Inflation busters

The results of the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index show that investments of passion are still riding high, despite economic worries. Andrew Shirley investigates over the next four pages

US$195m

Andy Warhol, Shot Sage

Blue Marilyn 1964 Christie’s

U$143m

Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé Sotheby’s

US$7.7m

Gobbi Milano-signed Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Sotheby’s

US$57.7m

The Williamson Pink Star, a 11.15-carat fancy vivid pink diamond ring Sotheby’s

US$57.5m

The De Beers Blue Diamond, 15.1 carat fancy vivid blue Sotheby’s

US$15.9m

Ming Dynasty chair Sotheby’s

10-year

12-month

Highest selling examples of each asset class in 2022

US$353k

Hermès Himalaya Crocodile Kelly Sotheby’s

1821 US$5 denomination gold piece “Half Eagle” Heritage Auctions

US$361k

Methuselah of 2007 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Sotheby’s

US$300k

The Macallan The Reach, 81-year-old single malt Sotheby’s

The Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index (KFLII), which tracks the value of 10 investments of passion, rose by a healthy 16% during 2022, comfortably beating inflation and outperforming the majority of mainstream investment classes, including equities and even gold.

Within the index, which is weighted to reflect the “collectability” of each of its constituents, half of the assets saw double-digit growth last year. Art was the top performer, rising by 29%.

Sebastian Duthy of Art Market Research, which provides the data for a number of our asset classes, says much of that performance was driven by the stellar prices paid for museumquality works of art by ultra-wealthy collectors.

“Several single owner collections, including works owned by Microsoft founder Paul Allen and American investor Anne Bass produced totals in excess of US$2.5 billion, more than doubling collection sales in 2021. With the provenance of a high-profile collector attached, blue-chip works routinely break auction records and last year was no exception with five achieving over US$100 million.”

Classic cars also revved up their performance last year rising 25%, the strongest finish for nine years. A US$143 million Mercedes-Benz Uhlenhaut Coupé comfortably set a new record for the most expensive car ever sold.

Dietrich Hatlapa of HAGI, which tracks the very top end of the market for us, says highend collectors are back in the market after the Covid-19 pandemic saw the postponement of many sales.

However, he warns against relying on cars as a hedge against inflation. “Broadly, the classic car market has neither a positive nor an inverse