Enter the Hermès World of Jamie Chua

Part I – Exclusive Interview With Hermès Collector Jamie Chua

Jamie Chua, photo courtesy @ec24m via Daily Mail.

Singaporean celebrity, entrepreneur and socialite Jamie Chua recently let the public into her private (or semi-private) world. On her youtube channel, Chua answered fan questions ranging from advice on beauty products, how many pairs of shoes she owns, to her most expensive handbag. Naturally, we are laser focused on her bags. But, before we get there…

In an earlier youtube video, Chua literally let us in . . . to her closet. And we may never be the same. It’s a 700 square foot secure closet that cost $120,000 to build. Just by point of reference, that’s larger than most NYC one-bedroom apartments. Not surprisingly given its contents, entry to this den of fabulosity is finger-print protected.

Chua holds up her most expensive Hermès handbag in her wardrobe: her Himalayan Crocodile Diamond Birkin. Photo courtesy @ec24m via Daily Mail.

In her latest video right below this paragraph, Chua tells us the most costly item in her wardrobe. Well, of course, it’s the holy grail of handbags. The Hermes diamond-encrusted Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin. With 245 diamonds on white gold, this bag is valued at about $300,000! (Read Christie’s Birkin Breaks European Record and Exotic Birkins Play Can You Top That – Price-Wise). By the way, in case you were wondering, this is the bag Chua says she’d take with her in the event of a zombie apocalypse – it’s a ready source of cash. According to Chua, Christie’s auction house has been eyeing hers!

@ec24m

@ec24m

Chua is known for having the largest collection of prime Hermes bags. Apparently she has 200. More Birkins and Kellys than either Kim Kardashian or Victoria Beckham, both of whom are known to have amassed quite a number of these special items. Just take a look at this handbag armoire, and ignore the bags on furniture, lol. We spy with our little eye: Picnic Kelly, Picnic Bolide, Croc Birkin, Ostrich BIrkin, Mini Kellys in croc and leather, and so much more!

Photo courtesy @ec24m via Daily Mail.

As for why Chua loves Hermès, she gives two reasons. First, her Hermes bags are her most frequently used bags. They are always in style, from season to season. No one will ever say – oh, that’s last year’s model, lol. Second, she says the Hermes bags maintain their investment value. Indeed, she says some of her bags have appreciated in value.

But Hermes was not her first designer splurge. Like so many of us, Chua started with a classic Chanel 2.55 mini square that cost SGD$1850 at the time. So, Chua is just like us!

Lastly, for the record, she has about 300 pairs of shoes!