Summer statement in the middle of Cologne

Hot, bold, unstoppable: Heidi Klum appears on the 84 square meter mural in a light blue “Shiny Satin” bikini – flawless, photorealistic, a real eye-catcher. The work of art was created in just four days directly on the wall of a building in Cologne’s Friesenviertel district. By the way, we were already there for you at the Calzedonia store opening, you can find it here: Calzedonia Store Opening Cologne, with Rebecca Mir and others.

Blue, shiny and larger than life – the new mural shows Heidi Klum in a bikini from the current Calzedonia “Shiny Satin” campaign.

In just four days, artist MaCChine and the creative collective CC Allstars painted the 84 m² work of art on the wall of the building – completely freehand.

Heidi Klum x Calzedonia Mural in Köln (Foto: Calzedonia)

Immediately afterwards, Heidi posted on Instagram:

 

Check out this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum)

A performance with star power

On the day of the unveiling, Heidi Klum appeared in person. In a denim-on-denim look with a light blue bikini, she posed radiantly in front of the mural. Relaxed, in a good mood and all Heidi, she took the opportunity to sign her oversized image with a spray can in her hand – to applause, a flurry of flashbulbs and shouts of “Heidi!”, of course.

Heidi Klum Street Art (Foto: Calzedonia)

Calzedonia brings art and fashion together

The campaign is more than just advertising – it is an urban fashion statement. Calzedonia shows how modern brand staging works today: live, tangible, with a strong personality and Instagram-ready images. Instead of a billboard: a real mural. Instead of models from the catalog: Heidi Klum in reality.

• Heidi Klum live in Cologne
• XXL mural: 84 m² street art
• Focus on the “Shiny Satin” collection
• Calzedonia: summer, style & star power

Heidi Klum (Foto: Calzedonia)

Heidi Klum: Model, mom, mega wife

At 52, Heidi Klum still stands for success, self-confidence and a bit of cheekiness – exactly what modern women want to see. Whether it’s Germany’s Next Topmodel or international campaigns – Heidi always delivers. What makes Heidi so special?

She has remained approachable despite her star status – that’s why we love her!

At the event in Cologne, she spoke to fans, waved to the crowd and came across as someone you just have to like – without a show, without a filter.

From model to brand

Heidi has long been more than just a model. She is an entrepreneur, presenter, mother – and now also part of a piece of street art in Cologne. Her energy and presence make her the perfect choice for a brand like Calzedonia.

• Heidi Klum signs her own mural
• 52 years and not a bit quiet
• Style icon with a grip on the ground

Calzedonia: The creative Italian brand

Calzedonia is known for high-quality beachwear, leggings and hosiery – but above all for bold productions. For years, the label has managed to combine classic fashion with emotion and creativity.

Urban storytelling instead of traditional advertising

Whether in Milan, Paris or Cologne: Calzedonia focuses on wow moments. Instead of only being visible online, the brand takes its collections directly to the streets – with real models, real events and a clear message: we are fashion, we are art.

Brand with international charm

Founded in Italy, worn worldwide – Calzedonia has long been a global phenomenon. The combination of Mediterranean flair and urban style is perfect for today. Heidi Klum is now adding the glamor factor to the mix.

• Italian fashion sense meets big city vibes
• From beach to city – collections with style
• Brand experience through events & staging

Jones became known for her personality, eccentric appearance and artistic versatility. She was very successful in both the fashion and music industries and became a style icon of the 1980s.

There will be more about her greatest hits in the music scene later. Let’s take a look at her milestones first.

Milestones at a glance

Here you can see Grace Jones’ biggest milestones at a glance.

Breakthrough. Jones’ hit “Pull Up to the Bumper”

Their breakthrough in the music industry came in 1981 with their album “Nightclubbing” and the hit song “Pull Up to the Bumper” included on it. The song was an international hit and reached #5 on the US Dance Charts and #2 on the UK Dance Charts.

It combined elements of reggae, dub, funk and dance, so there was something for every music fan! The song has a strong bass, a catchy melody and Jones’ signature voice that was loaded with confidence. The music video for “Pull Up to the Bumper” featured Jones in an eye-catching outfit. The song and video struck a chord and were celebrated in every club.

Jones also convinces live with her strong voice

“Slave to the Rhythm” became a big hit and reached the top 10 of the charts in several countries. It is an energetic dance-pop song with a rhythm that makes you want to dance. Watch a concert of Grace Jones in London here. Her performance was a great success and showed that she still had a strong presence on stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crsb7fdWflU

Grace Jones – an icon!

She is always referred to as an icon because of her outstanding achievements in many fields of art and culture, bringing her own distinctive style and personality. She has released groundbreaking albums in the music industry that continue to influence music today.

Jones is often seen as a legend of the queer and LGBTQ community for her advocacy of the community’s rights. She is also celebrated for her strength, confidence and artistic independence. Not only does she score points as a model and singer, but Jones has also been more than convincing as an actress. There’s more on her biggest role now.

Did you know. Grace Jones’ role in James Bond

Grace Jones is a multi-talented actress. She appeared in the 14th official James Bond film “A View to a Kill” in 1985, in which she played the role of May Day. With her strong personality as a power woman, she brought a touch of glamor and style to the world of James Bond. Moreover, the character of her role suited her perfectly:

May Day was a strong, fearless and physically impressive character. Overall, Jones’ role as May Day in “A View to a Kill” was an important moment in her career and a contribution to the legendary history of James Bond films.

This is how it all began

In the fashion industry, Jones began working as a model and collaborated with famous designers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Claude Montana. She quickly became one of the most sought-after and successful models in the world. No wonder, because with her unconventional look and androgynous style she won over many artists and designers.

Especially the Wolford brand had taken a great liking to Grace Jones. The collaboration began in the late 1970s, when Jones lived in Paris and became passionate about the brand. See more about Grace Jones and Wolford collaboration here.

Conquering the catwalks

Her striking look and unique charisma made her a popular model on the catwalks and in fashion campaigns. She always walked the runway with a lot of power. Check out her strong walk at the Jean Paul Gaultier show here.

Career and family – does a star like her manage the balance?

Jones has been married twice, but as a strong power woman, she emphasizes that she sees herself as an independent woman and does not need a relationship to be happy. She has a son named Paulo Goude, who was born in 1979. She does not reveal much more about her personal life, because the focus should be on her career. So far Jones has achieved quite a lot in her life, but what does her career actually look like today?

Where can we follow Grace today?

Even at the age of 74, Grace is still in top form today and works on various creative projects. Although she has not appeared so often in public in recent years, she still has a great influence on pop culture ensures that she remains an important figure in the fashion scene. She can still be seen occasionally as an actress in movies and TV series, such as in “Gutterdämmerung” in 2015. In addition, of course, she can still be seen as a model in her favorite place, the catwalk.

