But with the fading of historic sumptuaries came the inevitable rush to "masstige", goods that provide prestige for the masses.
Top sporting positions in India provide prestige, international travel benefits and some control over sports jobs, and Indian officials have been loathe to surrender those privileges.
Earlier this year he got together with a friend and set up a company called AC13Premier, which specialises in providing prestige cars to footballers.
Re "Wall Street's Harsh New Reality" (Aug. 17), which discussed the new career challenges for research analysts: When I was in school, a career as a doctor provided prestige, challenge and a high standard of living.
To buyers, a formal historic designation for a property can be both a blessing and a curse, providing prestige but also adding layers of bureaucracy and confusion to any renovation plans.
The investigation represents a particular threat to a business model finessed by Ireland, which has used its tax strategies and light-touch regulations to attract major multinational companies, providing prestige and jobs that would otherwise end up elsewhere in the union.
Funding also can provide prestige, and potentially leads to that fancy office space, which can help with recruiting.
Researchers from LMICs may still decide to provide prestige authorship to their HIC counterparts irrespective of measures to increase access and reduce costs associated with publication.
Yet, prestige sells, prestige provides value; we know it, parents and students know it.
Accommodation on Rab was provided by Prestige Holidays (01425 480400, prestigeholidays.co.uk), which has a week's B&B in Hotel Padova from about £469pp, including flights and transfers.
