Luxury investment stable; rare-antique items increased up to 13%:Now investors are only putting money in assets of historical significance

The luxury investment market is stabilizing. Collectors’ focus has now shifted from general investment to the rarity of items and their historical significance. According to Knight Frank’s ‘The Wealth Report 2026’, the Luxury Investment Index saw a modest decline of 0.4% in 2025. This is a sign of stability after a widespread decline across multiple categories over the past two years. The report states that investors are now only putting money into those assets that have strong historical significance, cultural importance, and proven records. Due to this shift, sales (investment) in Impressionist art have surged by 13.6%. The watch market has recorded a 5% growth due to demand for brands like Patek Philippe and Rolex. In contrast, the classic cars category has seen a decline of 3.7%. The main reason for the increasing demand for Impressionist art has been major auctions by owners. Gustav Klimt’s painting ‘Portrait of Elizabeth Lederer’ sold for approximately 2,225 crore rupees. This has become the most expensive Impressionist art ever sold at auction. Modern art prices have also surged by 7% and post-war art by 5.2%. Youth – Growing Craze for Fractional Ownership for Investment There is also a major change in investment methods. Investors under 40 years of age are now turning to fractional ownership platforms. Through these, they are digitally buying small shares in expensive watches, artworks, and cars. Investors are now prioritizing the cultural significance of assets rather than just buying property. Ultra Rich – We are at 6th position among the wealthy with $30 million assets India has become the world’s sixth largest country with ‘ultra rich’ population. According to Knight Frank’s report, individuals with assets of $30 million (approximately 282 crore rupees) or more are called ‘ultra rich’. The number of such wealthy individuals in the country is currently 19,877, which is estimated to increase by about 27% to 25,217 by 2031. Mumbai ranks first in the country with 35.4% of the wealthy, while the number of billionaires is also expected to increase by 51% in the next five years.