Over the years, with great care and dedication, you have built your art collection. You have added pieces or in some instances replaced them with other artworks. You may know what you paid for those wonderful pieces years ago but what are they worth today?

One of the beauties of art is its longevity and financial performance. Over the last fifty years the Mei Moses World All Art Index and the S&P 500 total return stock index had approximately equal compound annual returns. However, over the last five and ten year periods, art has significantly outperformed equities. The recently launched CAPI shows that South African art has in general trebled in value in the last ten years. It's important for collectors to know the current market value of their collection, particularly for insurance purposes. A lack of this knowledge could place you and your collection at the risk of being underinsured resulting in you being paid considerably less than the current value.

Artinsure understands that art is an appreciating asset and therefore needs a suitable specialist policy. Artinsure Collector is a specialized insurance product, enabling financial security of your artworks. Our niche product insures artwork according to an "agreed" value. We can introduce you to our independent network of valuers, who can assist with the valuation process.

Artinsure settles claims according to the agreed value for which the artwork is insured. If you are insured under a Standard Contents Policy, the chances are more than likely that the value of your artworks and collection are not adequately realized. In the event of a claim, it's probable that only a portion of your claim will be paid and you will suffer a further financial loss.

It's recommended that art works are valued at least annually, ensuring that you are insured for the correct amount.

The highest price ever paid for a work of art has recently been set, more than doubling the current auction record.

The oil rich nation of Qatar has purchased a Paul Cezanne painting, The Card Players, for an astronomical price of GBP160m/ R1.9bn.