High net-worth consumers rated Graff Diamonds the ‘Best of the Best’ among 21 luxury jewelry brands, securing top ranks for three out of four components of the 2010 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey, conducted by New York City-based Luxury Institute.

Asprey and Buccellati were ranked second and third in this survey, which identifies the brands that deliver true luxury based solely on the unbiased ratings of wealthy U.S. consumers. Buccellati has been consistently rated in the top three in previous years and is rated the most unique and exclusive.

The LBSI asks high net-worth consumers to rate luxury brands by category across four equally weighted components: Consistently Superior Quality, Uniqueness and Exclusivity, Making the Customer Feel Special Across the Entire Experience, and Being Consumed by People Who Are Admired and Respected.

“As the luxury jewelry industry makes its comeback, wealthy consumers are looking for truly differentiated value,” said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. “While quality and uniqueness are critical dimensions in jewelry, in today’s world the relationship with the client is the major differentiator. Clienteling has become the priority in luxury jewelry. Top brands are now investing in clienteling best practices training as part of creating true Luxury CRM cultures.”

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only unbiased measure of the prestige of leading brands among wealthy Americans. A national sample of 505 ultra-wealthy American consumers, with weighted average household income of $845,000 and average investable assets of $16.6 million, was surveyed online.