Systems and methods for improving the liquidity and distribution network for luxury and other illiquid items

A method for trading of diamonds futures or options contracts in a computer-based futures or options exchange system, comprising:

• accessing a listing of a plurality of diamonds futures or options contracts;
• selecting a diamonds futures or options contract from the listing;
• and
• viewing trading status of the diamonds futures or options contract.

A method for trading of wine futures or options contracts in a computer-based futures or options exchange system, comprising:

• accessing a listing of a plurality of wine futures or options contracts;
• selecting a wine futures or options contract from the listing;
• and
• viewing trading status of the wine futures or options contract.

A method for trading of luxury item futures or options contracts in a computer-based futures or options exchange system, comprising:

• accessing a listing of a plurality of luxury item futures or options contracts;
• selecting a luxury item futures or options contract from the listing;
• and
• viewing trading status of the luxury item futures or options contract.

A method for creating an index for the support of diamonds futures or options contracts comprising:

• electronically capturing diamond data from industry price lists;
• electronically compiling the diamond data;
• electronically sorting the diamond data;
• and
• electronically updating the diamond data to form a diamond index.

A method for creating an index for the support of wine futures or options contracts comprising:

• electronically capturing the wine data from industry price lists;
• electronically compiling the wine data;
• electronically sorting the wine data;
• and
• electronically updating the wine data to form a wine index.

A method for creating an index for the support of luxury item futures or options contracts comprising:

• electronically capturing luxury item data from industry price lists;
• electronically compiling the luxury item data;
• electronically sorting the luxury item data;
• and
• electronically updating the luxury item data to form a luxury item index.

A method for creating an index for housing values comprising:

• electronically capturing housing values data from real estate price surveys;
• electronically compiling the housing values data;
• electronically sorting the housing values data;
• and
• electronically updating the housing values data to create a housing values index.

A method for creating an index for housing values comprising:

• electronically capturing housing values data from mortgage applications;
• electronically compiling the housing values data;
• electronically sorting data the housing values data;
• and
• electronically updating the housing values data to form a housing values index.

A method for creating an index for privately-held companies comprising:

• electronically capturing data about privately-held companies from Earnings Before Interest Depreciation and Taxes (EBIDTA);
• electronically compiling the data about privately-held companies;
• electronically sorting the data about privately-held companies;
• and
• electronically updating the data about privately-held companies to form a privately-held company index.

A method for creating an index for mortgage prepayments comprising:

• electronically capturing mortgage prepayment data from banking institutions;
• electronically compiling the mortgage prepayment data;
• electronically sorting the mortgage prepayment data;
• and
• electronically updating the mortgage prepayment data to form a mortgage prepayment index.

A method for tracking Internet auctions comprising:

• providing an access tool that is user configurable to electronically search at least one Internet auction site for auction data;
• capturing the data;
• compiling the data;
• extracting a portion of the auction data;
• and
• providing a calculation tool that is user configurable to perform at least one user-defined calculation on the extracted portion of the auction data.

A system comprising:

• a storage device;
• a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the program to:
• create a standard diamond profile;
• and
• post a diamond futures or options contract based on the profile.

A system for trading of diamond futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• a server comprising:
• a server storage device;
• a server processor connected to the server storage device, the server storage device storing a program for controlling the server processor;
• and
• the server processor operative with the program to transact a trade of the diamond futures or options contracts;
• a plurality of workstations, each of the plurality of workstations operative to communicate with the server, each of the workstations comprising:
• a workstation storage device;
• a workstation processor connected to the workstation storage device, the workstation storage device storing a workstation program for controlling the workstation processor, the workstation processor operative with the workstation program to:
• access a listing of a plurality of diamonds futures or options contracts;
• select a diamond futures or options contract from the listing;
• view trading status of the diamonds futures or options contract;
• and
• enter into and proceed with trades;
• a clearing center operative to communicate with the server, the clearing center comprising:
• a clearing storage device;
• and
• a clearing processor connected to the clearing storage device, the clearing storage device that stores a clearing program for controlling the clearing processor, the clearing processor that is operative with the clearing program to cause the transactions to be completed and cleared and to verify that the transactions are completed and cleared.

A system comprising:

• a storage device;
• a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the program to:
• create a standard wine profile;
• and
• post a wine futures or options contract based on the profile.