Jones remains a great inspiration – then and now

In summary, Grace Jones is a unique and versatile artist who has been successful in various fields such as music, film, fashion and art. She has left her mark on pop culture and continues to be an icon and inspiration to many today. Jones has achieved numerous milestones in her career, including her groundbreaking albums, her legendary live performances, and her acting roles in films.

Despite her success, Grace Jones remains an inspiring figure who continues to reinvent herself and shape pop culture in her own distinctive way.

FIV Magazine #29: Grace Jones x Wolford

More in magazine #29!

The Interview: “Digital Art” NFTs

Thank you for taking time for us today, on a busy Monday morning. Most people who search the internet for the word “NFT” certainly still know very little. Could you perhaps summarize briefly and quickly….

What are NFTs, explained very simply?

Stephan Czaja: With pleasure! I also try to keep out as many technical terms as possible. But you have to have heard a few.

NFT means “Non-fungible Token”. Simply explained, a token is a digital object that can contain additional information. This is also how we get to the NFT. “Non-fungible” means “not replaceable.” Here, simply put, every transaction is recorded. Meaning: I publish a GIF in a NFT marketplace, someone buys this GIF and sells it. Every transaction is documented. So even the 2nd, 3rd and 4th buyer knows that it is the original.

Simply translated, a digital file whose ownership is documented.

The big advantage is this: Suppose someone makes digital art and publishes it. No matter if it’s a picture or a video, it can be copied easily and nobody has the reference to the original file anymore. Through documentation (blockchain), you can trace individual files. So you can see who published a file, who bought it and who sold it. Through this transparent trade, values can be measured to individual digital objects, whether image, video or other.

Just like in the “real” art world.

Mona Lisa at the Louvre, Justin Bieber NFT, … Comparison

I always like to explain it with the Mona Lisa. There are thousands of copies, millions of photos, but only one original. We know that it is the original because its history is precisely documented and it hangs in the Louvre today. In principle, the picture is worth no more than the material from which it is made. The value only arises through supply and demand.

Suppose Justin Bieber makes an NFT. Many fans would want to own it, knowing that this object (whether physical or digital art) is from him.

So the big question now is how will the demand side develop? Will digital art establish itself, will it remain a niche product?

Personally, I think there’s just as big a market for digital art as there is for psychic art. Of course, it will take another five years, ten years, for me to solidify the structure, from capital investors and investors, to auction houses – sort of away from “nerds”.

Can you give us a successful example?

Successful examples of NFT art now abound.

Spectacular! 69 million $ for 1 picture

69 million for 1 artwork – The most spectacular sale was the digital work “5,000 Days”. The international auction house Christie’s wanted to integrate the hype about NFT art into their own portfolio. So they looked for artists who were already making digital art. They then found a New York artist who had already been making a digital painting for 15 years, every single day. Perfect! They put the 5,000 photos together and made it into one big, single piece of art.

Artist (Beeple) after the sale:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXC-_kWqZXo

The artwork was then sold for 69 million dollars. This made the artist the 3rd richest living artist in the world overnight. This shows the potential of digital art.

CryptoPunks and Bored Ape: Successful Collections

CryptoPunks – Especially popular are collections, which are compilations of computer-generated images. Let’s say 1,000 different cats, each with 50 different hats, glasses, hairstyles, which are compiled individually. Among the most successful projects are the “CryptoPunks”.

Here also to see in the marketplace:

• CryptoPunks

Screenshot: OpenSea / CryptoPunks / Lukinski.com

Bored Ape Yacht Club – However, the “Bored Ape Yacht Club” collection was also extremely successful.

Here also to see in the marketplace:

• Bored Ape Yacht Club

Screenshot: OpenSea / Bored Ape Yacht Club / Lukinski.com

What does such a top NFT cost?

Prices for these special, very successful collections are high.

The most successful CryptoPunks work would currently have to be around 120 ETH (Ethereum), which is round about $360,000.

At Bored Ape Yacht Club, the most expensive pieces are currently at 100 ETH, or $300,000, at the current rate.

What can be an NFT?

In principle, any digital object can be an NFT. Primarily, it is about giving a digital object additional information, e.g. sales history or a smart contract.

This is how artists earn (more) money!

This smart contract is particularly interesting for artists. In the normal art market, they profit once when they sell. With NFTs, artists get a percentage for each subsequent sale. The percentage is determined in the Smart Contract itself and is usually between 1% and 10% of the sales price.

Artists earn money:

• Physical art: 1. When sold
• Digital art (NFT): 1st sale + each subsequent sale (pro rata).

NFT types at a glance

Artists can then publish various forms, images, videos, but also accessories for the metaverse in the future. There are already games that work with this, which means that NFTs are also a topic in gaming. Of course, the principle of the classic trading cards can also be easily transferred to the digital world, with a certificate of authenticity.

• NFT images
• NFT videos
• NFT Games
• NFT Collectibles
• NFT Music
• …

Why buy NFT? What do you do with NFT art?

As mentioned before, in the end it is not different from the Mona Lisa or other famous works of art like “Fillette a la corbeille fleurie” by Picasso, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch or even “Adele Bloch-Bauer I” by Maria Altmann. When enough people attach value to an object, but this object is scarce or unique as in this case of artworks, the price increases.

If no one is interested in an object, it has no price, well maybe the material value.

Anyone who buys NFT art assumes that it will increase in value in the future. Accordingly, NFT art is an investment, like many other things, whether Rolex watch or real estate.

What is the cost of 1 NFT?

There are millions of works of art that you can buy, images, videos, many for very small amounts. If you consider that a single collection, of an artist, can already contain 10,000 individual works. Payment is often made in Ethereum, a cryptocurrency. Currently, one unit is worth about $3,000. Some things can be bought for as little as 0.001 Ethereum, which is about $3. So the initial amount is relatively small.

Caution. Take transaction costs into account

Here’s another tip for those who are buying for the first time: Pay attention to the transaction costs when transferring. Without any further settings, the transaction costs can be as high as $70 for some providers. You can always find the settings at the end of the purchase. The faster the NFT is to be transferred (entry in the blockchain), the more expensive, so $70 maximum, approximately.

NFTs from well-known artists are then already more expensive, even new releases can cost several $1,000 here.

How to get NFT?

You can buy, sell and trade such digital art via NFT marketplaces or NFT exchanges. Currently there are about 20 providers, which I have also listed on my website: NFT Marketplaces.

In principle, you can imagine the platforms as well as ebay.

Providers are among others OpenSea, Binance, there are many. Here you can buy an NFT, sell an NFT or even hold it in your wallet, which is a digital wallet. A wallet is a small app, nothing more. Sellers, or artists, put their works online at a fixed price or even an offer price, with duration from 7 days to 6 months.

What are the advantages / disadvantages of NFTs?

If someone actually wants to invest their money in NFTs, they should always keep in mind that they can only resell their artwork if they find a buyer. Ultimately, like the stock market. The only advantage is the potential increase in value, comparable to the first Bitcoins, which were relatively cheap at the beginning.

