While Shanghai is the most expensive city in Asia to purchase the Cartier Love Bracelet, according to a new report. Which is the most competitive?
Julius Baer's Wealth Report Asia feature on luxury jewelry is one of the key components of its Lifestyle Index. This feature compares the prices of the Cartier Love Bracelet, which is made of 18K white gold with 204 diamonds, across eleven Asian cities.
Shanghai is the most expensive city to purchase the Cartier Love Bracelet, which is made of 18K white gold with 204 diamonds, at $48,143. High import tariffs on luxury jewellery were the main driver behind the exorbitant price.
Significant Fluctuation
Conversely, Kuala Lumpur is the most price competitive at $41,818. On average, prices in the region were flat year-on-year, although certain cities witnessed significant fluctuations. Hong Kong saw the most significant price gain, whereas Mumbai experienced the biggest decline.
In auction markets, rarity and provenance stand out. Globally, Hong Kong is one of the top three jewelry auction hubs for Sotheby’s, driven by solid demand from Chinese high-net worth individuals. Many mainland Chinese continue to invest in rare pieces such as top-of-the-line diamonds, colored gemstones and jadeite as part of portfolio diversification.
Returns Hard to Realise
«Asian buyers have always been focused on quality. They would rather have a 10-carat D-flawless diamond instead of a 20-carat F-VVS one. They go for quality instead of size,» Quek Chin Yeow, Sotheby's Asia chairman said, noting the discerning taste of buyers across the region.
«High net worth individuals allocate part of their wealth to jewelry assets such as high-end diamonds,» Julius Baer's Cindy Tang said. Nevertheless, caveat emptor applies. Returns from collectables may be hard to realize, while the market for precious stones is difficult to predict.
