LAMBORGHINI PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND; WINE GLASS PHOTO BY KYM ELLIS/UNSPLASH; WINE CELLAR PHOTO B BY REAGAN M./UNSPLASH; CAR INTERIOR PHOTO BY ALEXANDER PÖLLINGER/PEXELS; WINE BARREL PHOTO BY PIXABAY/PEXELS; JEWELRY PHOTOS BY TIMA MIROSHNICHENKO/PEXELS
WEALTH MANAGEMENT MEANS MORE THAN MERELY MANAGING THE MARKET THESE DAYS. FROM FINE JEWELRY TO EXOTIC RIDES TO COVETED WINES, EXPANDING YOUR PORTFOLIO INTO NEW CATEGORIES CAN HELP IT APPRECIATE FOR YEARS TO COME. HERE ARE THE CURATORS TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A WORTHWHILE COLLECTION.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUGANO DIAMONDS
THE WHO
Moti Ferder is the CEO, master craftsman and leading jewelry expert behind Lugano Diamonds (luganodiamonds.com), Orange County’s premier custom jeweler that specializes in creating one-of-a-kind pieces. With six existing stores across the United States—the latest of which recently bowed at Fashion Island in Newport Beach—Lugano has been adding sparkle to the world of high jewelry since its founding in 2005.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUGANO DIAMONDS
THE WHY
When it comes to investing in beautiful pieces that appreciate in value over time, it’s all about the rarity of the gems and colored diamonds that makes them sparkle. “Colored diamonds, like pink, green and blue diamonds, have appreciated the most during my career. They are extremely rare, therefore the value continues to increase,” says Ferder, whose roots in the industry date back to 1965, when his family opened their own diamond business in Antwerp, Belgium. “Personally, I love paraibas because of their mesmerizing color. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds of exceptional quality are also true collectibles.”
Lugano Diamonds is known for its exceptional creations, like this nearly 18-carat pear-shaped blue-green paraiba necklace, with more than 130 carats of briolette and round brilliant diamonds. PHOTO COURTESY OF LUGANO DIAMONDS
THE TAKEAWAY
“Investing in the right pieces of jewelry can be part of your story,” advises Ferder. “Selecting pieces as unique as you are is another way you present yourself to the world, another form of self-expression. Jewelry has been proven throughout history to appreciate, making it a valuable investment. It’s something that can be enjoyed now and worn daily, and even passed on to future generations.” Now, that’s creating generational wealth.
PHOTO BY ATA EBEM/PEXELS
"A cardinal rule is that for every case of wine that you put in the cellar to age, you should buy a case of wine to drink now.”–PETER NEPTUNE, MASTER SOMMELIER AND FOUNDER, THE NEPTUNE SCHOOL OF WINE
WINE CORK PHOTO BY JOHN MURZAKU/UNSPLASH
THE WHO
As one of only 172 master sommeliers in North and South America—and one of just three in Orange County—Peter Neptune knows good wine. So much so that he shares his passion and knowledge with others through The Neptune School of Wine (neptunewine.com). Based in Laguna Beach, the school offers Southern California’s only curriculum of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses that are overseen by a master sommelier and WSET graduate himself. Naturally, it was a sip of wine that led Neptune to achieve and maintain his elite status since 2005. “In the mid-1980s, I was working as the sommelier at a restaurant in New York City. One evening, a customer came in with a bottle of 1961 Château Haut Brion, which was already legendary then, and today is one of the most coveted bottles in the world,” he says. “He generously gave me a taste, and it remains the greatest wine I have ever tasted. It was a revelatory moment that started me on this path.”
WINE CELLAR PHOTO BY KLARA KULIKOVA/UNSPLASH
THE WHY
Blue-chip wines—highly rated varietals that have a track record of appreciating over time—are a collector’s best investment. According to Neptune, that coveted list includes bottles produced by Domaine Leroy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate and Colgin Cellars, which “always seem to go up in value,” he says. “I am excited by some of the wines coming from Argentina, Chile and South Africa,” he adds. “I feel that a good wine cellar should be well rounded with a good selection of classic wines from around the world, including the aforementioned, as well as wines from Italy, Northern Rhône in France, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Austria and Germany.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Ultimately, your collection is meant to be enjoyed. “A cardinal rule is that for every case of wine that you put in the cellar to age, you should buy a case of wine to drink now,” Neptune notes. “Too many people acquire wine to put away for 10 or 20 years, and end up drinking the wines too early because they need wine to drink that night and raid the cellar. I buy and cellar wines out of love and with the desire to have a well-rounded collection for drinking and sharing.”
The Perry Group does an exceptional job of sourcing the world's most coveted cars, like the rare Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster shown here. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI
THE WHO
Melissa Perry successfully sold luxury rides for some of the biggest automakers in the world—from Aston Martin, Bugatti and Bentley to Ferrari, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce—before taking the wheel to launch her own luxury brokerage, The Perry Group (theperrygroupllc.com). Based in Orange County, the auto concierge is the culmination of Perry’s more than 14 years in the industry, which recently earned her a spot as the sole female lead on the Discovery+ TV show Million Dollar Wheels.
The Perry Group does an exceptional job of sourcing the world's most coveted cars, like the rare Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster shown here. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI
THE WHY
"When it comes to collecting cars as a financial investment, dealers and brands will commit to buyers that show loyalty and consistency, and that allow the dealers themselves to also reap the financial benefits of the collecting process," says Perry. As for which brands to invest in, Perry advises turning to the classics. "Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti. ... These specific brands have a heritage, a history, an unmatched performance, a reputation, and a team of people whose workmanship and design is unmatched." There's also money to be made in the resale market, notes Perry: "These brands offer such a limited production of their most top-performance models that most true car enthusiasts will pay crazy premiums to get access to them, even from a secondhand perspective."
"When it comes to collecting cars as a financial investment, dealers and brands will commit to buyers that show loyalty and consistency, and that allow the dealers themselves to also reap the financial benefits of the collecting process."–MELISSA PERRY, FOUNDER, THE PERRY GROUP
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMBORGHINI
THE TAKEAWAY
"When someone starts their luxury auto collection journey, I would highly recommend starting with the question, 'Why?' advises Perry. "Why do you have a passion for cars, and what is it about these specific cars that you admire and drives you to buy them? Ultimately, what are you trying to get out of it when you buy an exotic car? These are important questions you have to ask yourself when you start this journey, because your mindset matters." Driven, indeed.
Photography by:
