In a historic auction at Sotheby’s Paris on July 10, 2025, Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag sold for an astonishing €7 million ($8.2 million), making it the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction. With taxes and commissions included, the final amount payable by the buyer reached €8.6 million, comprising the €7 million sale price and €1.6 million in taxes and commissions.
The legendary piece, designed exclusively for the British-French actress and singer in 1984 by Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas, surpassed the previous handbag auction record set by the Diamond Himalaya Birkin.
The Diamond Himalaya Birkin, named for its snowy ombré hues reminiscent of the Himalayan mountains, was crafted from Niloticus crocodile skin dyed in gentle gradients of ivory and gray, adorned with 245 diamonds set in 18-karat white gold hardware. Each detail is breathtaking—from the 1.64-carat lock to the glistening Touret and Pontets. It sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in 2022 for over $450,000 USD, previously setting the record as the most expensive handbag sold at a traditional public auction.
The highly anticipated event attracted significant attention from luxury enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. Bidding for the iconic bag opened dramatically at €1 million ($1.7 million), immediately eclipsing past auction records and eliciting audible gasps from attendees.
From the starting price, bids rocketed past 2 million euros, then 3 million, 4 million, and 5 million, drawing astonished gasps from the crowd. When the price jumped from 5.5 million to 6 million euros in one swoop, the room erupted in whistles and applause. The final bids came in quick succession: 6.2 million euros, then 6.5 million, followed by 6.8 million, before the Japanese buyer made the final, winning bid of 7 million euros.
With Sotheby’s fees included, the total price for the winning bidder from Japan reached €8.6 million, the auction house confirmed.
Over an intense 13-minute and 33-second bidding session, around 20 bidders competed fervently via telephone, online platforms, and in person. In the final moments, the competition narrowed down to two highest bidders, driving the final price to unprecedented heights.
The iconic bag was ultimately secured by a private Japanese collector, who placed the winning bid remotely through Sotheby’s Japan representative Maiko Ichikawa. The buyer must finalize the payment by July 15 at Sotheby’s Paris on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
The Birkin bag itself has a unique historical significance. Distinguished by its classic black leather exterior, gold hardware, and Birkin’s initials “J.B.” elegantly embossed on the front flap, it also bears visible signs of its intimate history. These include notable stains from UNICEF and Médecins du Monde stickers and a pair of Birkin’s own silver nail clippers attached to the shoulder strap, highlighting its personal and well-loved nature. Jane Birkin originally donated the bag in 1994 to support Association Solidarité Sida, a prominent French AIDS charity. Parisian vintage collector Catherine Benier acquired it in 2000, after which the bag embarked on a public exhibition tour across Europe, Hong Kong, and New York ahead of this landmark auction.
“The spectacular sale today underscores the power of the Birkin as not just an accessory but a timeless cultural icon,” remarked Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion. Catherine Benier expressed a deep emotional connection to the bag and described the experience as profoundly nostalgic yet joyful, stating, “It made me relive my own bidding battle 25 years ago…I wish the new owner as much happiness as I experienced.”
Notable figures and prominent bidders attended the event. Hanushka Toni, CEO of Sellier, a UK-based luxury resale platform, attended in person and bid passionately up to €2 million. Toni had anticipated a record-breaking result, stating, “Going up to €7 million… shocking, but not shocking!”
Another bidder was Dana Auslander, CEO of Luxus, a New York-based wealth tech firm specializing in luxury investments, who flew in specifically for the auction. “This is my Super Bowl,” Auslander commented, highlighting the significant power and growing influence of women collectors. “A bag fetching such a price as the ultimate consumer good is monumental,” she added, noting its validation of luxury handbags as investment-grade assets.
Daniel Wesson, founder of the luxury consignment platform Luxe Junky, also participated, bidding up to $2.2 million. “This bag made Hermès what it is today. It’s about owning a piece of history,” he reflected afterward, clearly surprised by the final result. Wesson, known as “Birkin Junky” due to his passion for Hermès collections, expressed a mix of admiration and disappointment, ultimately congratulating the successful Japanese bidder.
This groundbreaking sale not only marks the Birkin bag as the most expensive fashion item ever sold, excluding jewelry but also cements its iconic status in luxury and fashion history. The electric atmosphere at Sotheby’s following the auction highlighted the event’s historic significance, reaffirming the Birkin bag’s unmatched desirability, market strength, and status as a revered cultural artifact.
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