A system for trading of wine futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• a server comprising:
• a server storage device;
• a server processor connected to the server storage device, the server storage device storing a program for controlling the server processor;
• and
• the server processor operative with the program to transact a trade of the wine futures or options contracts;
• a plurality of workstations, each of the plurality of workstations operative to communicate with the server, each of the workstations comprising:
• a workstation storage device;
• a workstation processor connected to the workstation storage device, the workstation storage device storing a workstation program for controlling the workstation processor, the workstation processor operative with the workstation program to:
• access a listing of a plurality of wines futures or options contracts;
• select a wine futures or options contract from the listing;
• view trading status of the wines futures or options contract;
• and
• enter into and proceed with trades;
• a clearing center operative to communicate with the server, the clearing center comprising:
• a clearing storage device;
• and
• a clearing processor connected to the clearing storage device, the clearing storage device that stores a clearing program for controlling the clearing processor, the clearing processor that is operative with the clearing program to cause the transactions to be completed and cleared and to verify that the transactions are completed and cleared.

A system comprising:

• a storage device;
• a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the program to:
• create a standard luxury item profile;
• and
• post a luxury item futures or options contract based on the profile.

A system comprising:

• a storage device;
• a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the program to:
• create a custom luxury item profile;
• and
• post a luxury item futures or options contract based on the custom profile.

A system for trading of luxury item futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• a server comprising:
• a server storage device;
• a server processor connected to the server storage device, the server storage device storing a program for controlling the server processor;
• and
• the server processor operative with the program to transact a trade of the luxury item futures or options contracts;
• a plurality of workstations, each of the plurality of workstations operative to communicate with the server, each of the workstations comprising:
• a workstation storage device;
• a workstation processor connected to the workstation storage device, the workstation storage device storing a workstation program for controlling the workstation processor, the workstation processor operative with the workstation program to:
• access a listing of a plurality of luxury items futures or options contracts;
• select a luxury item futures or options contract from the listing;
• view trading status of the luxury items futures or options contract;
• and
• enter into and proceed with trades;
• a clearing center operative to communicate with the server, the clearing center comprising:
• a clearing storage device;
• and
• a clearing processor connected to the clearing storage device, the clearing storage device that stores a clearing program for controlling the clearing processor, the clearing processor that is operative with the clearing program to cause the transactions to be completed and cleared and to verify that the transactions are completed and cleared.

A system for creating an index for the support of diamond futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture diamond data from industry price lists;
• electronically compile the diamond data;
• electronically sort the diamond data;
• and
• electronically update the diamond data to form a diamond index.

A system for creating an index for the support of wine futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture wine data from industry price lists;
• electronically compile the wine data;
• electronically sort the wine data;
• and
• electronically update the wine data to form a wine index.

A system for creating an index for the support of luxury item futures or options contracts, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture luxury item data from industry price lists;
• electronically compile the luxury item data;
• electronically sort the luxury item data;
• and
• electronically update the luxury item data to form a luxury item index.

A system for creating an index for housing values, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture housing values data from real estate price surveys;
• electronically compile the housing values data;
• electronically sort the housing values data;
• and
• electronically update the housing values data to form a housing values index.

A system for creating an index for housing values, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture housing values data from mortgage applications;
• electronically compile the housing values data;
• electronically sort the housing values data;
• and
• electronically update the housing values data to form a housing values index.

A system for creating an index for privately-held companies, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture privately-held companies data from Earnings Before Interest Depreciation and Taxes (EBIDTA);
• electronically compile the privately-held companies data;
• electronically sort the privately-held companies data;
• and
• electronically update the privately-held companies data to form a privately-held companies index.

A system for creating an index for mortgage prepayments, the system comprising:

• an index processor operative to:
• electronically capture mortgage prepayment data from banking institutions;
• electronically compile the mortgage prepayment data;
• electronically sort the mortgage prepayment data;
• and
• electronically update the mortgage prepayment data to form a mortgage prepayment index.

A system for tracking Internet auctions, the system comprising:

• a server comprising:
• a server storage device;
• a server processor connected to the server storage device, the server storage device storing a server program for controlling the server processor, the server processor operative with the server program to:
• electronically search at least one Internet auction site for auction data;
• capture the auction data;
• compile the auction data;
• extract a portion of the auction data;
• and
• perform at least one calculation on the extracted portion of the auction data;
• a plurality of workstations operative to communicate with the server, the workstation comprising:
• a workstation storage device;
• a workstation processor connected to the workstation storage device, the workstation storage device storing a workstation program for controlling the workstation processor, the workstation processor operative with the workstation program to:
• view the extracted auction data;
• view the calculated auction data;
• and
• enable the user to configure the searching, capturing, compiling, sorting, extracting, and arranging of the auction data.