When it comes to investing, gold is usually the go-to. But over the past decade, diamonds and other jewelry assets have actually occasionally outperformed the precious metal.
If you’re looking to invest for the long haul, don’t only look in the direction of crypto or gold. You can also make a lot of money from jewelry. And to help you navigate your way through the market, we’re sharing the best jewelry options to invest in.
5 Jewelry Options to Invest In
#1: Saltwater pearls
Is there anything more elegant than pearls? If you can find yourself a bracelet or necklace made with natural, saltwater pearl, you’ve got yourself a winner.
Pearls are incredibly hard to find, which makes them hugely desirable. What’s more, the pearls that have so far been found have usually been created over hundreds of years – making them hugely popular in antique jewelry.
Due to their rarity and age, the price for pearls has always been high, with prices increasing year on year. A typical yield for natural saltwater pearls would be 1 in every 10,000 oysters.
#2: Colored diamond
Diamond, of course, is a great investment. But when looking to buy diamonds, you need to take into account the color grading – which ranges from D to Z.
D grade diamonds will be those with crystal-clear white shading, while Z will have a yellow tint. The more color in the diamond, the lower value it has.
However, there are also colored diamonds that aren’t graded on this scale. These precious stones are as rare as saltwater pearls and can be found in blue, red, pink, and even green.
Commonly known as ‘fancy diamonds’, these eye-catching jewels can often be sold for millions. The most expensive diamond – the CTF Pink Star, was sold at auction for $71.2m in 2017. If you can get your hands on a rare colored diamond, you could be set for life. But D grade diamonds are just as good an investment.
#3: Vintage rings and brooches
Period pieces like antique brooches and rings are always in high demand. A UK Art Market Research report shows that the price of vintage jewelry and gems has risen by 80% over the past decade.
The most popular pieces that continuously outperform on the market are art deco jewelry dating back to the 1930s.
#4: Signed jewelry
It isn’t just football shirts and platinum records that can have a high price tag when signed. Signed jewelry – jewelry that’s coded or signed with a designer’s details – can go for thousands of dollars.
When looking for signed jewelry, you should look out for two things: Their rarity and craftsmanship. Depending on how many items were made in the first run will significantly raise or lower the price.
#5: Sapphire
Finally on our list of gems and jewelry to invest in is sapphire. Sapphires are often seen as being second place only to diamond. Their colors range from blue to orange, with the finest blues coming from the Indian Kashmir region. For the rarest sapphires, look out for padparadscha as the prices skyrocket with age.
A blue sapphire could be bought for $1,000 per carat 50 years ago to put things into perspective. Now, the same sapphire could fetch a massive $200,000 per carat.
If you’re set on investing in something a little more glamorous than property, jewelry is certainly on to consider.
