As the global acoustic piano market continues to shrink, Steinway is shifting its business model toward value, technology and cultural luxury. With Spirio, limited editions and a certified pre-owned programme, the company now appeals as much to affluent music lovers as to professional pianists.

Javier Milei’s ascension to power has shaken up the Argentinian economy. For the luxury sector—long hampered by exchange controls and import restrictions—the first few months of the new administration were greeted with enthusiasm. Two and a half years later, the picture is more nuanced.

In China, influencers with millions of followers have seen their accounts deleted overnight for flaunting their wealth. Beyond the authorities’ crackdown, this sudden halt reveals a deeper shift: amongst affluent consumers, the display of wealth is giving way to discretion, and luxury is moving from public spaces into the private sphere.

Starting this week, Luxury Tribune launches The Fine Line of Luxury, an editorial cartoon designed to offer a fresh take on the luxury industry. Conceived as a complement to our analyses, interviews, and news coverage, it will provide a different perspective each week on the issues driving the sector.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative (CWI), a series of talks centered around Cartier Dialogues: Women Lighting the Path was held at IBM Studios in Milan last April.

As births fall and households shrink, China’s pets are inheriting the spending and the emotional role once held by children. The world’s luxury houses are following the money.

This spring a Chinese TV actor went viral for playing a battle-worn general in flawless makeup. The argument that followed maps the logic of China’s male beauty economy, and the blind spots European luxury brings to it.

Kylian Mbappé is currently at the peak of his career. The player’s image is at the heart of a business model that earns him millions of euros a year off the field. The 2026 World Cup and the American public’s enthusiasm for the French international could pay off big for him.

A key market for Swiss gold, India will likely reduce its global gold imports this year, after the country’s prime minister urged citizens to pause gold purchases.

In the luxury market, flagship stores in China now compete with museums, restaurants, and other cultural events to capture consumers’ attention for a few hours. However, the brands that win this battle do not follow European conventions.

The Tour de France Femmes returns in 2026 for its fifth edition, building on a period of remarkable growth. Over its first four editions, the race has attracted more than half of the cumulative audience of the men’s Tour de France—an impressive achievement that is opening the door to new commercial opportunities, particularly in the field of sponsorship and brand partnerships.

A new review of over a century of conspicuous consumption research finds that luxury status signals are shifting beyond logos, price, and exclusivity. Published in the Journal of Business Research (de Groot et al., 2026), the study highlights moral expression and personal values as emerging markers of distinction.

With the launch of three ready-to-serve cocktails in the United States, House of Hennessy is marking one of the boldest strategic shifts in its history: making cognac more accessible without compromising its heritage. Charles Delapalme, at the helm of the house, explains his vision.

The Chinese personal luxury market has contracted for two consecutive years. However, the brands that managed to grow in this environment were not European. From Mao Geping to Songmont, and from Laopu to ICICLE, Chinese luxury brands have successfully developed a different strategic model.

On April 10, the EBAA announced the cancellation of the 2026 edition of Europe’s leading business aviation trade show in Geneva, long considered a showcase for the industry. Amid soaring jet fuel costs and growing political pressure, the signal may seem alarming. And yet, the sector has rarely been more dynamic.