Editor’s Note
This article explores the luxury market for Beluga caviar, highlighting its status as one of the world’s most expensive delicacies. The price of approximately €4.10 per gram underscores its exclusivity, with costs influenced by factors such as supplier and quality.
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It may seem strange that raw fish eggs are among the most renowned and expensive substances in the world, but gourmets will tell you their taste is incomparable. Iranian Beluga caviar is reputed to be the most expensive in the world. In Paris, a 50-gram tin of Beluga caviar is offered for around €205, which is about €4,100 per kilogram. That equates to approximately €4.10 per gram. Prices can vary depending on suppliers and the quality of the caviar.
The Huso huso sturgeon (or beluga), the fish from which this unique caviar is made, typically takes 10 years to produce eggs and is now extremely rare due to overfishing.
One of the most expensive condiments in the world is wonderfully aromatic saffron. This warm spice, extracted from Crocus sativus flowers, has varied uses. Saffron is used as a dye or as a seasoning to flavor rice, but also as a natural remedy to combat all ailments, from depression to menstrual cramps.
Saffron is one of the most prized spices in the world, both for its delicate flavor and its medicinal properties. In France, its price generally varies between €10 and €25 per gram, depending on quality, origin, and cultivation methods.
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Locally produced saffron in France can reach even higher prices, sometimes between €30 and €40 per gram, due to its superior quality and artisanal production. These prices reflect the rarity and complexity of harvesting this precious spice.
Platinum is a highly sought-after metal in jewelry, but it also has a multitude of other uses. It is used in laboratory equipment and even in anti-cancer drugs.
Many precious metals lost value during the COVID-19 crisis, as market uncertainty pushed investors to trade their investments for cash. According to Reuters, the price of platinum fell by 40% between February and March 2020 due to the pandemic, but it has since rebounded. It currently stands at about $30.31 (€29.40 per gram), or $942.59 (€914.31) per ounce, according to BullionVault.
This silvery-white metal is one of the rarest in the world. It is a key component of catalytic converters, found in car exhausts, and normally sees strong demand. Over 80% of palladium is used for this purpose, but this metal is also used in jewelry, where it is sometimes called “white gold.”
During the pandemic, the price of palladium surpassed that of gold. More recently, prices have risen sharply due to the Russian war in Ukraine. Russia is the world’s largest producer of palladium and international sanctions against it have disrupted exports of this metal, which explains why its price reached a historic record of €3,205.21 per ounce on March 7, 2022, according to the site Currency.com, or about €112.90 per gram.
Sperm whale vomit may not be at the top of your wish list, but this highly prized substance can reach staggering prices. Ambergris has had various uses throughout history, including in the high-end perfume industry. As it ages, this unpleasant-looking material develops a pleasant scent.
Today, it is illegal to buy, sell, or profit from ambergris in many parts of the world, as sperm whales are protected. However, according to online estimates, ambergris is generally valued at about $35 (€33.95) per gram, making it one of the most expensive substances in the world.
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Although revered by all, from ancient Aztec tribes to famous hip-hop MCs, gold is much more than a shiny metal that projects an image of wealth. It can be used as an electrical conductor, or even eaten in the form of gold leaf, and it remains one of the most expensive substances in the world.