The French luxury products manufacturer Hermès debuted the Birkin bag, a style of tote bag, in 1984. Well named after English-French singer and actress Jane Birkin, Birkin bags are handcrafted from leather.
Due to its exorbitant cost and rumored lengthy waiting lists, the bag soon became a symbol of luxury and exclusivity. Since they were formerly thought to be the finest bags in the world, Birkins are a favorite among handbag collectors.
The bag’s worth is determined by its purposefully high cost, which has now led to the label “Veblen good” being applied to it. Additionally, the bags are often offered in used shops, on social media, and in the upscale resale market.
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Let’s talk about the Most Expensive Birkin Bags Ruling The Fashion Industry
10. Metallic Birkin – $135,000
Metallic Birkin is the tenth most expensive Birkin bag in the world. Metallic Birkin bags were released by Hermès in very small quantities. The legendary window displays created by Lela Menchari for the Hermès flagship shop in Paris served as inspiration for the Metallic Birkin, which was available in silver or bronze.
The Metallic Birkin was created from standard Chèvre Goat Leather, in contrast to the majority of some other Birkins in this category, which are manufactured from exotic leathers. But they were given a special Birkin bag finish by being colored with metallic colors.
9. Ombré Birkin- $137,500
Ombré Birkin is the ninth most expensive Birkin bag in the world. Owing to its lizard skin construction, the Ombré Birkin is a very uncommon discovery. At Sotheby’s, this Hermès bag brought in $137,500. Collectors of rare purses and other high-end things are enthralled by the skin’s captivating symmetrical design.
Typically constructed with palladium hardware, ombré Birkins have lizard skin-covered locks and clochettes. Hermès artisans highlight the lizard’s inherent coloration and texture to create a wearable piece of art. The tiny size of lizard skin limits the size of lizard skin bags.
8. Bleu Marine Diamond Birkin – $115,000
Bleu Marine is the eighth most expensive Birkin bag in the world. Christie’s auction house had a memorable year in 2011 because of the sale of many Birkin bags for six figures. That year, an auction resulted in the sale of this Bleu Marine Diamond Birkin for $115,000.
The porous crocodile leather used to make the purse was so intensely colored blue that it almost seemed black. The hardware of the Bleu Marine Diamond Birkin was composed of 18K white gold with white diamonds, like with other Diamond Birkins.
7. Fuchsia Birkin – $222,000
Fuchsia Birkin is the seventh most expensive Birkin bag in the world. In 2011, Christie’s sold it for $222,000 at an auction in Hong Kong. Due to its exclusivity, its scarcity, and its bright and striking hue, the Fuchsia Birkin is a highly sought-after bag.
There are other sizes and materials to choose from, such as ostrich, crocodile, and polished alligator. Hermes Birkin bags, including antique and used models, are sold by several internet vendors. Customers can locate unique and special edition items at several marketplaces that specialize in purchasing Hermes Birkin bags.
6. Sac Birkin Faubourg – $240,000
Sac Birkin Faubourg is the sixth most expensive Birkin bag in the world. The Sac Birkin Faubourg, which is fashioned from hand-selected full-grain leather and is also typically regarded as the most opulent of the Birkin bags, is an even more remarkable and uncommon object. It is coveted by enthusiasts and fashionistas alike and is offered in a range of sizes, hues, and materials.
Due to its uniqueness, it is also the priciest of the Birkin bags and frequently has a limited supply. To assure the best quality and craftsmanship, the hardware is often gold-plated, and indeed, the stitching has been done by hand.
5. Diamond Crocodile Birkins – $190,000 to $260,000
Diamond Crocodile Birkin is the fifth most expensive Birkin bag in the world. Diamond Crocodile Birkin bags are expensive status symbols that are widely searched after. Diamond Crocodile Birkins cost between $190,000 and $260,000, according to Sotheby’s.
These bags are available in a variety of colors and are always constructed from crocodile leather. The Diamond Crocodile Birkin’s hardware is constructed of 18K white gold plus white diamonds, as the name would imply. Since Diamond Crocodile Birkin bags are often only produced in extremely small quantities, finding one on the secondary market might be challenging.
4. Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Birkin – $298,000
The Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Birkin is the fourth most expensive Birkin bag in the worldThe Outstanding Collection by Hermes introduced the exceedingly uncommon and pricey Shiny Rouge H Birkin in 2011.
