With Christmas around the corner there will be no doubt be countless people unwrapping the usual: socks, gift cards and chocolates.
While many gifts will have a rather more personal touch, some of these will also have the potential to grow in value in 2025 and offer attractive returns for future sellers in future years.
It might be time to ditch the £50 Amazon vouchers and instead take the path less trodden – your gift receipient could end up better off for it.
Whether you are planning to give a festive gift, or are in the market as a collector, there are a number of attractive so-called ‘passion assets’ that could add to your collection and also boost your portfolio at the same time.
With as many as one in ten adults snapping up collectible items in the hopes of turning a profit, according to Investec Wealth and Investment, choosing collectibles in becoming increasingly common.
Passion assets are essentially any collectible or investments that comes with a personal connection.
While most people won’t resonate with the semiconductor sector, many more are interested in classic cars, coins, wine and art.
Ditch the socks and gift cards: Vintage furniture can fetch a pretty penny from collectors
Andy Sagar, managing director UK at Auctionet, said: ‘Whether it’s art, rare coins, vintage furniture, or memorabilia, these items are as emotionally rewarding as they are financially appealing, bringing long-term value growth over time.’
‘Investing in passion assets and collectibles has never been more accessible or rewarding.’
The market for these collectibles already stands at $372billion, Sagar said, and is expected to grow to $522billion by 2028.
More than 16million people in the UK are already buying Christmas presents from second-hand marketplaces, according to Yodel.
While most people are heading to second hand sites in a bid to save money, some 21 per cent said they were looking to buy products that are no longer being produced.
On top of this, with around a quarter of people are looking to cash in on their pre-loved items this Christmas, there could be an opportunity to net a bargain that you could make a profit on in the new year.
But what assets are expected to prove valuable as we roll into the new year?
Become an armchair collector
Quite literally – vintage furniture can fetch serious money from online buyers.
Among the popular pieces are those from Ikea, Auctionet said, but its not Kallax or Ivar units that are commanding high prices.
In September, a 1970s Ikea Impala sofa sold for more than £2,000 on the site, more than 200 per cent its estimated value.
Hidden treasure: A series of posters discovered in the walls of a cottage sold for £100,000 in total
Ikea’s new Oxford Street branch, opening next year, is set to cement the brand’s longevity, Sagar said, and subsequently resale prices could also see a boost.
While Ikea might be further towards the budget tend of the furniture sector, the popularity of Scandi furniture also applies to higher value items.
According to Sagar, demand for these mid-century products consistently outstrips supply.
Earlier this year, a 1960s Svenskt Tenn sideboard was flogged on Auctionet for more than £38,000, compared to its reserve price of just over £9,000.
He said: ‘The timeless appeal of Scandinavian furniture and decor remains strong. Collectors are drawn to the clean lines and enduring craftsmanship’
Channel your inner magpie
Gold has had a huge take-off in recent years, with the price of the yellow metal having risen by a third in the last year alone.
The metal generally rallies during periods of volatile geopolitics or economic uncertainty, as we have experienced recently with the war in Ukraine and conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Gold is often viewed as an ‘insurance policy’ asset that will perform well in times of market stress.
As a result, gold has become an increasingly attractive investment for those looking to reduce their exposure to the fortunes of the market.
Silver, similarly, has also risen more than a third over the last year.
With the value of the metals rising, gold and silver jewellery is increasing in value, and people sitting on pieces made from these materials could find that they are worth considerably more what they paid for them.
‘The price of gold soared to an all-time high in 2024, hitting a record of $2,790 per ounce in October, and its appeal lies in storing value that can’t be printed or created at will,’ Sagar said.
Celeb status: Items linked to famous names, like Ed Sheeran’s Pokémon guitar, are popular among collectors
Buyers want backstories
Scarlett Johannson’s used tissue, John Lennon’s tooth or Elvis Presley’s hair certainly make slightly unhinged additions to a Christmas list, but if you list them at auction they’re all certain to sell, because they already have.
Most people might not have said used tissue to hand (which sold for $5,300), but any celebrity memorabilia is likely to fetch a reasonable payout from the right buyer.
In September, Ed Sheeran’s limited edition Pokémon guitar sold for £11,000 on Auctionet, more than ten times its estimated value.
Similarly, historical items are also highly prized by collectors, who favour them for the story they can tell.
A series of Casanova posters sold in April for £100,000 in total. While they were hand painted in the 1920s and 30s, it was the fact that these posters had been used as insulation in the walls of a cottage and only discovered during renovation that drove up their value.
How can you tell if your collectibles are worth anything?
The first port of call is to check online – even if you have an item that might not be worth anything, this can be confirmed easily enough.
‘Take advantage of the free valuation service that many reputable auction houses often offer,’ Sagar said, ‘some also host “valuation days,” where experts are available to assess items directly.’
Auction and reselling sites also allow you to search specific listings to find similar items to what you are planning to sell, including allowing you to see how much these products have previously sold for.
Dan Hatfield: Our columnist is ready to value your Modern Treasure
Looking at past listings helps to make sure you aren’t matching inflated prices of items that will never sell.
‘Online tools like Google and image searches can also help identify items, but take this with a pinch of salt. Always verify details with a trusted auction house, as high asking prices don’t always reflect true market value,’ Sagar added.
If you think you might have struck gold but want a second opinion, you can also contact This is Money’s modern treasures expert Dan Hatfield.
Please send in as much information as possible, including photographs, to: editor@thisismoney.co.uk with the email subject line: Modern Treasures
We’re after post-War items only please and we may contact you for further information.
Dan will do his best to reply to your message in his bi-weekly column, but he won’t be able to answer everyone or correspond privately with readers.
Nothing in his replies constitutes regulated financial advice. Published questions are sometimes edited for brevity or other reasons.
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