I‘m thrilled to have you alongside me today as we uncover some of the most extravagant, luxurious, and downright expensive merchandise currently available for purchase at the world‘s largest online retailer – Amazon.
Now you probably visit Amazon regularly to order everyday essentials, gifts for family, or the latest bestselling gadgets. But did you know the site also offers an elite selection of investment grade collectibles, couture fashion, fine art and jewelry out of reach for even the most affluent Main Street millionaires?
Join me below for an insider‘s guide to the ultra rare items only a privileged few can afford – and what makes them cost more than most houses!
Introduction: Why Amazon Sells Million Dollar Merchandise
Amazon built a retail empire catering to mass market America – budget-conscious families furnishing homes with simple Geoffrey decor, cubicle dwellers cobbling together work from home offices with Basics notebooks and #1 bestselling ergonomic chairs.
Yet behind the catalog of conventional household names and impulse purchase fodder lies a hidden marketplace rivaling the most exclusive Beverly Hills boutiques.
Take this Georges Vezina hockey trading card currently listed at nearly $1 million dollars…
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 1911-12 C55 Imperial Tobacco #38 Georges Vezina (Mint) | $909,099 |
In the following sections, we‘ll explore what motivated Amazon to branch into seven-figure territory, assess buy box inhabitants even wealthier oligarchs drool over, and equip you with tools to responsibly navigate this unusual e-commerce terrain.
How Amazon Attracts Ultra-Prestige Retailers
Examples like the million dollar "Vezina Card" actually represent strategic plays for Amazon to partner with elite purveyors. Reports indicate the company actively courted brands like Graff Diamonds and Golden Goose Luxury Goods to expand luxury selection and attract affluent buyers.
And the gambit is working – Graff joined the invite-only Amazon Luxury Stores channel in 2020 while niche merchants like the New York Yacht Club list high-end boating apparel. Amazon offers simplicity managing transactions, fraud protection, and instant access to premium Prime subscribers. Specialty retailers reach deep-pocketed clientele without costly brick and mortar investments.
"We look forward to innovating together and exploring opportunities to delight our customers with even more luxury experiences.”
– Christine Beauchamp, President of Amazon Fashion
For you as buyers, Amazon facilitates transactions with the world‘s most exclusive dealers that previously required aristocratic pedigree or Hollywood celebrity status.
Let‘s count down the top five holy grails money CAN buy today at Amazon!
1. 1911 Georges Vezina Hockey Card – $909,099
Kicking off our extravagant selections is the aforementioned 1911-12 C55 card of early NHL great Georges Vezina. Hockey cards drove over $100 million in auction sales last year as the sport‘s popularity has skyrocketed. Yet no item draws bigger bids than the extremely scarce Vezina rookie.
The PSA 8.5 grade mint copy on Amazon remains the only example available for purchase anywhere. With escalating auction prices topping $1 million, the $909K demand actually looks like a relative steal!
As Vezina was an early NHL pioneer and the namesake of the annual best goalie award, expect his rookie card to remain the hockey world‘s crown jewel rarity.
| Item | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Georges Vezina Card | $909,099 | PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ |
"[Vezina‘s card] is one of the rarest of the rare, a near-holy grail for serious collectors." – Forbes
2. Lou Gehrig Game-Worn Jersey – $731,169
Next up is a piece of history personally donned by one of baseball‘s all-time greats and fan favorites – "The Iron Horse" himself Lou Gehrig. And not just any jersey, but the actual one worn by the Yankees captain during the 1934 MLB All-Star Game exhibition!
This autographed gamer originated from Gehrig‘s family estate and got authenticated by preeminent sports memorabilia expert JSA. For diehard baseball collectors, especially those worshipping historic Yankees dynasties, the $731K investment actually presents bargain upside.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lou Gehrig Signed 1934 ASG Jersey | $731,169 | All-Star Game worn & signed |
"Few artifacts encapsulate the glorious history of MLB quite like a game-used Lou Gehrig jersey from his prime years with the Yankees" – Sports Collectors Digest
3. Jade Necklace – $686,500
Topping our expensive jewelry finds is this breathtaking hand-carved jadeite pendant, crafted in the 1920s Art Deco style by Chinese artisans for the Imperial family court.
The flawless green necklace with dazzling diamond accents come verified by a Gemological Institute of America certificate of authenticity. Expect to enjoy countless complements every time you don this one-of-a-kind statement piece!
And if your family tree includes Chinese nobility, this heirloom offers a portal back through dynastic history.
| Item | Price | Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Handcrafted Art Deco Jade Necklace | $686,500 | 683g Natural A Jadeite 28 Round Diamonds |
"This authenticated jadeite gem necklace…evokes the elegance and craftsmanship of China‘s rich historical imperial past" – Harper‘s Bazaar
4. 1985 Nike Air Jordan Game Shoes – $615,000
Any sneakerheads reading this will instantly recognize the iconic style that launched a thousand camps outside Footlocker. Before "sneaker culture" even entered society‘s lexicon, Michael Jordan‘s original 28-year-old Air Jordan 1 hi-tops from Nike burned up the NBA hardwood.
Today, the 100% authentic player exclusives straight from Jordan‘s feet during his rookie campaign draw lucrative bids at prestigious auction houses like Sotheby‘s.
Thanks to strict verification by leading authenticators like PWCC, fanatic Jordan devotees can own a pair of game-worn Air Jordan 1 Origins delivered by Amazon Prime. Just be sure never to actually wear them anywhere!
| Item | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Air Jordan 1 "Origins" Game Shoes | $615,000 | 100% Authentic Game-Worn |
"[This] Insane Price Makes Complete Sense for an Ultra Rare Piece of Michael Jordan History" – Esquire
5. 1991 Upper Deck SP1 Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 10 – $600,000
Rounding out Amazon‘s prestige collectibles is the rookie card that needs no introduction – "The Kid‘s" 1991 Upper Deck Star Rookie. This George Washington of modern baseball cards forever changed the hobby as Griffey mania swept the nation.
Of the tens of thousands produced decades back, a Microscopically scarce few today remain in flawless GEM MINT 10 condition like this PSA graded example.
Securing PWCC authentication of the perfect centering, sharp corners, and pristine white edges, this iconic slice of cardboard cements Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr‘s place amongst the Collectible Crown Royals!
| Item | Price | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 Griffey Upper Deck SP1 Rookie | $600,000 | PSA Gem 10 |
"The [Griffey] card‘s explosive and sustained growth in value cements it as an integral pillar of the vintage sports card market" – PWCC Market Price Research
Those superstar athletes sure knew how to plaster their faces on prized memorabilia! But diamonds and artwork also frequent the rarified air of Amazon‘s costliest cart adds. Maybe the 1928 Marie Zimmerman original oil painting better suits your lavish tastes? Valued at $150,000 by Christie‘s Auction House curators, you can acquire this Expressionist pastoral scene for decorating your European villa.
Or perhaps you crave the radiance only elite jewelers like Harry Winston or Graff can summon? How about 30 high-clarity round diamonds anchoring a resplendent platinum bangle bracelet clocking in at $87,100?
And don‘t overlook Amazon‘s partnerships with haute horology houses like Rolex Official and Omega Watches delivering museum-worthy timepieces costing more than the down payments on a few condos!
Hopefully this guide expanded your conception of what the world‘s largest online retailer offers today even the one percent. Thanks for joining me on this voyage into the financially inaccessible reaches of Amazon!
