Insuring Rare & Alternative Investments 

When it comes to alternative investments, musical instruments, particularly stringed ones, fall into a fascinating niche market.

Antonio Stradivari was one of the world's master violin makers and, in his lifetime, he crafted about 1,100 musical instruments. Around 650 are still in existence today and, of those 650, the rarest are the Stradivari viola, with only 11 believed to have survived.

A lack of supply and uniqueness means that high-quality instruments are highly sought-after, to the point where even top musicians struggle to obtain one. Not just anybody can take a violin off a shelf and get the best out of it. An instrument has to be played and played, sometimes over centuries, to refine its sound. This makes quality musical instruments a seductive investment as investing in the right instrument can provide a strong return.

With any high-value investment there are risks. If damaged an instrument's value can drop significantly and it would be nigh on impossible to replace if lost or stolen. That is why insuring a high-value instrument, or any other alternative investment, is a necessity for any investor. Insuring an investment, especially rare and unique items such as a 1696 Antonio Stradivarius, is something that requires experienced individuals and a unique, many would say made-to-measure, approach to the insurance.

Lark can not provide you with investment advice. But we do understand the risk that can accompany an investment. Contact Gemma Stevens (gemma.stevens@larkinsurance  |  020 8557 2444) and discover how Lark can help you find an insurance policy as unique as the investment you are insuring.