Gifts that will blow your mind – and your purse
Must wants for adults with billions of dollars
IT’S all about the bling, glitz and glamour when it comes to toy shopping for adults – for those who can afford it, that is.
This is the conclusion after Barnebys tracked record sales of art, antiques and collectables from 3 000 auctioneers in Europe, Asia and America.
Classic cars
The number of classic cars sold at auctions every year keeps on rising.
The most famous automotive brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin or Bugatti have been attracting a broader audience each year and are the objects of fierce bidding at auctions.
According to The Wealth Report published by Knight Frank, classic cars are, in the long-term, a better investment than art and have shown an impressive progression of 334 % over the past 10 years.
A good example of the strength of this sector is the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, which sold at an auction a month ago for a record US$48-million (R685 440 000).
Watches
The fascination with watches has grown immensely.
The exclusive watch brands are the hottest ticket on the auction markets, continuing to fetch record prices.
Watches is now one of the most collectable categories, which include wine, cars, art and antiques.
The most searched for watch brand is Rolex, followed by Omega and Patek Philippe.
Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona sold for $17 752 500, a new world record for a wristwatch at an auction.
The timepiece sold to an anonymous bidder on the phone after 12 minutes of spirited bidding at Phillips in New York last year.
Jewellery
Jewellery has continued to perform well over the past decade.
Currently great white diamonds, coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones such as sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and the very best pearls are commanding the most excitement in auction rooms.
A Vivid Pink diamond sold last year for $28.5-million and was described as the Rolls Royce of diamonds.
Wine and whisky
There has been something of an earthquake in the wine world with the major sales now taking place in Hong Kong where enormous air-conditioned cellars keep premier crus cool for even cooler customers.
The world record price for whisky is now held by a Japanese brand.
A bottle of Japanese whisky sold at Hong Kong’s Bonhams Whisky Sale for $343 000, toppling both its estimated sale price and the previous world record for a single bottle of Japanese whisky.
The bottle in question was a 50-year-old Yamazaki, a rare single malt.
When it comes to wine, nothing has topped the Jeroboam of 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild that sold for $310 700 in February 2007 at Sotheby’s.
Handbags
The value of branded women’s handbags have gone through the roof, and today are one of the most collectable alternate investment categories at auctions.
The new world record is held by a matte white Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond bag by Hermès Birkin, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.
It sold at a Christie’s Hong Kong auction in June 2016 for £208 250.
It was described as the rarest, most sought-after bag.
Only one or two Diamond Himalayas bags are produced each year.
Sourced from Barnebys
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