Jewelry collecting has been a diversion for hundreds of years. J.P. Morgan was a well-known gem collec-tor during his lifetime—Tiffany & Co. even named a newly discovered stone, morganite, in his honor. Indian maharajahs displayed their wealth in opulent jewelry suites featuring hundreds, if not thousands, of carats. Visit any museum in Europe, and you’ll find a dazzling parade of royal crown jewels that kings and queens collected.
Because nothing holds value quite like rare, precious jewels, collecting them can be a rather sound investment. Price makes little difference: In 2003 a Belperron amethyst cuff sold for $28,680; in 2021 that same cuff went for $87,500. In 2012 a 6.7-carat Kashmir sapphire auctioned for $206,500; last year a similarly sized one was bought for $550,000.
Unlike when buying stocks or crypto, you can actually wear and enjoy these assets, so the adage to buy what you love applies here. “I liken managing a collection of jewelry to managing a portfolio of stocks,” says Tiina Smith, a vintage dealer in Boston, who spent years working on Wall Street before changing careers and opening a boutique. “It requires rigorous analysis, making sure you know what you’re about to buy, trying to buy the best in class.”
As with stocks, education is the way to begin. There are many excellent books on the jewelry market, but start with Understanding Jewellery, the industry bible by two former Sotheby’s jewelry executives, David Bennett and Daniela Mascetti. You can also learn by taking online courses, visiting museum exhibitions, or attending previews at auction houses.
Denne historien er fra March 14, 2022-utgaven av Bloomberg Businessweek.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 14, 2022-utgaven av Bloomberg Businessweek.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Instagram's Founders Say It's Time for a New Social App
The rise of AI and the fall of Twitter could create opportunities for upstarts
Running in Circles
A subscription running shoe program aims to fight footwear waste
What I Learned Working at a Hawaiien Mega-Resort
Nine wild secrets from the staff at Turtle Bay, who have to manage everyone from haughty honeymooners to go-go-dancing golfers.
How Noma Will Blossom In Kyoto
The best restaurant in the world just began its second pop-up in Japan. Here's what's cooking
The Last-Mover Problem
A startup called Sennder is trying to bring an extremely tech-resistant industry into the age of apps
Tick Tock, TikTok
The US thinks the Chinese-owned social media app is a major national security risk. TikTok is running out of ways to avoid a ban
Cleaner Clothing Dye, Made From Bacteria
A UK company produces colors with less water than conventional methods and no toxic chemicals
Pumping Heat in Hamburg
The German port city plans to store hot water underground and bring it up to heat homes in the winter
Sustainability: Calamari's Climate Edge
Squid's ability to flourish in warmer waters makes it fitting for a diet for the changing environment
New Money, New Problems
In Naples, an influx of wealthy is displacing out-of-towners lower-income workers