Oh My Girl vocalist Mimi quietly confirmed a sizable profit from gold jewelry on a recent broadcast and asked, almost rhetorically, whether that gain might ever be enough to buy a building — a rare public reckoning of celebrity cashflow and tangible-asset investing.
- Price: Undisclosed — described as a “large profit”
- Carat Weight: N/A (gold jewelry)
- Origin: Personal jewelry purchases; rose in market value
- Date: Jan 1, 2026 (video upload)
Context
On Jan. 1 a video on the “Big spender No Hee-young” channel captured Mimi and actress Lee Da-hee discussing finances. Mimi admitted she “couldn’t buy” a building yet and noted that, instead of investing in real estate, she had directed spending toward jewelry — purchases that later appreciated. Host No He‑young framed the choice as a professional trade‑off: for entertainers, committing time and creative energy to craft often outperforms chasing real‑estate appreciation.
The exchange is telling against the backdrop of 2025 market shifts. Consumers and collectors increasingly value the tactile and verifiable qualities of physical assets: the vitreous luster and coin‑like heft of well‑made gold pieces, provenance tied to recycled metals, and designs that read as sculptural objects rather than mere accessories. At the same time, lab‑grown gemstones have reallocated some discretionary spend back to gold and design-led jewelry, while sustainability credentials have become a de facto filter for resale value.
Why the Detail Matters
For U.S. retailers and investors, Mimi’s comment is more than celebrity anecdote. It crystallizes several practical considerations:
- Demand signals: Celebrity purchases signal aspirational buying patterns. A visible gain on gold can prompt younger buyers to view jewelry as both wearable and storeable value.
- Merchandise strategy: Stock that emphasizes tactile quality — measured weight in troy ounces, visible hallmarks, and a polished, substantial heft — plays better in secondary markets and among collectors.
- Marketing and provenance: Highlighting recycled content, chain of custody, and certified pricing positions pieces for clients prioritizing returns and responsibility.
- Investment vs. income: Mimi and No He‑young’s exchange underscores a core point for advisors — for professionals whose primary asset is labor and visibility, allocating excess earnings into tangible assets (gold, fine jewelry) can complement long‑term wealth building without substituting for career investment.
Operationally, retailers can respond by curating limited runs that emphasize measurable attributes (weight, karat, hallmark), offering buyback or consignment programs that convert inventory into perceived liquidity, and packaging pieces with clear documentation that supports resale value.
For investors, the anecdote reinforces the role of physical precious metals as a non‑correlated component of a broader portfolio — particularly when tied to branding and provenance that enhance demand beyond spot‑price movements.
In short, Mimi’s offhand question — whether gold gains can translate into property — flags a subtle shift: jewelry increasingly sits at the intersection of craft, sustainability and investable asset. For retailers, that requires products with visible, tactile integrity; for investors, it demands verification and patience.
Image Referance: https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-entertainment/2026/01/05/FI4M2HSOCVGWJBMC362UQ4MJWM/