In the world of luxury handbags, few have made a name for themselves the way a Hermes Birkin has. Each Birkin handbag produced is a testament to the endless hours of intricacy and craftsmanship that went into its making. Some of these pieces overshadow the average person's annual income.
The brainchild of a 1984 meeting between actress Jane Birkin and Hermes CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, the Hermes Birkin handbag was born as a utilitarian accessory. However, its purpose has since transcended that, becoming the symbol of status, wealth, and exclusivity we know and covet today.
Much of its price tag can be attributed to the fine goods that make its build, such as premium leathers like crocodile hide, lizard, and ostrich leather. Some of these pieces even come with solid gold or diamond-encrusted hardware. This list explores eight of the world's most expensive Hermes Birkin handbags, justifying the price tags accompanying them.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer’s opinion. Do comment with your suggestions to let us know which other items deserve to make the list.
Take a look at some of the priciest Hermes Birkin bags ever sold
1) Sac Bijou Birkin
Notably, the first piece to top this list isn't technically a handbag but a massive piece of jewelry, with about 2,712 diamonds, totaling 89.22 carats, encrusted into it. While it may resemble a Birkin, the handbag is as luxurious, retailing for $2 million.
The Hermes Birkin Sac Bijou Birkin handbag was released in 2012 for the world to admire. Notably, only three pieces were ever made, making this one ultra-coveted and contributing to its appeal.
2) Ginza Tanaka Birkin
This beautiful Ginza Tanaka Birkin handbag, designed by its namesake, Tanaka, is encrusted with about 2,000 diamonds embedded on the outer layer. It also has a diamond-encrusted strap.
Its centerpiece features an impressive 8K pear-shaped diamond. Given the numerous stones adorning the body of this piece and the high-profile collaboration it was born of, this handbag has a whopping $1.4 million price tag.
3) Faubourg Birkin
Also known as the White House Birkin, this handbag features a stunning blend of colors, like orange and yellow, set against the pitch-black crocodile leather. According to Christie's Auction, it was inspired by Hermès’ flagship store, located at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint—Honoré.
It meticulously details the boutique’s stonework, rounded windows, roof, and awnings. This Hermes Birkin handbag hit the shelves in 2019 and retails for between $200,000 and $302,400.
4) Himalaya Birkin
Notably, the Himalaya Birkin's predecessor on this list was created to rival its exclusivity and popularity. The ombre effect makes this piece stand out, as brown and white blend together in the middle against the backdrop of the opulent crocodile leather.
Unlike its other variants, the most expensive one has 18k white gold diamond-encrusted hardware and an 18k white gold and 145 diamond-encrusted lock and key. These handbags sell for between $200,000 and $267,936.48.
5) The Diamond Birkin
Like many other pieces on the brand's list, the Diamond Birkin handbag is made of endangered Porosus Crocodile hide and, not to mention hundreds of diamonds. This handbag comprises about 10 carats of 245 diamonds on its 18-karat white gold hardware.
One of its most expensive variants is the Géranium 35, which is resaleable for a staggering $288,200. This Hermes Birkin handbag hit the shelves in 2014, and its vibrant red only adds to its allure.
6) The So Black Birkin
This Hermes Birkin handbag is perhaps notable for the collection it is part of. Back in 2010, Jean Paul Gaultier produced this handbag as one of the pieces from his final line of "So Black" handbags, before stepping down as creative director.
As the name suggests, everything, from the leather to the hardware, is matte black. The handbag itself is a limited edition, and its making includes matte niloticus crocodile 30 and PVD hardware. In 2019, Christie's sold it for a whopping $208,000.
7) The Metallic Birkin
Yet another rare piece to come by, this metallic birkin comes with chevre leather and palladium hardware. Even the interior is lined with black chevre. The metallic handbags came out in 2005, and only a few.
While they may resemble a standard Hermes Birkin, it would cost many an arm and a leg to get their hands on this piece, as the handbag was sold for a whopping $139,000 by Sotheby's back in 2009.
8) Jane Birkin’s Birkin
This list would be incomplete without the Birkin of Birkin's, the O.G., the bag of the woman who started it all. A renowned actress and model at the time, Jane Birkin had everyone swooning for her throughout the 1960s and '70s. Come the 1980s, she was in cahoots with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a top-secret project.
Their mission was simple: to produce one of the most stylish yet utilitarian handbags the world had ever known. Only a handful of the actress' Hermes Birkin handbags are in circulation. In 2021, the model's 90s Togo Birkin sold for a staggering $147,617.12 at an auction at Bonhams.
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