you have a few extra days.

Can the slate be delivered straight to the person you are giving it to?

Yes. At checkout, tick "It's a gift" and enter their address. The parcel goes to them with no invoice inside, and with a short note on a card if you write one. You receive the invoice by email.

How much does a slate engraved with a photo cost?

€49.90 per slate, engraving and support included, as a 30 × 30 cm square or a 28 cm round. Delivery is free within France from three slates in the same order.