Be careful though, NFTs are individual objects (tokens) and not exchangeable like shares or cryptocurrency

So remember:

You can only sell if someone wants to buy!

Those who are risk-averse and have “play money,” money that he or she can invest:

• Potential increase in value

For artists in addition, the previously mentioned share, of each additional sale.

What are the disadvantages of NFTs?

As mentioned earlier, there are tens of millions of NFTs. Each one has an individual value. Anyone investing should be well versed and knowledgeable about the art market in general. Buying NFTs is not as “easy” as cryptocurrency, for example.

• Risk of losing money – 1 NFT out of 1.000.000 has success

Wow! Thank you for the detailed interview.

If you want to learn even more about NFTs, including coins, tokens and the blockchain, read more on Stephan Czaja’s website here.

NFT: Blockcain, Coin, Token, Marketplace – Step by Step

NFT – Digital Art, a new phenomenon. Here you will learn everything: What is an NFT? How do you buy NFTs? What marketplaces are there and how is the art market developing for investors. Meanwhile, higher prices are being achieved in the digital art market than in the physical one. Collections like “CryptoPunks” , “Bored Ape Yacht Club” are just two of the most famous works of digital art. The work “5,000 Days” made the artist overnight the 3rd richest living artist (sold at the price of $69 million at Christies). Buy, sell, collections and picture frames for digital art. Welcome to the world of NFT.

• NFT: Digital Art – external

From elementary school teaching to GNTM

FIV: Hello dear Johanna, how nice that it worked out with the interview. You are a successful model and already have a large reach on Instagram. Did you always want to work in the model and social media world or did you have other future goals in terms of your profession before GNTM?

Johanna: In fact, I always wanted to work with children and study elementary school teaching. I’ve loved being in front of the camera ever since I was little, and after taking part in GNTM, it was immediately clear to me that I wanted to continue in this field.

Tips: Pressure on social media

FIV: You are in the public eye and are active on social media as a social media personality. How great is the pressure in the business to always be “perfect”? What is the best way to deal with it?

Johanna: The pressure to be “perfect” is definitely there. When you’re in the public eye or actively using social media in general, you automatically compare yourself to others and often get a false self-perception as a result. However, I always try to do my thing and just show myself as I am, without constantly thinking about whether I meet any criteria or please everyone with it. I think if you think too much about how you present yourself, what you say and how you act, you can quickly become inauthentic and I definitely don’t want that. People are interested in me and my life and not in some version of me that is considered “perfect”.

How to feel comfortable in your skin

FIV: Keyword social media. You do a lot for body positivity. Do you have any tips for our readers on how they can feel good in their skin?

Johanna: The best tip I have for others to feel good is to ignore the opinion of others and be yourself. You can’t take negative comments to heart and just stand by yourself. There are always people who won’t like you, just like you don’t like everyone. You just have to focus on the things that you like about yourself and then emphasize and highlight them instead of constantly looking for flaws.

Life changed by GNTM

FIV: You owe your fame to GNTM, among other things. You took part in GNTM in 2020 and have been a successful model and active on social media ever since. How has your life changed since GNTM?

Johanna: My life hasn’t really changed that much apart from the fact that I now share a lot of things with people through Instagram. Sure, you’re often recognized and approached now when you’re out and about somewhere, but that doesn’t bother me at all, quite the opposite. I still worked in the beer garden after GNTM, just like before, and recently started studying, because I still find that super important in addition to social media.

Johanna’s artistic streak

FIV: In your free time you like to deal with art and paint. How did you get into art and would you like to work professionally as an artist or in the artistic field?

Johanna: Art was always my absolute favorite subject at school. Unfortunately, I had little time to pursue it after my school days. When I then had to involuntarily quarantine for a while, I started to paint again and will definitely deepen this hobby and maybe even earn money with it in the future. Artist as a main profession, I could imagine but rather not.

Projects that Johanna will pursue in the future

FIV: Finally a short look into the future, we are curious what you have planned in the near future: Do you have any big plans like a new project or a movie or is there something on the

Johanna: I don’t have any concrete plans for the future, I’ll let everything come to me. But I could definitely imagine further TV projects, if the right offer should come along. I will also continue to pursue modeling and hopefully make progress in this area. Otherwise, I just hope that the overall situation with Corona will relax again and maybe you can travel again without any problems, because there are still super many countries and places that I still want to see.

More about Germany’s Next Topmodel

Did you like the interview with Luca? Then read more interviews with former GNTM contestants here.

Interview with Lena Schreiber: GNTM, model career & fitness tips

Since her participation in the 16th season of Germany’s Next Topmodel, Lena Schreiber has not only been successful as a model and in social media, but has also started her own business as a coach, advising young people on fitness, health and nutrition. She has also recently published her first e-book. In our interview, the model talks about her time after GNTM, her modeling career and the support she receives from her family. In addition, the model tells us her two biggest inspirations, talks about her dream job and gives tips on fitness and healthy eating.

• Interview with Lena Schreiber

Photo: Leon Schleßelmann

Interview with Natascha Jasmin Beil: GNTM & Beauty Tips

We met ex-GNTM participant Natascha Jasmin Beil for an exclusive interview. She became known through her participation in the 6th season and is still active today as a model, influencer and TV personality. Recently, the beauty has also returned to work as a hairdresser on the side. She talked to us about her life, GNTM, her dog Tyson and her most beautiful trips. In addition, she has given us as a beauty expert hair care and make-up tips!

• Natascha Jasmin Beil Interview

Interview with Jana Heinisch: Radio show & model career

Jana Heinisch Interview – Jana Heinisch is a true multi-talent: Since her participation in the 9th season of GNTM, the red-haired beauty is not only a model, but also works as a radio host and is a pilot. In the interview with us, Jana talks about her career as a stewardess and pilot, reveals her dream travel destination and talks about her radio show and her own podcast. Jana also talks exclusively to us about her participation in GNTM, her modeling career and her plans for the future.

• Jana Heinisch in interview

Photo: Nikk Martin

Minimalism – definition & background

Getting rid of everything unnecessary and concentrating on the essentials, that is minimalism. That can be superfluous objects, but also rusty friendships. Everything that gives pleasure may remain. According to clean-up and minimalism expert Marie Kondo: “Does it spark joy?” Minimalism has little to do with renunciation. Because everything that brings you joy is allowed, but only these things.

Minimalism made easy: Instructions for a minimalist life

In order to live minimalism to the fullest, one must reduce all one’s possessions, activities and also social relationships until only the significant remains. Things that do not give pleasure and only take up space are sorted out. Activities that we only have as a sideline.

Minimalism for beginners: mucking out the wardrobe á la Marie Kondo

Minimalism also works in the wardrobe. And it’s not really that difficult. The Japanese artist Marie Kondo in particular has demonstrated this. You only have to look at the garment and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this object make me happy?
2. Is it useful to me?
3. If it were lost, would it affect me or would I not even notice it?
4. How often do I use it?
5. Do I keep it just because it was a gift or expensive?

