Collections

Piaget Launches Limelight Garden Party Collection

by Michael B. Dougherty (RSS feed) —

Piaget Limelight Garden Party Collection Ring

With a series of events that included the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, a Champagne toast at their New York boutique, and an outdoor celebration in Palm Beach, Piaget launched their spring-themed Limelight Garden Party collection.

In New York, the Piaget boutique on Fifth Avenue took on a terrarium look for the evening's event, with the collection set in cases decorated to look like a wood nymph's jewelry box.

Cradled amongst the various faux flora, 18-white gold pieces sparkled under the display lights.

A miniature, diamond-encrusted bird perched itself on a ring, seemingly ready to dip its beak into a cushion-cut rubellite gem. Other birds perched on a white gold sprig of diamonds and pearls, while a floral ring bloomed diamonds, emeralds and pink sapphires. One necklace's 289 brilliant-cut diamonds seems to represent drops of dew caught on a diaphanous spider web. Another sprouted buds of pink tourmaline and pink sapphires, reminders that spring is, finally, here at least.

(On view by appointment only.)

Gallery: Piaget Limelight Garden Party Collection

Piaget 18-carat white gold and diamond watch

Piaget 18-carat white gold, diamond and pearl earrings

Piaget 18-carat white gold, diamond and pearl necklace

Piaget 18-carat white gold, diamond and emerald earrings

Piaget 18-carat white gold, diamond, pink sapphire, pink tourmaline, white chalcedony and pearl necklace

Tags: Collections, diamonds, jewelry, jewerly collection, Limelight Garden Party, necklaces, piaget, Piaget Limelight Garden Party Collection, rings, watches

Dimostra Debuts Digital Portfolios for Car Collectors

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

Dimostra Debuts Digital Portfolios for Car Collectors

Dimostra is a recently launched service for car collectors that brings classics into the digital age. The company's offerings include portfolio development, virtual showrooms, iconic photography, auction or show marketing, and asset documentation services to owners of the world's finest automobiles. The company is based on the concept that regardless of the size or value of a collection, true car connoisseurs should be willing to share their precious investments with fellow enthusiasts. "As rare collector cars become more valuable, their presence in public will continue to diminish," Dimostra's David Nawrocki tells us. "We hope to bridge this void in the collector car market."

By featuring and celebrating each car's beauty and history in a contemporary environment online with fellow enthusiasts, Dimostra also hopes to educate younger generations on the historical significance of the cars, "ultimately protecting their long term collectability and value." Don't have your own car collection? No problem – for $9.99 / month, you can purchase a VIP subscription to the portfolios on Dimostra's website, some of which belong to well-known collectors. A subscription gives you access to all the photographs, original documentation and a brief narrative about the history of each car, some of which are worth millions. You can check out a preview of some of our favorites in the gallery.

Gallery: Dimosta Automuseo

Tags: bugatti, car collection, car collector, cars, classic cars, collections, Dimostra, Ferrari, investment, Lamborghini, luxury cars, photography, wealth, websites

Comprehensive Baseball Collection Seeks New Owner

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

Baseball is still America's pastime and baseball memorabilia remains popular but one collector has amassed what has to be one of the most incredible collections gathered by a single person. The Jason Savas Baseball & Football Memorabilia Collection is practically a museum on its own. The collection took over 45 years to put together and includes thousands of objects dating from the 1860s to the present. The most expensive items have been auctioned already. These included tobacco tins and cigar boxes that fetched $10,000 to $20,000 each. There is still much more to choose, lighters, cigarette packs, replica gloves, swizzle sticks, baseballs, key chains, bobbleheads and photographs that depict generations of players and tell the history of the sport.

A special section of over 500 items tells the story of the effect of Babe Ruth on the nation. It's one thing to know that Ruth had a great impact on the game but quite another to stare at shelves stuffed with full-cheeked depictions of the legendary Yankee. Too big for shelves, there are 37 coin-operated sports-themed penny arcade games and gum ball dispensers that harken back to a more innocent time. A muto-scope offers a staccato look at the long-ago players in motion.

"Unlike my baseball card collection which was neatly organized and tucked away in shoe boxes in the closet, I was able to display my stadium concessions on shelves," says Savas. "What started as a hobby evolved into a passion over the next 45 years. Over the subsequent years, the sports memorabilia hobby has seen an immense increase in interest in displayable collectible items. Collectors all across the country have found that these display type items can be enjoyed on a full-time basis as they decorate their basements, offices, and dens."

The total value of the collection is $600,000. The owner is paying a 10% commission to whoever finds a buyer. To arrange a viewing in New York City email theamazingcollection@yahoo.com. Check out images from the collection here or view more YouTube videos here.

Tags: baseball, baseball memorabilia, collectible, collectibles, collecting, collection, Collections, football memorabilia, memorabilia, sports collectibles

Vintage Tin Signs: Decorate and Collect

by Karen LoBello (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Antique buyers often have specific goals in mind when purchasing vintage tin signs. There are customers who want to obtain tin signs simply for the pleasure of collecting. Other buyers are more interested in incorporating antique tin signs into their decorating motif.

Dean Ferber, owner of No Egrets Antiques and Collectibles, imparts valuable tips for consumers interested in collecting tin signs.

What to Consider
Do you have a special interest, such as antique cars? Consider augmenting a collection or a hobby with signage. Take into consideration the size and location of the space where you will display your vintage finds. Collections can be placed in bedrooms, basements, garages and even in barns. Budget and time frame are significant. Tin signs are prone to rust and are easily reproduced, so buyers must beware. Authentic tin signs range from $300 to $3000, but can soar upward depending upon rarity.

