The value of the market is deposited in division, like a sandstorm, and the real gold will come out。
In the spring of 2025, when the film season fell, a set of data was interesting: the country's 13 main auction companies had a turnover of $5,954 million, an increase of 14. 68 per cent. At the same time, the index of price indices for works of art issued by the yangtze business school shows that the asian art market has grown at a compound rate of 7. 7 per cent over the past 25 years, well above the american and european markets。
Behind these seemingly contradictory data is the truth: the collection market is undergoing a profound structural adjustment rather than a simple collapse。
01 market truth: seeking stability in division
The current collection market is characterized by a pattern of “freeze fires”. On the one hand, there is a high level of innovation, on the other hand, a low level of trade in common collections. This division is precisely a sign of market maturity, not a precursor to collapse。
In the spring of 2025, chinese books and drawing boards were sold down by year, but the ring grew by 11. 08 per cent. The most significant increase was recorded in the current bookring ratio, which increased by 45. 09 per cent. It's like a garden, and some flowers are dying while new buds are blooming。
Markets are moving from a “bulk up” model to a “mass over volume” model of value investment. The 13 sample auction companies have an average value of $214,400 per unit, an increase of 145 items over the one-year scale auction and 9 items over the other. These figures tell us that fine tactics are replacing blind pursuit。
The new version of the law on the protection of cultural objects, which entered into force on 1 march 2025, encourages citizens to organize legal collections. This policy provides institutional security for the market, which amounts to the installation of a “safety valve” for the collection market。
02 classic luxury: the fortress of the value of time
During periods of uncertainty, classic luxury goods become safe havens for money. The 2025 resale report published by the real real revealed this trend。
The value of the re-sale of the alhambra series in vancjaba rose by 20 per cent and was at the top of the preservation list. The four-leaved grass, which was born in 1968, has become a hard currency for the jewellery industry, thanks to its scarce material and intergenerational charisma. It is like a property of superior size whose value can stand the test of time。
The value of the emaspurkin package has increased by 15 per cent, with the most expensive sale in history amounting to $385,000. It is worth mentioning that the number of male searches has increased by 235 per cent, proving that they have moved towards a “sexless collection”. This cross-border attraction is similar to the ability of classic music works to reach audiences of different ages。
The resale value of the role just watch increased by 17 per cent and was hailed as “an example of preservation of the name sheet”. Its simple and highly visible design, combined with robust and durable cores, makes it a common option for entry-level players and advanced collectors. It reminds me of an old friend who, while he may not speak, has always been reliable。
Common to these classic monographs is the long history of the brand, the sophistication of the process, and the healthy relationship between supply and demand. They are not simple commodities, but value vehicles carrying cultural symbols。
03 rare works of art: the light of an academicly led market
In the art market, “living” became the key word for spring 2025. These long-silent and first-born works of art are being admired by tibetans。
The author of the book, hmongjio han, sold hk$ 250. 1 million, much more than 20 times the estimate before the shoot. At the same time, the work of chinese art, which is the highest-priced chinese calligraphy in the history of sofuby, was produced in 2025. This is a re-emergence of a hermit after many years, with real talent。
Zhang jiad's solar eclipse was the highest price this season for $7,935,000. At the same time, hong kong's sofuby has achieved 100 per cent of the deal in the special field of “show the sea — the old zhiqing fans of the little wan yu hall”. These achievements show that academic and market values are developing a virtuous interaction。
I had seen in an exhibition a cinder of the ming dynasty, which appeared silently in the glass cabinet, as if it were telling a story for centuries. This sense of dialogue through time and space is the unique charm of scarce art。
The current collectors are more interested in systematizing collections than in pursuing individual items in isolation. It's like a smart reader, no longer content with buying loose articles, but rather crafting his own knowledge system。
04 precious metals: the god of the sea in a time of turmoil a needle
The risk avoidance properties of precious metals flourish when market uncertainty increases. Data from 2025 amply demonstrate this。
The price of gold is high, rising by 1. 99 per cent, silver by 1. 78 per cent and capital flows to the precious metals market. In the context of the changes in the global monetary system, the monetary substitution attributes of gold have highlighted the strategic and long-term nature of the gold increase in central banks。
The preservation logic of gold is similar to that of the agricultural silos, which, regardless of external variations, can provide the most basic security of value. During the fed's interest-rate reduction cycle, gold tends to be characterized as “first-to-first-to-first-to-long-term benefits”. This characteristic makes it the ideal “pressure stone” in the portfolio。
It is noteworthy that the market for precious metals and works of art has a plate effect. When stock and debt markets become more volatile, the flow of funds to precious metals accelerates. This pattern of financial flows is as good as the search for the lowest concentration of rain in mountains。
For ordinary investors, the threshold for investment in precious metals is relatively low and liquidity is good. These features make them one of the preferred tools for mass avoidance。
05 three principles for building an anti-frust collection set
In an increasingly fragmented market environment, intelligent collectors need to follow three basic principles。
Long-term perspectives are at the core of resilience to volatility. The annual compound growth rate of 7. 7 per cent in the asian art market was followed by a one-quarter-century decline. Collections are not short-term speculation, but a process of being friends with time。
Scarcity orientation is key to safeguarding values. Whether it is classic luxury or art, “living” and refined goods remain the focus of market competition. This is comparable to land in urban centres, where limited supply determines its long-term value。
Pluralization is the wisdom to spread risks. The distribution of funds among collections of different types and different risk-benefit characteristics can smooth the effects of market fluctuations. Like a football team, there is a need for coordination between the front, middle and backers。
From my observations over the years, successful collectors tend to be like gardeners, patiently waiting for plants to grow and knowing how to trim the leaves in time. This art of balance is the essence of the collection investment。
At the time of 2025, the collection market was more like a forest undergoing seasonal change. Some trees are dying in cold winters, but deep-rooted species are accumulating strength and waiting for a new cycle of growth。
The true charisma of the market lies not in the rapid progress of the process, but in its powerful ability to repair and evolve itself. As the policy environment is optimized and the concept of collection matures, the collections, which combine historical, artistic and scarce values, will continue to shine in the changing times。
Real collectors need to stay calm in their noises and find eternal in change. This is not just an investment of wisdom, but a philosophy of life。