Minimalist style of furnishing for the home: the art of omission

Again, everything that I do not need and that does not give me pleasure is completely sorted out. So you can make your own life easier and free. Minimalist living is all about a functional, usually simple design. If you want to benefit from this feeling of freedom and lightness, you can transform your home – whether bedroom, kitchen, living room or bathroom – into a minimalist oasis of well-being with a few simple tips.
The best minimalist ideas at a glance can be found in the video!

Capsule Wardrobe: Minimalist wardrobe for the modern cosmopolitan

The Capsule Wardrobe is a trend that promises to solve all your fashion problems. The goal is to have only essential pieces in your wardrobe that can be combined with each other. Especially classic pieces with timeless cuts in neutral colours are essential. But also some extravagant pieces should not be missing. The Capsule Wardrobe is promising:

• You don’t spend your life in front of a closet to find something to wear
• You have more space and the wardrobe stays neat and tidy
• You save money by avoiding mispurchases
• You only wear the looks you love and feel comfortable in
• You improve your own fashion style

Minimalistic cooking & eating: How you redesign your diet

People who live minimalistically also consume and shop differently. This is also noticeable in cooking. Healthy and balanced eating is the keyword here. That means, for example, fresh, seasonal and regional shopping. But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds! You can get tips and tricks in the video.

Tips for everyday routines: Less is more

How can I best integrate minimalism into my life? People are creatures of habit. So the easiest way to establish a new style is to incorporate it into your routines. After all, minimalism is ultimately also a whole lifestyle that is reflected in all aspects of our lives. In the video you will find some good examples of how you can easily establish a minimalist lifestyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-MBBntHQE4

Types of investment and alternatives

Where can 1,000 to 100,000 dollar be invested to get the top results? There are many different ways in which savers can invest their money. Which forms of investment are suitable for short, medium and long-term investment? There are many more questions! What does investment in real estate mean? How do you calculate the return on a property? What is a safe investment? Is real estate a good investment? We start with the simplest forms: Saving money. Later we also come to topics such as cars, safe investments like real estate and speculative investments like art.

Investment Portfolio: Asset diversification

Anyone who has learned from the past, from economic crises to currency fluctuations and inflation, should diversify their capital in such a way that even in uncertain times, a certain degree of freedom and mobility is maintained, that is:

• 1/3 Fixed-income assets/securities
• 1/3 Real estate
• 1/3 Mobile material assets, e.g. diamonds

Savings book – The classic

The savings book offers, especially for young people, a good start through the mental obligation to regularly deposit money. The big disadvantage is that interest rates are currently low, even close to zero.

The classic savings book is suitable for continuous asset accumulation. You regularly pay your monthly savings contribution, for example through your salary. Often the account management is free of charge and every dollar deposited earns interest, albeit small

A savings account is easy to set up for just about everyone. With the way to the bank or the on-line mechanism over a direct bank, for each saver possible, flexible availability of the capital very small capital yields very low nearly none. The yield of savings books is very low and therefore there is almost no risk. Savings books are easy to set up, possible for every saver, flexible availability of capital. But there are also disadvantages of passbooks such as very low returns on investment.

Facts about the passbook

The 3 most important facts about the savings book:

• possibility to invest the first capital stock
• no (extremely low) default risk
• available for everyone

The savings book offers a secure investment and is a good option, without risk, especially for people who want to build up their first small capital stock.

Read more about the simplest form of investment, the passbook.

Fixed-term money – binding term and yield

Money that you do not need to access for the next 1 to 3 years can be invested in a term deposit account. The longer the term, the higher the interest.

Fixed-term deposits offer the advantage of easy set-up, stable interest rates and various maturities are selectable early termination is often not possible, termination is only possible for a fee. The risk assessment of fixed-term deposits is therefore low compared to the investment alternatives. However, the current yield of fixed-term deposits is just as low due to the current interest rate situation as is the risk – a trade-off that every saver must weigh up for himself. Therefore, just like a savings book, a fixed-term deposit is easy to set up, it offers stable interest rates and you can choose different maturities. Conclusion: Many advantages, little return.

Facts about the time deposit

The 3 most important facts about time deposits:

• For capital that is not essential needed
• Obligatory term (previous exit only with losses)
• Fixed return after time

Overall, fixed-term deposits are suitable for people who can do without part of their capital for a certain period of time. This is invested with a fixed term, in return for which you receive a fixed return.

Binding term and yield, read more about saving with a fixed-term deposit

For those who want to calculate their possible interest payments themselves, there are very simple formulas available for calculation. The two most important are these:

Interest per year:

Interest per year = (investment capital x interest rate) / 100

Interest per day:

Interest for t days = (investment capital x interest rate x t) / (100 x days per year)

Daily allowance – flexibility and security

Overnight money is absolutely easy to set up, often the offer is included ready in the opening of the account. Your deposited capital is available at any time, unlike investing in a fixed-term deposit account with a binding term. For the start with overnight money you need only a small investment income or income.

Due to the current interest rate development, as will be seen later in the statistics, the increase of capital via overnight money is only worthwhile from very large amounts of money. In return, you have a very low, almost no risk in your capital investment. The current return on overnight money is very low as described, which is little to no risk, but you will hardly make any profit. Overnight money is like time deposits and savings books easy to set up in many bank branches and of course online. Your capital is always available.

Facts about the overnight money

The 3 most important facts about the daily allowance:

1. Available for everyone
2. Constant availability of your money
3. Low return

Overnight money is a flexible reserve option for small savers. You can fall back on your money at any time, but the returns are more moderate than with a time deposit.

Current interest rates and more: call money.

Overnight money comparison: Interest rate development from 120+ banks

The basis of the interest rate statistics are currently 12 tested overnight deposit accounts, which you will also find in all overnight deposit comparisons.

• 2008 by 4.15%
• 2010 by 1.12
• 2012 by 1.22%
• 2014 by 0.39%
• 2016 by 0.12%
• 2018 by -0.03%
• 2020 by -0.08%

Deposits rise despite falling interest rates

How do interest rate developments relate to the amount of deposits? As we have already noted with regard to the savings book, this is mainly due to the scepticism of savers, towards the stock market and the economy.

In general, one should be able to assume that the current fall in interest rates, which is dependent on the interest rate situation, will lead to a corresponding fall in interest among savers.

However, as the chart shows, this is not necessarily the case, as a glance at the infographics below shows. In the chart you can see how the interest rates on overnight deposit accounts have been falling steadily since the beginning of 2012, but the amount of deposits of private households with daily maturity almost always increases.

More facts and figures about overnight money.

Direct comparison – savings book, overnight and time deposits

Building society contracts – house purchase, construction and conversion

When you save with a building society, you benefit from various support options such as premiums from the state. You can use your bauspar contract for the construction, purchase or conversion of a house. However, a bauspar contract is also interesting for real estate owners, for example to finance modernization measures. The respective costs depend strongly on the provider. Read more about bauspar saving here.

