Our Favorite Rare and Collectible Birkin Bags
Learn more about must have limited edition Birkin bags.
Brief History of the Birkin Bag
The Birkin is an icon in the fashion world, highly sought-after by celebrities and the handbag-obsessed. The Birkin’s design is a collaboration between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. The two met on a flight from Paris to London in 1984. Birkin confided in Dumas that she lacked a purse with appropriate functionality for her fast-paced lifestyle. Out of this conversation, the Birkin 40 in chic calfbox leather was born. The Birkin’s practical design featuring two rolled handles, a flap top, clou “feet,” and a lock closure continues to resonate today. The very first Birkin was the only bag to have a shoulder strap. The Birkin remains the most coveted Hermès bag thanks to its signature Hermès craftsmanship and exclusivity. A Birkin takes an expert artisan a minimum of 18 hours to complete. Each Birkin is marked with a code that identifies the year, the workshop, and artisan. Every month, there are over 1 million Birkin related searches on Google in the US alone.
Rare & Collectible Limited Edition Hermès Birkin Bags
Whether you are a seasoned collector or new admirer of Hermès Birkin bags, the following rare and collectible Birkins should be on your radar. While all of these Birkin bags are available in our Hong Kong Auction Sept 23 to Oct 2 there is a curated selection of Birkins available for immediate purchase. These limited edition and rare Birkin bags are either first to market for Sotheby's and or prior record breakers. While some of these specific may be Hermès Birkins may be hard to source, these provide a foundation for Birkin bags that are rare and collectible. We chose these Hermès Birkin bags since they are prior record breakers, first to market and limited edition styles. If you are looking to add rare and collectible Kelly bags to your collection, read on to learn more about four distinct styles to consider.
Limited Edition Hermès Birkin 30 Metallic Bronze
Limited edition metallic Hermès Birkin bags from 2004 to 2005 are among the rarest and collectible leather Hermès bags. The Metallic collection was inspired by the displays designed by Leila Menchari Hermès flagship store at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorè back in 2005. Achieving the metallic pigmentation requires a time-consuming process, where Hermès artisans apply multiple layers of dye to alter the texture of the leather. Sotheby's has sold only 4 metallic Birkins at auction with the most expensive selling in 2022. The metallic silver with bronze trim Birkin 25 from 2004 sold for almost $140,000.
The bronze metallic Birkin 30 was a wedding gift that Kelly Chan bought for herself - a play with homonymic phonetics in Chinese, as the words 'bronze' and 'union' align with the traditional expression "永結銅心," symbolizing enduring unity between partners. Kelly was photographed with the bag on her way to her wedding reception on October 2, 2008. (Source: Sina Entertainment, dated October 2, 2008). Later on, the bag was featured in the exhibition ‘Bags: Inside Out' in Hong Kong’, curated by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) from June 16 to July 16, 2023.
The metallic bronze Hermès Birkin 30 sold for 420,000 HKD or about $54,000 which is still a significant premium for a pristine leather Birkin 30 that generally sells for between $25,000 to $30,000 in either epsom or togo leather.
Hermès Birkin 35 HSS Black Clou Medor Rockstud
A rare one of a kind Black Birkin 35 from the personal collection of Kelly Chen sold in Kong Kong for 336,000 HKD or about $43,000. This black box Birkin 35 was designed exclusively for Kelly by Hermès. The Birkin incorporates one of Hermes' signature designs, the Medor rockstuds, which are featured in various core styles and models, including handbags and accessories. Crafted in Hermès Box leather, the leather is known to develop a patina with use over time. This Birkin was also featured by Kelly Chen in Vogue Hong Kong’s “In Kelly’s Bag” interview on June 23, 2023. (Source: Vogue Hong Kong Youtube, dated June 23, 2023).
Hermès Birkin 20 Black Lizard
The Birkin 20 was first introduced in 2019 as a limited edition called the Birkin 20 Faubourg or also referred to as the House Birkin. The Birkin 20 is also referred to as the Mini Birkin and even the Baby Birkin. The Birkin 20 in Black Shiny Niloticus Lizard with Gold Hardware from 2023 was the first black lizard Birkin 20 to come to auction at Sotheby's and sold for 600,000 HKD or $78,000. Given the very limited number of Birkin 20 bags available at Hermès boutiques, the availability of the Birkin 20 in the secondary market is even rarer, especially in black lizard with gold hardware.
Hermès Birkin 25 Diamond
The Diamond Birkin is the most glamorous Birkin bag. The Diamond Birkin 25 in Shiny Rose Mexico Porosus Crocodile is a favorite with collectors that want the ultimate upgrade to a shiny crocodile Birkin bag. The diamond Birkin is set with 251 diamonds, weighing 2.61 carats on clasp and 40 diamonds, weighing 1.40 carats on padlock. The Diamond Birkin retails for more than any other Hermès bag, with current prices at Hermes topping $200,000. A Diamond Birkin Bag in the secondary market can sell for $75,000-$300,000 plus depending on the condition, color and size. A Diamond Birkin 25 Shiny Porosus Crocodile in Bleu Jean sold for almost $200,000 in Sotheby's The Visionary Collection of Joseph Lau in Feburary 2023. Diamond Birkin bags also regularly rank as the most expensive Birkin bags in the secondary market.
Buying and Selling an Hermès Birkin at Sotheby's
Sotheby's can assist with buying or selling your next Hermès Birkin. Sotheby's handbag auctions feature rare and collectible Birkin bags. We also have a carefully curated selection of Birkin bags in pristine and excellent condition, available for immediate shipping. Expect to find the most popular Hermès Birkins in leather and exotic materials, new colors with 2024 date stamps, classic neutrals in all sizes and rare limited edition bags. We accept Birkin bags for consignment at auction and marketplace. Prices for Birkin bags range from $20,000 to $35,000 for leather while exotic Birkin bags are generally priced at $40,000 plus with Himalaya Birkin bags priced over $100,000.
- Browse Hermès Birkin available for immediate delivery.
- Explore upcoming handbag auctions across the globe.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Contact a Handbag Specialist about selling an Hermès Birkin bag.
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