A Hermes Birkin has become the most expensive bag to ever sell in an auction. While auction house Christie's refused to reveal the identity of the buyer, it said that the Birkin fetched a record $380,000 at an auction in Hong Kong on Wednesday, May 31.
Produced in 2014, the Himalaya bag is made of matte crocodile skin and the handles feature 205 diamonds and 18-karat gold buckles. The auction house too is said to be surprised with the bid as no one has reportedly ever wanted to pay such a high price for a bag. The auction house had estimated that the bag would fetch something between $193,000 and $258,000. However, the bidders clearly proved Christie's wrong as the offers quickly hit the roof.
Christie's said that the Birkin gets the name Himalaya from the way its colour fades from a smokey grey to white, just like the mountain range, reported Hollywood Reporter. Hermes believes that the bag is rare and exquisite and has said that they make only a piece or two each year as dyeing the crocodile skin is a very time-consuming and intricate process.
With this, the Himalaya has surpassed the previous record held by another Birkin bag that Christie's had auctioned for $300,000 last year. "This is a new market for Christie's so milestones such as this one are truly meaningful," Matt Rubinger, International Director of Handbags and Accessories, had then said in a statement.
While the particular bag was produced in 2014, the Birkin was first created in 1984 by Hermes in honour of British actress Jane Birkin. Often considered to be a symbol of style and luxury, the Birkin is known to have a long waitlist and numerous celebrity patrons. The bag is sold in a variety of sizes and come in a number of materials such as calf leather, lizard and ostrich skin.