Procedure and phases – The strengths of a building society contract lie in its fixed planning capability. A bauspar contract consists of two phases, the saving and the saving phase. With a bauspar contract you first save about half of the planned bauspar sum (see bauspar calculator), the other half is then available as a loan at a fixed interest rate.

As already described, there are many questions, ranging from what is the savings phase and how long is the term of a savings agreement to what is meant by a savings agreement? But the advantages and disadvantages are also important for many people who want to start saving. What are the advantages of a bauspar contract?

No equity capital necessary – the highlight of every bauspar contract is that it can be used without any equity capital at all. It can be set up anywhere, locally in branches but also online in comparison portals.

The disadvantage, the payout is bound to strict regulations, the risk of default is extremely low, especially with old contracts. Did you already know? It is possible to convert building society contracts into capital investments by paying premiums – but this advantage is usually limited to the old contracts just mentioned. Unfortunately, such contracts are hardly offered anymore with the current interest rate situation. The current yield of bauspar contracts is average.

Facts on building saving

The most important 3 facts about the building society contract:

1. No equity capital required
2. Support through premiums from the State
3. Earmarked (according to strict regulations) for house construction, purchase and reconstruction

Building society savings really pays off for everyone. The conclusion is simple, the plan has a clear goal. No matter whether it is rent-free living or old-age provision, building saving is a real must in order to build up equity.

Read more about bausparing here.

Real estate – capital investment and retirement provision

The great advantage of real estate as a capital investment is its long-term value and, in addition, the corresponding increase in value in a good location. If you are looking for an exclusive property, you do not need a normal broker but a luxury realtor with specific knowledge and a good network. Many of these objects will never appear in the usual real estate portals.

Another advantage in the current interest rate situation, the investment of capital is possible through cheap loans with favorable financing – according to the motto, if not now, then when? Of course, there is also the option of tax advantages, but these should be discussed and planned with an experienced real estate agent or tax consultant. Read more about capital investment real estate here.

Real estate overview: Risk assessment

The most popular are

• Plots of land
• Condominiums
• Private homes
• Pure and semi-detached houses
• Retirement home

The risks and disadvantages include the complex effort involved in buying and selling real estate. From collecting the documents to the viewing appointments and the negotiation phase or the purchase contract.

The increase in value is strongly dependent on the location, as describe.  In addition, as a property owner you will have responsibilities as a home owner and property manager if you do not outsource the service to a company. To get started in real estate, you usually need a lot of equity, depending on various factors.

The return on property is average, with a high tendency for good properties in attractive locations. The local increase in value of any property, whether it is a condominium or a home of your own, depends strongly on the location. Prices literally explode in cities like Munich and Hamburg. The risk as well as the return on real estate is medium to high, depending on the various factors mentioned. Real estate offers long-term value, which is its great advantage, also for investors who are thinking about retirement provisions.

Facts about real estate

The 3 most important facts about real estate as an investment:

1. Requires a lot of equity from the saver
2. Long-term capital commitment
3. Requires know how when buying (object, location, etc.)

Real estate is advisable for laymen, like stocks, at the first purchase only with the help of experts (e.g. real estate agents). It is a long way from the first research to the inspection and the purchase contract as well as the subsequent property management.

Read more about capital investment real estate.

The question as to which capital investment is the most lucrative cannot be answered in a blanket way. Depending on the amount of investment and personal goals, the search for the best capital investment is more or less difficult. The fact is, however, that the right investment with a suitable return brings with it a worthwhile increase in value and has many advantages for the investor.

Procedure and selection process

This is how you buy real estate:

1. Keep a cool head when buying property and don’t let personal feelings guide you.
2. Always let him show you a sample calculation of the yield of the property and question the assumptions.
3. Compare the return on your property purchase with that of other investments.
4. 4Take advantage of the competition among the providers of construction financing.

Invest money in real estate

Real estate as a capital investment becomes very attractive for many investors, especially at the current low interest rates, and offers many advantages for long-term investment and value enhancement. We give you the most important tips:

1. Key figures
2. Land as an investment
3. Semi-detached houses and apartment buildings
4. Buyer tips

And much more you can find now in the article “Real estate as a capital investment?

Equities – risk and return

Access to shares is easy for everyone, online or in the bank branch. Every bank offers such accounts, some also charge custodian fees. Read more about buying and selling shares here.

For laymen there is always a risk, because the trade is confusing. Stock market tickers, news, tweets, many things influence prices and developments. The (daily) trading with shares requires competence and experience. In case of speculations, high losses are possible immediately. This means that the risk, but also the loss in case of doubt, is medium to high. If you want to start trading more safely, you should use ETFs. Where there is shadow, there is sun. For example, the returns on shares are just as medium to high compared to traditional investments such as savings books, time deposits or overnight money. You can read more about this in our articles on equities and index funds (ETF).

Facts on shares

The 3 most important facts about shares as a capital investment:

1. Know how required
2. High risk (even complete failure possible)
3. Purchase fees must be taken into account in the volume

Equities offer great returns, as we also show in the dividend payout in the example on our article. It is only important that you take a close look at shares before you make your first purchase. We tell you what you need to consider in the first steps.

Read more about buying and selling shares here.

Is it worthwhile buying shares?

Anyone who holds shares for a longer period of time will receive dividends at the end of the financial year, if they are successful.

271.1 % Increase in dividends in 15 years

In this diagram, you can see very impressively how dividends are rising year after year, billion after billion. This is the development of the dividend payments of DAX companies in the years from 2003 to 2019 (in billions of dollars). The leap from 2004 to 2019 alone, i.e. 15 years, resulted in an additional annual payout of 27.8 billion dollars. This represents an increase of 271.15 % over the previous year.

Read more here and look at the statistics that show the extreme rise in profits in the stock market: Stock trading.

Funds (ETF) – Less risk and return

ETFs are bundled shares, which reduces the risk (default, profit and loss peaks). The A&O in the balancing process. ETFs are linked to fixed terms. Read more about safe investment in funds here.

Funds, like shares, must be set up at every bank. Different investment portfolios are possible and thus a corresponding gradation according to the risk appetite of the individual investor is possible. Of course everyone knows the tax advantages that are possible with capital transactions. Due to the large selection of fund products you can spread the risk well.

Each purchase and the fund management costs fees. Your capital is tied up for the long term, dissolution is only possible with loss before the end of the term.

The current return of funds is medium (compared to the investment alternatives) and the risk of funds is absolutely manageable.

Facts about funds

The 3 most important facts about funds as capital investment:

1. Binding maturity (earlier exit associated with losses)
2. Minimized risk through bundled individual values
3. Purchase fees must be taken into account in the volume

For those who can save money, funds are an excellent alternative to individual shares. Bundled funds are less sensitive as they contain many players that are more stable overall. Returns are correspondingly more moderate than for equities, but as you can quickly see in our best practice of dividends, it is worth investing in. In the last 15 years alone, dividends have tripled, from 2004 to 2019, which is 15 years, bringing an additional annual payout of 27.8 billion dollars. An increase of 271.15 % over the previous year.

