The international market, with the sales of diamonds and jewels, is registering a real and great interest, above all in precious stones, also mounted on jewels, with significant gemological characteristics, among which quality and rarity prevail. But that's not all, even jewellery, preferably from important "Maisons" or if they belonged to "celebrities", while natural pearls are the most coveted by the Arab and Indian markets.
To find out more about this precise sector of collecting but also of investment, we asked for an opinion from Gianfranco Saccucci, 40 years of experience in the precious sector, first as a representative and later as manager of the Franco Corbetta company, one of the most prestigious jewelery factories in Milan. Since 1983 Expert in precious stones and CTU of the court of Milan, expert gemologist, former director of the jewelery department of Finarte Casa d'Aste (from 1981 to 2010). Founding member of the "Collegio Italiano Gemmologi" of Milan, on the CDA of the Gemmologists Association with the position of treasurer. In 2011 he founded the International ArtSale, an all-Italian auction house based in Milan, which holds three auctions a year, April, October and December, and which has already recorded turnover in the millions of euros since the first year.
FIRST online – What prompted you to believe that opening a new all-Italian auction house was crucial when we see departments of international auction houses closing down?
Bags – To understand why, we need to take a step back. The generations that preceded us have always loved "beauty" and have preserved and protected family assets such as: historical paintings, art furniture, particular collections, etc., which were handed down from father to son, of which jewels were the family treasure. Objects of great value that occupied small spaces and which for many have been and are the economic reserve, which can be accessed in difficult moments of life, without many bureaucratic procedures. All the most famous international auction houses have always drawn on these Italian assets to set up their auctions. I believe that a lot of interesting material is still available in Italy and that with globalization it is no longer necessary to go abroad to sell one's goods, they can be sold here with the use of all the new international communication technologies available .
FIRST online – In this particular moment of the Italian and European economy, the sector of investments in gold and jewels is a sector in which to invest and in your opinion why?
Bags – In Italy, due to the mere fact of immobility and instability perpetrated by our rulers, there is no certainty in the future. Gold with diamonds and jewels, great values in small spaces, return to being the family treasure ready there for any eventuality,… history teaches. In the old continent, united by the single currency, where productivity is affected by the oriental influence of the low cost of manufactured goods and in addition the Banks suffer, more or less, in disbursing credit to businesses, due to the toxicity acquired by US securities held in all European banks, difficult to dispose of.
FIRST online – International auctions, especially in places like Geneva and New York, show a certain liveliness in this sector, is there the same interest in Italy?
Bags – In Italy we are able to sell important gems and jewels only to foreign customers who find, as mentioned above, those gems, natural pearls and excellent workmanship that have good marketability on international markets.
FIRST online – What type of product can be considered an investment?
Bags – Jewels of excellent quality, signed and period, are an investment, better if they can be dated from the end of the 40th century. early XNUMXth century to XNUMXs and both coined and uncoined gold.
FIRST online – Is there an interest in natural or cultured pearls?
Bags – Definitely yes, however “Natural pearls” are not always very popular with us, as they are often not of excellent quality, however there is a lot of interest in buying large 14/16 mm South Sea cultured pearls, white with a silver shade.
FIRST online – Who are the top buyers right now?
Bags – Today natural pearls are bought by Arab and Indian citizens because for these populations they have an important religious value, as the natural pearl necklace is the jewel that is given to the bride and represents "purity" and "virginity". The natural pearls were fished in the seas of the Persian Gulf and sold in Europe, today that the collection is almost non-existent, the Arabs and the Indians, who are the nouveau riche are buying back their natural pearls.
FIRST online – Any predictions for the second half of 2013?
Saccucci – I would be satisfied if the market maintained last year's trends, surely the interest in precious metals is growing above all as a safe haven and an investment asset.
FIRST online – and in the future…
Bags – In the future it is imperative to aim for the quality and exclusivity of the products, buyers whether collectors or investors are increasingly prepared and demanding, the product must respect the best qualitative characteristics that can remain unchanged over time, if not even improve performance investment, which can be created between supply and demand. It must be said that at the moment prices are excellent, we ourselves offer high-profile things at attractive prices given that in addition to investors there are also many people who are divesting personal assets both for generational change and to diversify investments.
