### Lemon Parasol: Summary, Release Date, and Rarity The **Lemon Parasol** is a limited-edition discontinued cosmetic item released through a promotional **Treasure Hunter event** during summer 2020. Part of the parasol collection, it was designed as a fun, colorful summer-themed umbrella. It holds no functional in-game utility but is highly sought after by collectors for its rarity and aesthetic appeal, making it part of the broader cosmetic niche that overlaps with discontinued rares like holiday items. Since its release, the Lemon Parasol has gained prestige as an attractive mid-tier rare due to its relative rarity compared to Treasure Hunter cosmetics released recently, which are typically re-introduced or flooded. Unlike some other Treasure Hunter rares, its supply remains limited, especially since many players overlooked or discarded it during its initial promotion. Thus, its exclusivity has steadily grown over time. --- ### Event and Market Impact on Pricing **Historical Price Movements and Relevant Market Events (2021–2024)**: - **Jan 2021 (Rollback & Dupe):** The item’s sudden price rise to **30M** was driven by an influx of GP into the economy due to the rollback dupe, which poured trillions into circulation. Cosmetics saw increased demand as a store of GP, causing spikes. - **Mid-2021 Recovery Dips:** The Lemon Parasol's price plummeted to sub-10M levels due to increased GP hoarding behavior shifting toward bonds and partyhat variants, causing temporary neglect toward mid-tier items. - **Post-"Fresh Start Worlds" (Late 2022):** The re-stabilization of the rare item market and the removal of excessive PvP mechanics caused a slight rise in niche collectibles like the parasol. Additionally, the game’s influx of cosmetic-minded players looking for unobtainable aesthetics boosted sustained demand. - **January 2023 (Scrimshaw Dupe):** Another influx of dupe-related GP led to a purchasing spree across the mid-to-high tier collectible market, causing a price surge. - **May 2024:** After the **Max Cash Update exploit** and inflation from Treasure Hunter GP injections, the parasol spiked to **39M** due to increased gold supply and player efforts to reinvest into rare or cosmetic "stores of wealth." However, this period also saw significant volatility with a rapid drop soon after (potential small-scale hoarder dumps or short-term speculative panic). From this data, the Lemon Parasol has both semi-stable upward momentum as a discontinued collectible and high vulnerability to RuneScape’s macroeconomic disruptions. #### Price Predictions: - **Next 3 Months (Late 2024):** With RuneScape's recent focus on major system reworks (e.g., combat and mining/smithing), a slowdown in GP influx, and no immediate Treasure Hunter controversies, a relatively **stable price around 25M–30M** seems likely. Economic disturbances (e.g., future dupes or GP promotions) could quickly push this higher. - **Mid-2025**: If no sudden new Treasure Hunter seasonal parasols are added, the Lemon Parasol could creep toward **40M+**, fueled by collector demand. The potential for renewed Treasure Hunter scandals or bot-driven market disruption, however, still looms. --- ### Typical Flipping Margins Flipping rare discontinued cosmetics like the Lemon Parasol typically yields **8–15% profit margins** when properly timed: 1. **Peak Buying Opportunities:** Look for price suppression during Gold Sinks (**bond price increases**) or Treasure Hunter GP giveaways. - Example: In **April 2024**, after the Treasure Hunter 1B reward announcement, the price briefly dipped to **22M**, creating an exceptional margin for those who bought in at low points. 2. **Selling Opportunities:** Major updates or GP exploit events are the sweet spot for selling at temporary highs. For example, in **June 2024**, the Sanctum of Rebirth hype catalyzed wealth circulation, spiking prices across collectibles. --- ### Similar Items to Invest In To complement Lemon Parasols in your investment portfolio, consider diversifying into similar niche collectibles: 1. **Aqua Parasol / Sunset Parasol:** Both parasols follow trends similar to the Lemon Parasol but often lag in price following major events. This offers strong speculative potential. 2. **Discontinued Treasure Hunter Rares:** Items like the **Crimson Rabbit Head** or **Rainbow Scythe** often surge alongside cosmetics during GP injection periods. 3. **Low/Mid-Tier Rares:** Items like the **Dragon Ceremonial set** or **Golden Partyhat Shards** often see price action during mass inflation and economic volatility. 4. **Untradable aesthetic rewards:** Cosmetics like the **Aurora Dye** or expired Treasure Hunter dyes. --- ### Seasonal Trends Impacting Prices - **Positive Price Catalysts:** - **Summer (June – August):** Historically a strong period for casual aesthetics like the parasols, driven by summer-related updates/re-releases and higher casual player activity. - **Holidays (December):** The wealth influx from seasonal content typically correlates with increased collectible demand. - **Negative Price Pressures:** - **Post-Duplication Events:** Following heavy GP influxes or dupes, short-term panic selling can trigger dips before stabilization. - **Combat/Content Reworks:** Major gameplay reworks (e.g., Necromancy in 2023) attract attention away from niche rares, causing slowdowns. --- ### Final Insights and Recommendations The Lemon Parasol represents an underutilized mid-tier investment due to its limited supply and predictable seasonal appeal. Pairing it with a diversified rare portfolio—including related parasols and other low-tier collectibles—offers strong returns in RuneScape's highly liquid post-update economy. Prepare for **buying dips** during gold sinks or event-linked panics (e.g., GP floods) and focus sales during high-demand windows like summer updates or system disruptions.