Read more about safe investment in funds here.

Shares & Funds – Tips for your first purchase

If you are interested in buying an ETF, you will find many different pricing models on the internet. Here the individual prices per trade depend on the online broker. The standard fees are usually five to eight, maximum ten dollars. There is also a fee of 0.25%, depending on the amount traded. The fee per purchase is typically limited to an upper maximum amount.

First purchase: 100, 1,000 or 10,000 dollars ?

Another unbeatable advantage in fund trading, even with small investment amounts you can get in. When investing in real estate, you have to present 10% – 20% equity capital to the bank, which in large cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Cologne can quickly amount to 50,000 – 100,000 Dollars. Investing in equity funds is often worthwhile at only 10% of the sum, about 5,000 – 10,000 dollars per package.

Why should you not buy smaller packages? There is an order fee for each trade. If you buy a package for 100 Dollars, many banks charge an order fee of 5-8 Dollars directly. Accordingly, your portfolio will shrink directly to 92-95 Dollars. This means that you have already made the first 5-8 Dollar loss, which a corresponding rise in the price of the fund must first offset. That means, directly at the purchase 5% – 8%

Loss of value.

Purchase of 100 Dollar Ø 6.5% loss
plus 0.25% trading fee

If you buy a package of 1.000 Dollar, the trading fee of our exemplary 5-8 Dollar is already much less important. With a purchase of 1.000 Dollar you keep 992-995 Dollar in value. Accordingly, the loss in value is reduced to only 0.5% – 0.8%.

Purchase of 1.000 Dollar Ø 0.65% loss
plus 0.25% trading fee

With a package of 10,000 dollars and an order fee of 5-8 dollars, the loss in value is directly reduced to 0.05% – 0.08%.

Purchase of 10,000 Dollar Ø 0.07% loss
plus 0.25% trading fee

Therefore it is worthwhile to buy larger packages directly.

In addition, there is the previously mentioned purchase fee of about 0.25% of the traded package.

Of course, the administration fee for your portfolio is just as favourable. The more value you hold, the smaller the effect on your portfolio.

You can find more interesting facts here:

• Stocks
• Funds

Bonds – yield and rating

Government bonds, or treasury bonds, are usually available in the local currency. In contrast to treasury bills (2 years), German Government securities have a relatively long maturity. This maturity is for example 10 or even 30 years. Read more about government bonds as capital investments here.

So when you buy a government bond, you are an investor lending money to the state. This bond is granted for a fixed period of time. In return, you as a lender receive a fixed interest rate, so-called coupons. The nominal value of a bond usually remains the same over the entire period.

Facts on government bonds

The 3 most important facts about government bonds as a capital investment:

1. Government bonds are used to finance government spending, so you lend money to the government when you buy bonds
2. Government bonds pay a fixed interest rate annually to the investor, the so-called coupon
3. The interest rate and price of the government bond issued is based, for example, on the current creditworthiness of the issuing country.

Government bonds are a safe bank for money. Whoever deals with the current inflation sees quickly, government bonds currently bring no returns.

Read more about the topic Government Bond here

Yield with 10-year maturity

Yield on ten-year government bonds of selected countries worldwide in October 2019.

Positive interest income

1. USA with 1.7
2. Greece with 1.34
3. Italy with 0,92 %.
4. Spain with 0,22 %.
5. Portugal with 0,19
6. Ireland with 0.02

Negative interest income

1. Germany with – 0.45
2. Luxembourg with -0.39
3. Netherlands with -0.3 1%
4. Austria with -0.2
5. Finland with -0.2
6. Japan with -0.16
7. France with -0.14
8. Belgium with -0.14%

Precious metals – gold, silver, platinum & palladium

Gold, silver, platinum & palladium and the current price – here you will find everything about precious metals as an investment. Gold in particular is regarded as the investment form during and outside of crises. Did you already know? The purchase of investment gold is exempt from VAT. Current prices, tips and more on the subject under precious metals as a capital investment.

Precious metals can be used as an investment form by the investor without much know-how (an exception is silver).

In contrast to investments such as vintage cars or art, a concrete value is tangible and is determined daily on the world’s stock exchanges. Investors only have to follow the current share price. But be careful: high fluctuations in the price of gold (and other precious metals) are also possible here, so the risk is medium to high (for example with silver).

The return is medium, depending on the price development. The yield of precious metals is medium to high, depending on the price development, as is the risk of precious metals. Precious metals are an attractive form of investment worldwide. It can be used at short notice, without great know-how. Through stock exchanges and trading, concrete values are always within reach. You as investor only have to follow the share price. Of course there are also risks with precious metals as well as the generally high fluctuations, as known from the gold price.

Facts on precious metals

The 3 most important facts about precious metals as a capital investment:

1. Gold is mainly bought in times of crisis, so the price development is often contrary to the stock prices (accordingly predictable)
2. Platinum is particularly rare and valuable (as seen in cars as an investment or in art as an investment, rarity is a top indicator), accordingly palladium is such an interesting substitute
3. Palladium is very interesting because it can replace platinum in the industry

The big advantage of precious metal is that you can always follow the current prices and thus have a solid assessment of value and appreciation (when looking at the current prices and also history)

Current prices, tips and more about gold, silver, platinum and co. under precious metals as a capital investment.

Diamonds – Valuation & Certificate

Diamonds offer protection against inflation, bank failures, stock market crashes and currency reforms. Not only that, anonymity also plays a major role for many investors. There is no registration of the investor for diamonds, no state access. Diamonds are not only anonymously obtainable for buyers, they also offer the unbeatable advantage that they are easily convertible worldwide. Safe or not? Diamonds as a capital investment.

Cartier jewelry (even the finest particles are used):

Did you know? Diamonds are the only internationally recognized substitute currency that is valued equally in all countries.

Every diamond is unique. They can be the same size, but have extremely different values. The quality is measured by the 4C of diamonds. This means that differences are formulated by “Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut”. They determine the quality and value of the diamond. As soon as you decide to actually buy diamonds, the tax-free increase in value also plays a role (take a look at our statistics on increase in value later). The tangible asset without maintenance costs is free of maintenance costs, provided that safekeeping is solved.

Facts on precious metals

The 3 most important facts about precious metals as a capital investment:

1. Protection (inflation, bank failures, stock market crashes and currency reforms)
2. Anonymity of the buyer
3. Global convertibility

Diamonds are an excellent choice as part of your own portfolio. As we have already described in the introduction of the article, a good portfolio should consist of one third each of fixed-interest investments or securities, real estate and mobile tangible assets, such as art, designer fashion or even diamonds.

Safe or not? Diamonds as a capital investment.

Jewellery – value investment

Jewellery is extremely different. On the one hand, there is the well-known costume jewelry from the city centers and from online mail order companies. Even at the beach promenade around in the supermarket there is costume jewelry to buy. On the other hand there are special and exclusive pieces from brands like Cartier, Chaumet, Bvlgari, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Tiffany. Read more about jewellery as an investment.

