An Hermes Birkin bag has broken
the world record for the most money ever paid for a handbag at auction,
with a $380,000 winning bid at the Hong Kong event. The record was
previously held by a different Birkin bag, for which a bidder paid
$300,000 in 2016.
Christie's held the auction
and would not share the identity of the buyer, but they did provide
details about the coveted bag itself. Created in 2014, this particular "Himalaya" purse is made of matte crocodile skin, with handles encrusted in 205 diamonds and 18-karat gold buckles.
Himalaya Birkins get their name from the bag's
color, which fades from smoky grey to pearly white, evoking comparisons
with the mountain range. The company says they're exceptionally rare,
with only one or two believed to be made each year because of a
time-consuming process to dye the crocodile skin.
That
today's Himalaya Birkin broke the record came as a surprise to
Christie's. The presale estimate was between $193,000-$258,000.
Spokeswoman Gigi Ho said bids sailed past that price window quickly
during 10 to 15 minutes of intense offers in person, over the phone, and
online.
The infamous Birkin bag was introduced
by Hermes in 1984, and named after singer-actress-model Jane Birkin.
The purses retail for four figures at a minimum, and are so rare that
their waiting list was featured as a plot point on a 2001 episode of Sex and the City.
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