By Aravind Gehlot | July 10, 2025 | Live from New York
You know, some stories are bigger than numbers. Some stories are about culture, identity — and legacy. And today, we’ve got one of those stories. Jane Birkin
A handbag. Yes, a handbag — old, scuffed, scratched, and even stained — just sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $10 million.
Let that sink in.
We’re talking about Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag, the very first of its kind. This wasn’t just any accessory — this was the birth of a fashion icon, and now, it’s made history once again.
Let’s Go Back to the Beginning
Let’s rewind the clock to the 1980s.
Jane Birkin — a British-French actress, singer, and style legend — boards a flight from Paris to London. Sitting next to her is Jean-Louis Dumas, the then-chairman of luxury brand Hermès.
Birkin, a mom of three, tells him she can’t find a bag big enough to hold everything she needs. She’s been using a large wicker basket.
Mid-conversation, the basket tips over. Everything spills.
Dumas laughs. He listens.
Then he says, “Well, why don’t you draw the bag you need?”
So she does — on a vomit bag, right there on the plane.
That sketch became the blueprint for what we now call the Birkin bag — a symbol of elegance, exclusivity, and wealth.
The Bag That Broke Every Rule
Fast forward to Thursday, July 10, 2025.
That original bag — the one Jane Birkin used every day for nearly 10 years — just sold at Sotheby’s for €8.6 million (about $10 million USD), including fees.
Not because it’s covered in diamonds.
Not because it’s made of crocodile skin.
But because it’s real.
This bag has been loved. Used. Lived in.
It still has Jane’s initials — “J.B.” — on the front flap, and even a pair of nail clippers dangling from the strap. (Yes, she liked to keep her nails neat and had the clippers with her at all times.)
There are stickers from Médecins du Monde and UNICEF on the leather. There are scratches, stains, and stories in every corner of this bag.
And that’s what made it so valuable.
The Auction: 10 Minutes of Pure Drama
Sotheby’s didn’t even set a price estimate ahead of the sale. But the buzz was loud.
During the live-streamed auction, bidding took off fast — and just kept climbing. People watching gasped as the numbers went up.
After a 10-minute bidding war between nine collectors, a private buyer from Japan placed the winning bid: €7 million before fees, $10 million with fees.
That’s not just a sale. That’s a moment in fashion history.
Breaking the Record Books
With this sale, Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag is now the most expensive handbag ever sold.
Just for comparison:
- In 2022, Sotheby’s sold a Diamond Himalaya Birkin for $450,000.
- In 2021, Christie’s sold a crocodile-skin Kelly bag for $390,000.
- And the previous world record? A diamond crocodile Kelly that went for $513,040.
All of them — crushed.
Why Did This Bag Sell for So Much?
The answer is simple: story, soul, and symbolism. This isn’t just fashion. This is history. Jane Birkin wasn’t just the inspiration behind the bag — she used it. Daily. It’s worn, aged, and stained with life. And in today’s world, that kind of authenticity? It’s priceless. People don’t just want luxury. They want meaningful luxury. And nothing is more meaningful than the very first Birkin.
A Bag in Museums, Not Just Closets
Before this sale, the original Birkin had been on display in:
- 🖼️ The Museum of Modern Art in New York
- 🖼️ The Victoria & Albert Museum in London
It had changed private hands since Jane Birkin sold it in 1994 to support AIDS research, but never left the public eye for long.
It was last auctioned 25 years ago to a private collector named Catherine B., who shared this week that selling it again brought back “raw, indescribable” memories of winning it years ago.
Jane Birkin’s Own Words
Jane Birkin passed away in 2023 at the age of 76, but she always kept a sense of humor about her fame.
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, she once joked:
“Bless me, when I’m dead… people will possibly only talk about the bag.”
She was right — but it’s more than that.
This sale wasn’t just about the bag. It was about her spirit — creative, honest, and unapologetically real.
The Birkin as Investment
Fun fact: Back in 2016, a study showed that Birkin bags outperformed both the S&P 500 and gold in investment value.
Why?
- They’re rare
- They’re handmade
- They’re status symbols
- And now, they’re part of history
The original Birkin wasn’t meant to be a museum piece. It was practical, personal, and powerful. And that’s exactly what made it so iconic.
Final Thoughts from Your Anchor
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s top story wasn’t about tech, politics, or sports. It was about a woman who simply wanted a better bag — and ended up inspiring one of the most iconic fashion pieces in the world.
That bag — worn, weathered, but full of life — is now worth more than most houses. And it tells us something important:
Luxury isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection.
It’s about the fingerprints we leave behind — and how others choose to honor them.
Thank you, Jane Birkin, for the inspiration. And congratulations to the new owner of this legendary piece.
