Graff, Blancpain among Top-Rated Luxury Brands

Heart-shaped diamond necklace by Graff.

The Luxury Institute released its 2011 Luxury Brand Status Index survey of wealthy U.S. consumers. Watches, jewelry and automobiles (selling for at least $100,000) were rated on a one-to-ten scale by consumers who earn at least $200,000 a year. The top three brands in each category follows:

Blancpain L-Evolution

Jewelry
Graff 8.38
Buccellati 8.19
Asprey 8.05


Watches
Blancpain 8.35
Rolex 8.01
Vacheron Constantin 7.85

Ultra-Luxury Autos
Maybach 8.44
Bentley 8.32
Bugatti Veyron 8.22

Brands were rated based on quality, exclusivity, social status and overall ownership experience. In addition, these affluent consumers based their selection on price worthiness, their willingness to recommend it and the likelihood they'll buy it next time they make a purchase in the category.

Graff CEO: U.S. Luxury Consumers See Jewelry as an Investment

In an interview with cable business news channel CNBC, Henri Barguirdjian, president and CEO Graff Holdings, said U.S. sales have rebounded to where they were in 2007. He said since the near collapse of the economy, the jeweler is making fewer transactions but the customers who remain are buying more.

In addition, Barguirdjian said how people buy luxury jewelry has changed. Customers are more cautious and are looking at luxury jewelry as an investment as well as beautiful adornment.

Below is the video from the interview.