Where to Purchase
Signs are often found as a person is searching for other treasures. They can be discovered anywhere, from open air markets and eBay to upscale showrooms. Dean believes that antique malls and flea markets offer the best chance to find signs in volume. Auctions are for informed collectors with deep pockets, especially if they're well advertised in newspapers or trade magazines. Estate and garage sales are hit and miss propositions. Get there early. The process can be time consuming, yet potentially financially rewarding

Tags: antiques, antiquetinsigns, collecting, collecting antiques, collections, tinsigns, vintagetinsigns

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Cigar, Pipe Collectibles Gaining Momentum

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Smoking bans may ultimately keep cigar connoisseurs from buying that next lighter or cigar cutter, but there is a group – that may or may not smoke – that is buying cigar-related items aggressively. Collectors are being drawn to antique smoking-related items, even if their use has become less popular over the past several decades.

Pipes, ashtrays, cigar boxes and cigarette dispensers are on the list for this subculture. Others are drawn to packaging and advertising, scooping up old cigar bans, boxes of matches, in-store ads and other forms of "tobacciana." Some are even quite expensive.

So, when your kids get on your case about the stack of empty cigar boxes in the living room, just tell them that's how they'll get through college ... if they're lucky.

[Photo by Steve Zak]

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Tags: ashtray, ashtrays, cigar, cigar accessories, CigarAccessories, cigarette, cigarettes, cigars, collectible, collectibles, collecting, collection, collections, humidor, humidors, lighter, lighters, pipe, pipes

Piaget Collector's Trunk

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

One thing I've learned after spending time with serious watch collectors is that their obsession is only limited by their wallets or what their spouses might let them get away with. For serious Piaget aficionados there is the Piaget Collector's Trunk created by luxury trunk maker Pinel & Pinel. It is made of poplar wood covered with cowhide with palladium-electroplated brass with mirror-polished finish. It holds 51 watches and there is a movement integrated into the center window to wind automatic watches. It comes with a travel case that holds three watches. "Essential collector's tools" and a remote control to switch the lights inside on and off are also included. It is available in 20 different colors of leather for both the inside and the outside and can be personalized with an engraved plate. Custom trunks take three months to create.

Gallery: Pinel & Pinel Luxury Trunk Collaborations

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Tags: collections, collectors, piaget, pinel, timepieces, trunk, watches

Time Really Is Money For Luxury Consumers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The most valued luxury, according to a recent survey, is something most of us crave: time. That's just one of the findings of a report released by the Consumer Research Center of The Conference Board. All around the world, luxury consumers have similar definitions of luxury. Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center says that "The largest share of luxury consumers (44%) and the largest share of consumers in each country most strongly agree that 'luxury is having enough time to do whatever you want and being able to afford it.' So, for luxury consumers worldwide, time is the ultimate luxury."

What do people want besides time? Life experiences, followed by comfort, beauty and quality. No surprise then that travel is one of the most valued pursuits, second only to "high-tech" activities such as using a personal computer and other gadgets. As we saw with another survey recently, when luxury consumers collect things they often by things that might be an investment such as collections of antiques and rare items; original art, paintings and sculpture and a vacation/second home. Other prized collections include watches and jewelry, fine wine and musical instruments.

The differences across cultures were not too surprising. Americans are most interested in television, pets, fitness and electronics. British consumers are interested in Internet and cell phone usage, videos/DVDs, wine and gourmet goods among other things. Germans enjoy reading books, attending cultural events, gardening, and home furnishings. Italian consumers share many of the same interests as those in Germany, but they are more active in travel. French consumers are also similar but with a bigger interest in in gourmet food and wine. China has the greatest interest in photography, electronics, and home furnishings.

What is the definition of luxury for those who are dubbed luxury consumers? For most luxury is defined as being noticeably a cut above the average. The cost is not as important as the experience and feelings that consumers get in enjoying their luxury lifestyles.. Luxury is being able to pursue one's personal passions and interests. For most luxury is not about conspicuous consumption although they do look to a brand's reputation as a sign of quality. It is no surprise that the only country in which a large part (46%) of consumers believe luxury is defined by the brand is China.

And attitudes toward brands are shifting. A new book set to come out, Deluxe by Dana Thomas, which features fast food wrapped with Prada labels on the cover, takes on the idea of modern luxury. She profiles the European fashion houses which have evolved from companies known only to the elite few, to monster brands that sell to millions. It makes me wonder if the rise in "masstige," selling luxury to the masses, might be the very thing that compromises the luxury goods market.

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Tags: branding, collections, consumers, expire-images:2008-7-24, luxury, spending, survey

Using DNA To Protect Your Valuables

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wine, Art

CSI for your wine cellar? Well, sort of. Wine Spectator reports that Applied DNA Sciences has created a DNA-based system, called SigNature that embeds a customized botanical DNA segment into the ink on a wine bottle cork or a label. The SigNature could not be removed and therefore acts as an encrypted identification system that could help identify bottles belonging to a collector if they are stolen. It could also help verify the authenticity of bottles that are later sold at auction. The service costs about $16 per bottle to prepare and apply a marker for a 5,000- to 10,000-bottle collection, including authentication certificate and scanner but the price drops for producers who want to brand a whole vintage. The SigNature has a variety of applications including the protection of artwork by embedding a DNA signature in a certificate, receipt or sticker.

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Tags: art, collections, collectors, dna, valuables, wine