Valentine’s Day always causes a spike in sales of rings and jewellery for loved ones, but a growing number of people are making purchases as an investment.
Investors have already been able to cash in by following celebrity trends. Art deco and belle époque jewellery has skyrocketed in value after being worn by celebrities such as the Duchess of Sussex and actress Scarlett Johansson. Prices of art deco jewellery have risen by 93pc over the past decade, according to the Knight Frank luxury investment index.
More people are turning to luxury goods after the recent stock market downturn, but experts have urged investors to ensure their collections are properly insured. Sharp price rises mean that pieces may need to be revalued or listed separately on insurance policies to ensure insurers will pay out if they are lost or stolen.
Steve Collins, of Cheffins auction house, said that anything worth more than £500 should be valued and listed separately on household insurance. He said valuations would have a full description of the piece, including its weight, and multiple photographs.
Unlike modern items, where the insurer will replace lost goods with a new equivalent, antiques differ because insurers pay out the cost of a comparable item of similar age and condition based on the valuation.