The Birkin Continues to Make Headlines

The Birkin holds supreme status in the handbag world, but it is also getting its fair share of attention in all facets of media. The Hermes Birkin is just a hot topic! Its shocking price tag, mysterious exclusivity, and aesthetic appeal leaves everyone intrigued. PurseBop is here to keep you in the loop about the latest Hermes Birkin news. Read below and see how the Birkin has impressed the world yet again.

#1 New Record-Breaking Birkin Sold

As reported by CNN, a Birkin recently sold at the auction house Christie’s is being described as a piece of “fashion history.” This past Monday, May 30th, an exotic Birkin was sold by a private Asian collector for $300,168 making it the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction. The bag was truly exceptional: a matte white Diamond Himalaya Niloticus crocodile Birkin 30 with 18k white gold and diamond hardware. The Diamond Himalayan Birkin is an iconic, but very rare Hermes piece. Christie’s reported in a prior press release that “only one or two of the Diamond Himalayas are produced each year, globally, making it one of the lowest production runs for handbags.”

The final sale of $300,168 surpassed Christie’s bidding predictions of around $190,000 to $260,000. This particular Birkin style was previously even listed for $432,000 from the reseller 1stdibs, so it sounds like this bag’s buyer got quite the deal…right?

The record-breaking handbag triumphs previous Birkin sales from Christie’s ($220,000).

Read our features on other amazing Birkin sales below:

Most Expensive Hermes Birkin Sold at Christie’s

#2 PETA Confronts Hermes on Use of Exotic Skins

This recent record-breaking sale re-ignited PETA’s criticisms about Hermes’ use of exotic skins. As reported by WWD, a french spoksewoman for PETA Isabella Goetz confronted Hermes CEO Axel Dumas after the sale and asked Dumas if Hermes planned to stop using exotic skins. Dumas denied all allegations of Hermes’ cruelty towards animals and firmly asserts that their suppliers work under a strict ethical conduct. As supported by Dumas, “We ask all our suppliers to comply not only with international legislation but also our internal rules, which are much stricter than international policies in this regard.” Duma suggests that although Hermes will readily reply to any concerns and respects PETA’s position, they will not discontinue the use of exotic skins anytime soon. This confrontation comes just after Jane Birkin threatened to remove her namesake from the bag until fairer animal treatment practices were put into place.

Learn more about the controversy in our features below:

#3 Birkin bags are a better investment than the S&P 500 or gold

The world has gone Birkin crazy! Some people are willing to shell out big money just to join the Birkin Club. However, the desire for a Birkin is deeper than the look of the bag itself. As explored in a piece on racked.com, the Birkin may also be a financially sound investment. The Baghunter compared investment returns on gold, the S&P 500, and the Birkin over the last 35 years, and the Birkin was the clear winner. The Birkin only continues to increase in price and holds its value better than any other handbag because it is a highly coveted bag, a status symbol to many, and overall a tribute to ultra-luxury.

Find out more about bag investment below: