More farmed caviar exists today than ever before, yet prices remain staggeringly high. Why? Because true luxury can't be rushed. Premium sturgeon like Beluga take up to 20 years to produce eggs, making time the most expensive ingredient [citation:4][citation:12]. Farmed caviar now accounts for 95% of supply, but strict CITES regulations, labor-intensive hand-processing, and the delicate 1.2 thousand ton annual production keep scarcity intact [citation:3][citation:6]. Add 2025 U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, which supply 85% of farmed sturgeon, forcing prices up in markets worldwide. Caviar is a luxury status symbol where high cost sustains the allure — and demand only grows. Supply chain, luxury economics, global trade, and the true cost of exclusivity.