A recent CNN article announced that art as an asset class has been increasingly growing over the last decade. This investment sector can be quite profitable, but it is important to keep several factors in mind before jumping in. Different Types of Art to Invest In There are different ways to invest in art. The “safer” way is to invest in blue-chip artists that consistently sell well at galleries and auctions. Think of artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, or Jean-Michel Basquiat. These works have established secondary markets and the artists themselves have become household names. While the ..read more

Gold prices continue to rise in recent times even though the economy has taken a downturn. Gold is a very valuable metal, and most people don’t realize the amount of gold they may personally own. When people are in need of some quick cash, gold is the easiest of all to pawn or sell. Chicago Loan Company can write a collateral backed loan against many different types of gold items, such as gold coins, jewelry, or even damaged or broken jewelry. What is a gold loan? A gold loan is a loan backed by a gold article as collateral. It can be a set of gold bangles, a gold chain, or a gold coin. Collat ..read more

Audemars Piguet was founded by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland in 1875 and would later take the name Audemars Piguet & Cie in 1881. Since its founding in 1875, the company has remained family owned. Both founders came from a strong family lineage of watchmakers. Jules and Edward both brought different strengths to the business: Audemars specializing in the creation and production, and Piguet serving as the Master Watchmaker and taking charge of all the assembly. What is Audemars Piguet known for? Audemars Piguet is a highly respected Swiss ..read more

Pawnshops are often associated with coins and bullion, in addition to gold and diamond jewelry. But luxury watches are another category that pawnshops like Jewelry-N-Loan in Costa Mesa, CA buy, sell and lend against daily. Fine watchmakers like Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe set impeccably high standards for design and style and continue to make top-selling references that dominate the market each year. As a result, watches by these brands hold their value incredibly well on the secondary market. Pawnshops can be a fast and secure way to buy or take a loan against a watch, but also ..read more

In the world of Hollywood glitz and glamour, film props are the unsung heroes, the underappreciated accessories that set the mood of the movie and help to establish the attitude of the characters. While the actors and actresses depict the drama, tragedy and humor up on the silver screen, the props transport the audience into this new world of magic and make-believe captured in celluloid. No wonder that these signature film props have begun to attain astronomical values as entertainment memorabilia collectors covet these incredible mementos. Here is a list of the three most expensive film props ..read more

Poised to transition pawn into the era of technology, Borro Private Finance shuttered its collateral lending business earlier this summer as its online lending model proved unsuccessful. Tabach-Bank explains, “Our clients like the personal touch of a face-to-face loan, particularly when entrusting us to safeguard their most precious and expensive personal possessions. Online lending may be dead, but the pawn industry shows no signs of losing power.” Read the full article Business Wire: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190924005064/en/Online-Pawn-Lending-Offline The post Online Pawn Len ..read more

It’s a cliché of invention to want to “build a better mousetrap” and attract a world of customers. For American jeweler Seaman Schepps, the mousetrap became the secret to a better bracelet. It is a design so simple as to be almost obvious, but also instantly recognizable and timelessly chic. Introduced in the 1930s, the bracelet is comprised of a series of links, each with a tight coil at one end modeled after the spring in a traditional mousetrap. In the original version of this design, the precious metal links are very wide and the piece is a big presence on the wrist of the wearer. The simp ..read more

Strong secondary markets, or how the art sells at an auction level, is extremely important when it comes to determining if a piece of art is eligible for a loan. Chicago Loan Company, an upscale pawnshop in Chicago, Illinois, is well-known for making collateral based loans on fine art. While the company makes pawn loans ranging anywhere from a few hundred dollars into seven figures, it can be particular about the art that it loans against. Famous Artists’ Work For Collateral Contemporary household name blue-chip artists, like Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, Damien Hirst ..read more

The world of fine timepieces can seem very daunting, full of fancy functions and jargon. One of the most common complications found in high-end watches in the modern era is the chronograph, a word that sounds familiar even to novices. But what exactly is a chronograph? Simply put, a chronograph is a stopwatch. Modern chronographs developed from a design first unveiled in 1816 by Louis Moinet as an instrument to aid astronomers. Since that time, chronographs are now more commonly used to time races—everything from humans to horses to cars—and assist in navigation and exploration. Chronograph Fu ..read more

Nothing is more rare and exciting, in the arena of sports memorabilia, than for an avid fan or serious collector to discover and come to own a famous player’s game-worn jersey. The athlete’s clothing worn during that pivotal last play during a World Series baseball game or the winning touchdown during a Super Bowl is immediately elevated to a precious and highly-coveted relic. The banal, mud-stained, sweaty jersey becomes an extraordinary and desirable artifact symbolizing the passion, dedication and pride of the player and his team. The Famous Sports Jersey From Babe Ruth Therefore, it comes ..read more