When this special “platinum” edition was conceived, I was not convinced that tiny Sarasota had the wherewithal to sustain it. Florida’s cultural hub? Yes. The epicenter of laid-back sophistication? Without question. But a bastion of world-class luxury? Dubious.

My untested hypothesis assumed that Sarasota’s worldly populace traveled out of town for frequent “fixes” of luxury. What I found instead was luxury in fairy-tale proportions—right here at home. Sometimes I had to dig for it in by-appointment-only back rooms, or sleuth for sources known only through word of mouth. But platinum-level luxury does indeed abound, at shops from St. Armands Circle to Westfield Southgate Mall and in homes from the barrier islands to inland communities. The problem wasn’t finding the ultimate fashion, jewelry, wine, travel and high-tech gadgets to feature in this issue. Our challenge was trying to fit even a portion of it into one magazine.

That, I learned, is also Robb Report’s perennial dilemma. Published by CurtCo Media (the company that also owns Worth, ShowBoats International and Sarasota magazines), Robb Report targets the most affluent readers at home and abroad, as do we in our corner of the world. In probing Robb Report editors for trends (you can read about those on page in this issue), I quickly realized that luxury is as liquid as the funds of those who can afford it.

Marketers and producers of luxury goods and services are constantly raising the bar, and at an increasingly dizzying pace. But luxury goods don’t wear out. Five-star resorts are wonderful before their costly makeovers; Rolex watches (and DeBeers diamonds) last forever. Why, then, does Robb Report’s rarefied audience inspire a constant barrage of products and experiences that stretch all limits of the imagination?

I found the answer in a quote from Bill Curtis, CEO of CurtCo. He says luxury is addictive: that after acquiring or experiencing luxury, consumers become base-lined. The first time they drive a new car, sail a yacht, or fly a new plane, the experience is fabulous. It stays that way for a while. Then the quest for new levels of luxury begins anew.

If you think about it, Curtis has a handle not just on luxury, but on human nature. The quest for luxury touches every income level because we all aspire to surround ourselves with life’s beautiful (and hard-earned) rewards. With every success, we move up to better homes, cars, vacations. Still, trends begin at the top of the pyramid. Analyzing those trends and thus influencing high net-worth consumers is the raison d’etre for the CurtCo’s family of magazines—the key to their lofty position in the luxury marketplace.

As I interviewed the top editors of Robb Report, I realized that we here at Sarasota Magazine write for an audience that is just as affluent, filled with early-adapters and equally astute connoisseurs.  Here we are, living not just in paradise, but also in luxury’s lair.

Carol Tisch is style editor for Sarasota Magazine and guest editor of this Platinum issue.