The Wall Street Journal has another story about careless collectors and dirty dealers, a bad combination that seldom ends well. In this case, two con men focused on different luxury sectors bilked would-be collectors seeking to buy Stradivarius violins and Domaine de la Romanee-Conti vintage wines.
Both the violins and the vintage wine (the real ones) are indeed exquisite. Buying them isn't easy or cheap. Even knowing the people who would sell these is a little unusual. And yet collectors and even some specialists allowed themselves to be duped by these con guys.
I've said it before, but let me say it again. If you want to be a collector of expensive and rare things, do your homework. The easy (and fun) part is learning as much as you can about the thing you're interested in. But also do your homework about the person you're doing business with. Find a reputable dealer, with references. And know who they're doing business with.
It's the least you can do to protect yourself when buying collectibles that may cost (in the case of a Strad) millions of dollars. Do. Your. Homework. The best deal is the real deal.
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