Paris: A one-of-a-kind Hermès Birkin bag once owned by late singer and actress Jane Birkin sold for $10.1 million (8.6 million euros) at Sotheby’s Paris on Thursday, setting a new world record for the most expensive handbag ever auctioned.
The iconic accessory, custom-designed for Birkin in 1984, drew global bids during the Fashion Icons sale in Paris during Couture Week. Sotheby’s confirmed that a private Japanese collector placed the winning bid after more than 10 minutes of intense bidding. The price far surpassed the previous record of $513,040 held by a Hermès Kelly bag sold in 2021.
“It is incredible to think that a bag designed for practicality has become the most desirable bag in fashion history,” said Morgane Halimi, Global Head of Handbags at Sotheby’s.
In the #SothebysParis sale room just now, Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Birkin sold for €8.6 million / $10.1 million after more than 10 minutes of heated bidding, making it the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction. pic.twitter.com/COYFPeFbPk
— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) July 10, 2025
An Accidental Icon, Born on a Flight
The bag’s origin traces back to a chance encounter on an Air France flight in 1981, when Jane Birkin’s straw bag spilled its contents mid-flight. Sitting next to her was Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas. Hearing her frustration over the lack of a functional handbag, Dumas sketched a design on an airsickness bag. The prototype was delivered to Birkin in 1984.
That original design, bearing Birkin’s initials “J.B.”, has now become the world’s most valuable fashion accessory.
What Makes the Original Birkin Unique
The prototype bag features several distinct design elements never commercialized by Hermès:
- A non-removable shoulder strap, unlike modern detachable versions.
- An attached nail clipper, reflecting Birkin’s personal style.
- A hybrid structure: depth of a Birkin 40 with width and height of a Birkin 35.
- Brass hardware instead of the gold-plated finish common in current models.
- Custom bottom studs and interior zipper details.
Birkin added her own flair, decorating the bag with humanitarian stickers, trinkets, and keys—making her, perhaps, the original “bag charm” pioneer.
From Charity to Record Sale
Birkin held onto the prototype until 1994, when she auctioned it to benefit AIDS research. It changed hands again in 2000 and has remained in private collections until now.
The Sotheby’s sale on July 10 marked its first public auction in 25 years. The bidding opened at 1 million euros and quickly escalated to 7 million euros, before auction house fees brought the final price to 8.6 million euros ($10.1 million).
The Birkin Bag’s Lasting Legacy
Since its creation, the Birkin bag has become a symbol of luxury and scarcity, often commanding waitlists and resell prices up to $500,000. But this original prototype now places the brand in a new category altogether—combining pop culture history, fashion design, and collectible investment in one.
Jane Birkin, who passed away in July 2023 at age 76, once said: “They’ll probably say ‘like the bag’ in my obituaries. Well, it could be worse.”