The rarer a piece is, the more expensive it can become. High-quality jewellery should only be bought from renowned jewellers. If in doubt, you should commission a value appraisal before buying the desired pieces. But under what circumstances is it worth investing in jewellery?

Facts about jewellery

The 3 most important facts about jewellery as an investment:

1. Equity capital required (entry 5 to 6 digits)
2. Moderate, long-term return (stable to slightly rising) / commitment if desired
3. Anonymous purchase and trade

With such high purchase sums, which as described also quickly reach a 6-digit value, jewelry is an investment for wealthy people and heirs. For the private, smaller investor the later resale is not easy and in most cases it is loss-making.

Read here further to the capital investment jewellery

Jewellery brands: Ranking

1. Cartier
2. Van Cleef & Arpels
3. Boucheron
4. Harry Winston
5.  Chaumet
6. Kloybateri
7. … the top 10 luxury jewelry brands

Art – Durable system without fixed sales value

Access to the established art market is possible for newcomers via galeries or auctions. For buyers with capital, art is certainly attractive as an investment.

It is risky that art has no fixed values and therefore no clear prospects of profit. Buyers must also have appropriate storage facilities. The risk is correspondingly high. Today’s return on art is high, if asked for, in keeping with the high risk of art as an investment.

Art is readily traded. The entry into the art trade takes time, art is therefore not a short-term investment. You can access the established art market through galeries and art auctions, for example, in which you can participate with prior registration. Whoever bids, the weather is also a little bit. Accordingly, there are no clear profit prospects in the art trade, especially at auctions. Security also plays a role, as buyers must have appropriate safe storage facilities when storing art objects.

Read more about art as a capital investment.

The most expensive works of art in the world

1. Leonardo da Vinci – Salvator Mundi for US$ 450.3 million
2. Pablo Picasso – Les femmes d’Alger for $179.4 million
3. Modigliani – Nu couché for 170.4 million US-$

Read on under Art as Investment.

Procedure: 3 tips for finding objects

1. Choose an art form that is interesting for you such as painting, photography, graphics, design
2. Search for special unique copies and / or objects, which were only produced in small numbers
3. Finally comes the choice of the right strategy, you speculate on known artists, unknown artists

Designer fashion – shoes, jackets and bags

Designer fashion as a capital investment? Shoes, jackets and expensive bags, high fashion is not only conquering the world’s metropolises, but more and more investors are turning to designer pieces. Haute couture is at the top of the list in New York, Dubai and Beijing. The leading luxury brands earn billions. We take a look at the most popular high fashion designers and potential investment objects. Read more about fashion as an investment.

The big advantage of designer fashion: fashion from designer labels can be bought by every consumer in a boutique simply and easily. It gets even better, if required it offers practical benefits for the buyer. However, those who buy bags & Co. from Hermés, Prade, Versace & Co. are less interested in practical use than in increasing value. The purchase and transport is anonymous, no buyer is registered.

Facts about designer fashion

The 3 most important facts about fashion as an investment:

1. Availability for everyone
2. Anonymity at purchase
3. Risk of loss of value due to trends, news or influencers

On average, humanity is becoming increasingly wealthy. Especially countries like China and India want more and more luxury goods. So the prices for special pieces are rising. Expensive handbags, fine dresses and shoes are making high profits.

Read more about designer fashion as a capital investment here.

Luxury brands: Ranking

Tip! The 10 most expensive handbags in the world. Read more about the top 10 luxury fashion brands here.

1. Hermes
2. Chanel
3. Louis Vuitton
4. Christian Dior
5. Ferragamo
6. Versace
7. …

In addition to the three basic rules of rarity, original condition and patience counts, the increase in value must exceed the running costs of the value investment car. Sports cars, youngtimers and oldtimers can be easily purchased and acquired by everyone via the used car market, so getting started is easy. However, it is extremely important that specialist knowledge is available. Experience in the field is absolutely necessary, for laymen completely unsuitable and also in the risk medium to high, without knowledge. Read more about cars and classic cars here.

The return on cars is medium to high, if the increase in value is given by following the 3 rules for car buyers. Where there are high profits, there is always risk, with cars as a capital investment the risk is high and investments should be made accordingly with planning. Cars are especially for men one of the investment objects, but for laymen the investment in cars and classic cars is unsuitable. We recommend a good alternative, such as funds and bonds. With a little more willingness to take risks also real estate.

Facts about cars and oldtimers

The 3 most important facts about cars as a capital investment:

• Attractive increase in value (important: increase in value only in original condition)
• A lot of experience and know how for the valuation and the purchase is a prerequisite
• Active enjoyment of the object instead of ‘just’ investing

If you want to buy cars as an investment, you have to take a lot into account. In addition to the three basic rules of rarity, original condition and patience, the increase in value must exceed the running costs of the car as an investment (sports, youngtimers and classic cars). For laymen, the investment in cars and classic cars is therefore rather unsuitable.

Read more about cars and classic cars here.

Luxury car manufacturer: Ranking

Read more about the top 10 luxury jewelry brands.

1. Rolls-Royce
2. Bentley
3. Ferrari
4. Lamborghini
5. Maserati
6. Aston Martin
7. …

Antiques – Coming soon

Soon you will also find more information about antiques here.

• Sotheby’s
• Cristies

Private lending – duration, costs and comparison

What are the advantages of a personal loan from my bank? Can I get the credit without SCHUFA? There are many questions, we have the first important answers. For all other questions, it is best to contact your bank advisor or a renowned comparison portal for loans. So you are available through various credit mediation portals. The current rate of return on personal loans is mediocre and the risk of personal loans is therefore also not high. Private lending enables simple investment opportunities via various credit brokerage portals. Read more about private lending here.

Of course, there are also disadvantages with personal loans, because when taking out a loan, detailed information about the providers is necessary to avoid mistakes.

Read more about personal loans here.

Questions about personal credit

• What are the advantages of a personal loan from my bank?
• Is a given personal loan earmarked?
• Is a prior credit check obligatory in Germany?
• … read on: Personal loan

Life insurance – risk & asset generation

Life insurance policies can basically be divided into two types, term life insurance and endowment life insurance. Life insurance policies stand out above all as the best protection for partners and children (term life insurance). However, they can do more, for example asset accumulation for old age (endowment life insurance). All about life insurance.

We answer your questions: How does life insurance work? How useful is a life insurance policy? Is it possible to get the life insurance paid out? The good news first, yes! This special insurance is called endowment insurance, or capital-forming insurance. The cost of the insurance you take out depends on your individual goal of protection and the agreed term.

Facts about life insurance

The 3 most important facts about life insurance as an investment:

1. Capital Security
2. Protection for survivors in the event of death
3. Capital accumulation (for endowment insurance)

Depending on your personal family and professional status, different life insurance policies are possible. In principle, however, anyone who has a young family or close relatives should think about them.

