Dear Friends,
With so much turmoil and uncertainty in our financial markets and the economy, more and more people are discovering that hard assets like great antique violins can offer a stable, appreciating investment even in the worst of times. I am reminded of Ralph Norton, a prominent Chicago collector who was wiped out by the 1929 stock market crash. Norton was able to sell his violin collection and recover his assets.
When I began my career in Chicago over forty years ago at the legendary firm of William Lewis & Son, we were told not to offer fine stringed instruments as investments but primarily for musical pleasure and enhancement. This is not true today!
Our research on the value of Stradivari violins compared to precious metals and the Dow Jones Industrial Average beginning in 1960 has now been updated from 2005 through the end of 2008. Even with the steep downturn of the stock market, Stradivari violins are up an extraordinary 25,000 percent over forty-eight years! Neither demand nor value has decreased during this period, and is unlikely to do so in the future (see the Market Performance page in the Investment section of our newly updated Stradivari Society site: www.stradivarisociety.com).
As you know, supply and demand dictate all markets and ours is no exception. The number of great instruments is finite with the last one made in 1744. With each passing year there are fewer of these instrumental masterworks available for purchase since they are frequently acquired by international institutions and collectors and taken out of circulation. And now there are major collectors and steadily increasing interest in collecting in areas of the world where not that long ago there were very few great instrument acquisitions, including Russia, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
As the demand continues to rise each year, the supply of instruments available for acquisition will keep diminishing, with dramatic price increases the result. We fully expect this trend to continue for the long term. As you can see, investing in a rare, antique instrument now really is a no-brainer.
Just as important are the unparalleled networking opportunities with the world's elite cultural, business, and political leaders that musicians, patrons, and collectors enjoy (see the Networking page in the Become a Patron section at www.stradivarisociety.com).
Get the best instrument and bow you can, as soon as you can, and you will be greatly enhanced musically as well as financially. Get that instrument from Bein & Fushi, and you will be served at the very highest level.
With affection and appreciation,
Shop Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm