Giving a handpan for Christmas: how to choose the right one

Short answer: for a first handpan as a gift, the D Kurd 10 (€1,590) is the safest pick: a soft minor scale anyone can play without reading music. The D Aegean 10 sounds brighter, the C Low Pygmy 9 deeper. Allow about 30 days, with free delivery including duties and taxes, so order by 15 November.

1. Is a handpan a good gift?

A handpan makes a memorable present. You can play it from the first minute, with no sheet music, and almost any combination of notes sounds good because the whole instrument is tuned to a single scale. But it is also an expensive gift that you are choosing on someone else's behalf. Before you go ahead, check three things:

• Do they actually want one? Handpans appeal most to people who like playing for themselves, slowing down and improvising. If they have mentioned it, watched videos or tried a friend's, that's a good sign.
• One scale, for good. The notes of a handpan can't be changed. That is what makes it easy, but it won't replace a guitar or piano for playing any song or joining any band.
• It weighs 4.5 kg and is about 56 cm across. It needs a place to live, away from damp and heat, plus a quick wipe after each session (see our handpan care guide).

If you are still weighing up options, our guide on how to choose your first handpan covers every criterion in detail.

2. Our 4 gift models compared

This comparison only covers Enixpan handpans. They are our own instruments, and we don't claim to rank the whole market. The criteria are stated up front: how easy it is for a first-timer, the character of the sound, the number of notes and the price. All of them are made by our partner workshop, hand-tuned and checked note by note before they ship.

• The D Kurd 10, €1,590: a D minor scale, soft and a little wistful, often recommended to people who have never played music. It's the model Charles plays himself, and you can hear him in the video on the product page. The safest choice when you don't know the person's taste.
• The D Aegean 10, €1,690: a bright, major colour that feels more like travel than melancholy. A good fit for a sunny personality who might find the Kurd too sad.
• The C Low Pygmy 9, €1,990: a very low Ding (C3) and a deep, almost tribal character. Fewer notes, but an enveloping sound that suits long, calm improvisations.
• The E Amara 20, €2,890: 13 notes on top, 7 underneath, two octaves. A complete instrument for someone who already plays, a handpan or another instrument. For a very first handpan it is usually more than they need. The other large models, with 18 and 19 notes, are in our expert handpans.

All four come in 440 Hz or 432 Hz tuning at the same price. If they want to play with other musicians, 440 Hz is the standard; 432 Hz is a matter of taste (see 440 Hz vs 432 Hz). The table below sums it up.

3. Budget: what the price covers

Our prices run from €1,590 to €2,890 including VAT, depending on the model. For a gift, what matters is the final price, with no surprise on the doorstep. At Enixpan it includes:

• the handpan, hand-tuned and checked note by note;
• a protective bag and a padded travel cover;
• a digital care guide and access to the learning platform;
• delivery, free worldwide, with import duties and taxes paid (DDP): the recipient pays nothing when the parcel arrives.

You can pay by card, Klarna, PayPal or bank transfer. To see why a real handpan costs what it does, and how to spot an offer that is too good to be true, read our guide to handpan prices.

4. Timing: for Christmas, order by 15 November

Our handpans don't sit in a warehouse: each one is made to order. Allow about 30 days from order to delivery: roughly 15 days to make and tune it, then roughly 15 days in transit. That is an estimate, not a guaranteed date.

So for a Christmas present the rule is simple: order by 15 November. After that date, delivery before Christmas becomes unlikely. If you want a precise answer for your situation before paying, message Charles on WhatsApp or write to contact@enixpan.com.

Worth knowing: at checkout, the delivery address can differ from the billing address. You can have the handpan shipped straight to the recipient, in your country or abroad, with no customs charges for them to pay.

5. Choosing a sound you can't try

Giving a handpan means picking a sound for someone else. Three ways to get a feel for it before you order:

1. Play the scales in Nixis, our online tester: you try each model note by note in your browser. It is a simulation built from samples, not a recording of the instrument you will receive, but it is enough to compare the character of each scale.
2. Watch Charles's video on the D Kurd 10 page: he plays his own instrument, from the same workshop. Because every handpan is tuned by hand, the tone varies slightly from one to the next.
3. Ask for advice: describe the person (the music they like, whether they want to meditate or improvise) to Charles, who answers himself.

Afterwards, the included learning platform and our guide on how to learn handpan will help them find their first rhythms.

6. Engraving: a lovely touch, but no returns

On each product page, the "Custom engraving" box lets you add an engraving (up to 45 characters) for €200. A name, a date, a word: it is the only personalisation we offer. There is no gift box or wrapping; the instrument arrives in its bag and padded cover, straight from the workshop.

Think before you engrave. An engraving makes the instrument personalised, and our terms of sale exclude personalised instruments from the right of withdrawal; EU rules carve out the same exception for "clearly personalised" goods (Your Europe, European Commission). If you are unsure about the model, give it without an engraving so it stays returnable under the terms below.

7. What if they don't like it?

Everyone asks this about a gift over €1,500. Here are our rules, with no small print:

• You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind. Return shipping is at the buyer's expense, and the return address is in France.
• For deliveries in mainland France, Corsica or Monaco only, returns are free within 30 days.
• In every case, the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity applies.

The clock starts on delivery: if the parcel comes to you and waits in a cupboard until 24 December, those days are already running. Keep the box and check the instrument as soon as it arrives. Full details are on our returns and guarantee page.

Frequently asked questions

Which handpan should I give a beginner?

The D Kurd 10 (€1,590): a soft D minor scale that is easy to play without reading music. If they prefer brighter sounds, the D Aegean 10 (€1,690) is the major-key alternative.

How much does a handpan gift cost?

At Enixpan, €1,590 to €2,890 including VAT depending on the model, with the bag, padded cover, care guide, learning platform and free delivery with duties and taxes paid.

How long does a handpan take to arrive before Christmas?

About 30 days: roughly 15 days to make it and 15 days in transit. That is an estimate, so for delivery before Christmas, order by 15 November.

Can the handpan be delivered straight to the recipient?

Yes. The delivery address can differ from the billing address, at home or abroad. Duties and taxes are included, so the recipient pays nothing on delivery.

What if they don't like the handpan?

You have 14 days from delivery to return it, with return shipping at the buyer's expense (free within 30 days for mainland France, Corsica and Monaco). An engraved instrument can't be returned.

Can a handpan be engraved?

Yes, through the “Custom engraving” option on the product page: up to 45 characters for €200. An engraved instrument is personalised and no longer covered by the right of withdrawal.

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