It has a showy and opulent appearance and was made from Porosus crocodile leather, white diamonds, and white gold. It is highly prized by both collectors and fashion designers and is normally only accessible through auction sites and a few stores. With a $298,000 price tag, this is among the most costly Birkin bags ever made.
3. Diamond Himalaya Birkin – $400,000
Diamond Himalaya Birkin is the third most expensive Birkin bag in the world. Hermès enthusiasts’ preferred purse is the opulent Diamond Birkin. Its sole difference from the Diamond Birkin Himalaya is how the exotic skin is treated. This Hermès purse has crocodile skin accented with white gold hardware, making it a great collector’s treasure.
The traditional Birkin sizes of 25, 30, 35, and 40 cm have been used to create these bags. Red, pink, brown, black, and a plethora of other hues from Hermès’ endless palette are among the colors available in the Diamond Birkins.
2. Birkin Bag by Ginza Tanaka – $1.4 Million – $1.9 Million
The Birkin Bag by Ginza Tanaka is the second most expensive Birkin bag in the world. The Ginza Tanaka Birkin Bag is very enigmatic. Either $1.4 million or $1.9 million was paid for the Ginza Tanaka Birkin. These one-of-a-kind bags were only ever produced once, and they were introduced in 2008. About 2,000 white diamonds and platinum are used to embellish the bag.
The one in the Ginza Tanaka Birkin features a large 8-carat diamond that can be taken off and used as a brooch. The Birkin Bag by Ginza Tanaka’s diamond band can be taken off and fashioned as a necklace, and the bag can also be handled as a clutch.
1. The Sac Bijou Birkin – $2 Million
The Sac Bijou Birkin is the most expensive Birkin bag in the world. The $2 million Sac Bijou Birkin was made available in 2012. The Pierre Hardy line, the brainchild of Hermès’ creative head of fine jewelry, including this extremely limited edition Birkin. Since the Sac Bijou is designed to be worn as a bracelet, it is substantially smaller than other Birkin bags.
2,712 diamonds are set in rose gold that covers the whole purse. The Sac Bijou’s top flap has a crocodile skin-like texture. This purse is exceedingly unique because there were just three rose gold diamond Sac Bijou Birkin bags produced.
Summary
Perhaps the most famous and expensive bags in the world are Hermes Birkin bags. They are crafted by hand from premium materials and are available in a range of shapes, colors, and materials. Some of the most costly Birkin bags retail for half a million dollars, with prices ranging between thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
FAQs on the Most Expensive Birkin Bags
Q1. What is surprising about the Birkin bag?
Ans- Making a Birkin takes 48 hours. In one of the brand’s workshops, a single craftsman creates every Birkin. Each artist spends 48 hours producing only one bag. There are over 200,000 Birkins in use.
Q2. Is every Birkin bag unique?
Ans- Hermès makes a relatively small number of its legendary Birkin each year, rendering Maison’s special editions, which are launched every few years, extremely challenging to locate. These purses, which are made entirely by one craftsman, are in high demand and available in a variety of materials and hues.
Q3. Why are Birkin bags so rare?
Ans-There are very few manufacturers in the world, and each bag might take days to construct. Exotic leathers including lizard, ostrich, crocodile, and goatskin are used to create the priciest Hermès handbags. Gold or palladium, which are valuable metals, are used as plating on the hardware, including buckles, locks, and keys.
Q4. How many types of Birkin bags are there?
Ans- The Birkin bag is available in four different sizes: 25, 30, 35, and 40. The size of a Birkin is determined by the base’s length in cm. A Birkin 35, for instance, measures 35 centimeters across the base of the bag.
Fun Facts on the Most Expensive Birkin Bags
1. Jane Birkin has only had five of her namesake bags.
2. Hermès’s versatile, useful, stylish, and distinctive Birkin handbags are always supported by certifications of authenticity and their original packaging.
3. Hermes bags are typically more reasonably priced at auctions than they are in their official stores.
4. The Birkin Bag is a Symbol of Wealth, Elegance, and Exclusivity.
5. The “Birkin 30,” a style by Hermes that is highly regarded and costs over $100,000, is crafted of crocodile leather.
