London, UK Posted 3 years, 11 months ago
How to Invest in Vintage Sunglasses
Vintage sunglasses are all the rage on the catwalk, but they also have serious appeal to investors.
Top brands made by companies such as Ray-Ban, Persol, Versace and Armani, once discarded as out-of-date, now fetch hundreds of pounds at auction and in antique shops.
And if you were lucky enough to possess a pair of shades associated with a celebrity, their value could be high indeed.
The frames of a gold-rimmed pair owned by John Lennon were sold at auction in 2007. They had an estimated price of £1million, though the auction house refused to divulge what the buyer paid.
The previous owner – a Japanese translator for The Beatles’ tour of the country in 1966 – had removed the lenses as a mark of respect after Lennon’s assassination in 1980.
However, this was an exceptional price. A pair of the former Beatle’s amber-tinted sunglasses sold for £63,250 in 2006.
This still represented a substantial rise on the £7,800 a similar Lennon pair fetched at auction in 2001.
Stephanie Connell, head of entertainment at auction house Bonhams, says: ‘If you are buying something iconic that is instantly recognisable, it is far more than just a pair of sunglasses – it is a trademark.
‘This month we sold a pair of oversized mirror Aviator shades worn by Michael Jackson for £1,440, but we have sold others for far more.’
Five years ago, Bonhams sold a pair of foldable blue-tinted Persol 714s worn by Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair for £36,600.
Monica Chong, creative director of eyewear trader Cutler and Gross in Kensington, west London, says: ‘Vintage is definitely in and Fifties glamour is making a really big comeback. There seems to be a growing demand for fantasy and glamour in times of austerity – this is reflected in the demand and rising prices for vintage styles.
‘We all aspire to look good. Celebrities encourage us to try something different and to be stylish. The sunglasses on your face make a huge statement.’
Monica, who admits to having several dozen pairs of collectable sunglasses herself, admits that vintage glasses may not be cheaper to buy but will always hold their value.
Source: thisismoney
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