World’s most expensive handbag sells in Hong Kong for over US$377,000 – a Hermès white crocodile Birkin
After some 15 minutes of intense bidding, the Hermès Birkin 30 in delicately graded crocodile hide with gold detailing and 245 diamonds sells to an undisclosed bidder at Christie’s auction
A world record for the most expensive handbag sold at auction was set in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Auctioneer Christie’s sold a Hermès matte white Himalaya niloticus crocodile diamond Birkin 30 with 18-carat white gold and diamond hardware for HK$2.94 million (US$377,261). Pre-sale estimates for the bag ranged between HK$1.5 million and HK$2 million.
Christie’s said intense bidding in the room, by phone and online went on for 10-15 minutes..
The bag is the same style, but of a different year, as another one sold at Christie’s 2016 spring sale in Hong Kong for a then-world-record price of HK$2.33 million).
The classic shape of the Himalaya Birkin first emerged in the mid-1980s. There is currently a six-year waiting list to acquire a new one. It takes at least 48 hours to create a Birkin by hand.