These Are The 10 Most Exclusive Luxury Brands That Are Nearly Impossible To Buy

Rolex wrist watch
AS photo studio / Shutterstock.com

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

In the retail world, luxury is not only about price — it’s about exclusivity. The harder it is to obtain an item, the greater perceived value it has on the luxury market.

Exclusivity is the “cornerstone of value in the luxury sector, a concept that drives consumer demand and commands premium prices,” according to a recent blog from Konvi, a platform that lets users invest in alternative assets.

Because exclusivity is so important, luxury brands often go to great lengths to limit who can buy certain items. This means even the wealthiest consumers might not have access.

GOBankingRates explore this concept more and listed the 10 most exclusive luxury brands that even wealthy people have trouble buying. Plus avoid wasting your money on these luxury brands.

The Exclusivity Factor

Exclusivity can be influenced by several factors, Konvi noted, including limited editions, celebrity endorsements and collaborations, seasonal offerings and deliberate shortages. In many cases, your ability to purchase an item has less to do with your finances than your timing and connections.

“Exclusivity in the luxury market isn’t just about price — it’s about access,” said a spokesperson from NYC Leather Jackets, a leather manufacturing company that developed a data-driven scoring system to assess luxury brand exclusivity.

Today's Top Offers

The ranking is based on seven factors: retail availability, online purchase restrictions, purchasing requirements, invitation-only access, retail pricing, resale market performance and “record-breaking” sales history. Each factor receives a score from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater exclusivity.

Products with the most limited physical retail locations, strictest purchasing policies and highest resale market demand received top scores, NYC Leather Jackets noted in an email shared with GOBankingRates. The final exclusivity score was calculated out of a maximum score of 35, with brands ranked from highest to lowest.

The Most Exclusive Brands That Are Nearly Impossible To Buy

Some brands are so exclusive they are “nearly impossible” for most consumers to buy. In this context, Harry Winston ranks at the top. The New York-based upscale jewelry brand “has one of the strictest access policies, with purchases of high-end pieces often requiring an invitation,” according to the NYC Leather Jackets analysis.

Here’s a look at the 10 most exclusive luxury brands based on the same study provided to GOBankingRates over email:

BrandTotal Exclusivity Score
Harry Winston27
Van Cleef & Arpels18
Cartier18
Audemars Piguet17
Patek Philippe16
Rolex14
Hermès14
Louis Vuitton12
Chanel11
Billionaire Couture11

BEFORE YOU GO

See Today's Best
Banking Offers

Looks like you're using an adblocker

Please disable your adblocker to enjoy the optimal web experience and access the quality content you appreciate from GOBankingRates.

  • AdBlock / uBlock / Brave
    1. Click the ad blocker extension icon to the right of the address bar
    2. Disable on this site
    3. Refresh the page
  • Firefox / Edge / DuckDuckGo
    1. Click on the icon to the left of the address bar
    2. Disable Tracking Protection
    3. Refresh the page
  • Ghostery
    1. Click the blue ghost icon to the right of the address bar
    2. Disable Ad-Blocking, Anti-Tracking, and Never-Consent
    3. Refresh the page