Read all about life insurance investments here.

Investment management – Private asset managers

Asset Management – Asset managers help their clients to find their way in the complex and increasingly digital financial world. Through conversations and trust we analyse the financial situation of the client in detail, so trust is central to our work together. Your personal current circumstances and long-term goals are taken into account in the planning. The result is a detailed, personal asset planning, individually developed for the client. Well-founded and high-yield asset management is possible for both financially strong investors and small savers. More about costs and minimum investment amounts later. Read more about private asset management here.

When does asset management pay off?

The big question is: When does asset management start to pay off? Banks offer standardized products for assets starting at 50,000 dollars. Online there are even much lower models.

Standardized banking products from 50,000 dollars

An individual and personal, correspondingly profitable asset management is only worthwhile from a minimum investment sum of 500,000 dollars.

Personal investment advice from 500.000 Dollar

Independent investment advisors help with financial advice and brokerage. But what does an investment advisor do, what costs do you incur as an investor and how does the profession differ from the classic bank advisor in a bank branch?

Read all about the topic: Asset management

The most popular investments

Which of the following investments are currently the most popular? These statistics from the Federal Office are the result of a survey of over 1,000 respondents on the various preferred forms of investment in Germany. At the time of the survey, “about 27 percent of the people questioned owned a life insurance policy. In 2011, around 40 percent of those surveyed still stated that they had taken out a life insurance policy for old-age provision”.

13% fewer life insurance policies in 8 years

You can find further information on statistics on Statista.

Back to the Capital Investment editorial.

Risk assessment art: advantages and disadvantages

Access to the established art market is possible for newcomers via galeries or auctions. For buyers with capital, art is definitely attractive as an investment.

What is risky is that art has no fixed values and thus no clear prospects of profit. Buyers must also have appropriate storage facilities. The risk is accordingly high. Today’s return on art is high, if demanded, matching the high risk of art as an investment.

Art likes to be traded. Getting started in the art trade takes time, so art is not a short-term investment. You can get access to the established art market through galeries and art auctions, for example, in which you can participate with prior registration. Whoever bids, also bets a little. Accordingly, there are no clear profit prospects in art trading, especially at auctions. Security also plays a role, as buyers must have appropriately secure storage facilities when storing art objects.

Advantages

• Durability and safety of the installation
• High returns with optimal demand
• Representative power of art
• Long-term capital investment and possibility of inheritance

Disadvantages

• Long introductory phase
• No fixed sales value
• Know How of the buyer must be available
• Storage facility must be available
• Low transparency of the art market
• No short-term investment

Painting and masterpieces

Known art objects: Painting

What makes masterpieces so interesting?

1. Less insider knowledge required
2. Price development transparent
3. Simple purchase and sale

Special art objects: Painting

Special art objects: Fabergé Egg

Fabergé eggs are jewellery items in the form of Easter eggs, they are ornately decorated and the epitome of the highest goldsmith’s art and a true symbol of luxury. Compared to well-known paintings by painters, the market is smaller, the individual artists and manufactories generally more unknown.

You’ll find our 3 tips for getting started in a moment!

The most expensive works of art in the world

1. Leonardo da Vinci – Salvator Mundi for 450.3 million US-$
2. Pablo Picasso – Les femmes d’Alger for 179.4 million US-$
3. Modigliani – Nu couché for 170.4 million US-$

You can find more statistics at Statista

Procedure: Tips for the object search

1. Choose a type of art that is interesting to you such as painting, photography, graphics, design
2. Search for special unique pieces and / or objects, which were produced only in small editions
3. Last comes the choice of the right strategy, do you speculate on known artist, unknown artist

Art and technique of portrait photography

Before a portrait is created, the photographer must decide whether he wants to photograph the person frontally, in profile, in half profile or in three-quarters profile. The easiest way is to view the subject through the camera’s viewfinder in all positions and then choose the best view. Photographing people from the front can make them look dominant and massive. The half profile usually reveals the different eye size that is normal for all people.

In the three-quarter profile, the photographer should pay attention to the position of the nose. The photographer needs some tact in the choice of perspective, because a large-looking nose does not need a perspective that makes it look even larger and longer. It can be interesting to play with the eye level in portraits, as this can generate certain emotional reactions. A portrait at eye level unconsciously creates trust and equality, while a photo taken from below eye level makes the person appear larger and more sublime. A photo taken from above eye level makes the person appear smaller, which is considered a positive effect for children, but a person can also devalue it, which is why this position should be used with caution.

Portrait photography – head rotation

Photography, design and painting all belong in the field of art. As soon as portraits of any kind are concerned, there are formal distinguishing features that one gets to know over time. The head rotation of the face can also be divided into 6 points when taking pictures.

1. frontal view – en face (the face is frontal to the viewer)
2. three-quarter profile (the face is slightly turned out of the frontal view, so that the half facing the viewer is completely shortened and the side facing away from him very strongly, whereby the proportions in the face shift)
3. Half profile (middle between the profile and the three-quarter profile, the second eye is still visible)
4. Quarter profile (rarely occurring view in which the profile view predominates and the second eye is just visible)
5. Profile view – en profil (pure side view, comparable to the silhouette)
6. lost profile – profile perdu (rarely seen from behind, only the contours of the cheekbones are visible)

Important: basic knowledge of portrait photography

It is also important to choose the correct focal length for a portrait, as each setting changes a portrait and achieves a different effect. A realistic portrait should be shot with a focal length between 50 -100 mm, because more extreme values also have corresponding consequences. The detail of the picture is also decisive for a successful portrait, whereby the classic portrait is usually a bust picture. In doing so, the photographer must also pay attention to the surroundings, which in a successful portrait show something that constitutes or clarifies the essence of the person. Therefore, the portrait should be constructed very carefully.

The larger the face itself is photographed, the more cautiously the photographer should work to preserve the artistic lightness. The situation is similar for a cut portrait, since the face shows no background and covers the complete photo. Detailed portraits go one step further, because this portrait concentrates only on one area such as an eye or mouth. In addition to the focal length, the depth of field must be correct because it makes the portrait look realistic. In order for the portrait to have a fascinating effect, the eyes must be as sharp as possible. This should also be underlined with a special shine and a reflex point in the eye.

The choice of the incidence of light also has a great influence on the quality of a portrait, although there are various theories about the right side. If you have the time, you should simply check the incidence of light from the right and left and choose the better one from both sides. A portrait photographer should be an expert in his field who has both the technical and artistic side of photography under control. There are certain basics and techniques that a portrait needs to be appealing. However, the magic of a good portrait only comes to bear if the photographer can also capture the soul in the motif on the photo.

Portrait photography – try it out!

If there are so many details in portrait photography that you have to pay attention to, then we have just the right thing for beginners and amateur photographers. Jamie will show you how to take portrait photos in just 15 minutes. It is important as a novice of photography, tips and tricks to photograph and practice experienced photographers. With Jamie all the learning becomes super amusing, take a look!