This Hermès signature Birkin handbag is the most expensive handbag ever sold.
The rare Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Birkin 30 went to an unknown phone bidder late Monday for $300,168, beating a pre-sale estimate of $2 million, the auction house Christie’s said.
“It was the world record price for any handbag sold at auction,” said Bingle Lee, a Hong Kong-based spokesman for Christie’s.
The handmade bag — described by the London-based auctioneers as the “rarest, most sought-after” — is encrusted with diamonds, while the buckle and trademark mini Hermès padlock are made of 18 carat white gold.
“It is believed that only one or two of the Diamond Himalayas are produced each year, globally, making it one of the lowest production runs for handbags,” Christie’s said in a statement issued before the sale.
The Hermès bag was made in 2008 and is from Hermes’ iconic “Birkin” series named after actress and singer Jane Birkin, who was born in Britain and lives in France.
The auction was part of the firm’s 30th anniversary sales to mark its presence in Asia, with a range of luxury goods on offer, including Chinese paintings, watches and wine.
