Paris might be at 87 degrees today, but you know what’s hotter?
The Jane Birkin bag auction.
Sure, Jane’s Birkin is tattered, battered, scuffed, and even a little stained, but the hammer fell at a winning bid of £7.4 million (that’s $10.1 million for you U.S folks!). The Jane Birkin bag has officially become the most expensive handbag to sell at any auction.
Crafted in 1984 for actress, singer, and style icon Jane Birkin herself, the original Hermès Birkin bag was auctioned by Sotheby’s in Paris on July 10, 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know about the bag’s history, what makes it unique, and why it just broke records when it hit the auction block.
Who Bought It?
When the gavel came down at Sotheby's Paris this week, fashion history was made, and somewhere in Japan, a very private collector became the proud owner of the world's most expensive handbag. But who exactly shelled out a cool £7.4 million for Jane Birkin's original bag?
That's the million-dollar question (literally).
The bag's previous owner, known only as Catherine B, had her own emotional journey watching the auction unfold. She admitted to being completely stunned by the final price, but found herself unexpectedly moved by the whole experience
The winner was described simply as "a private collector from Japan" who emerged victorious after what sounds like an absolutely nail-biting 10-minute bidding war.
The mysterious buyer's identity is under lock and key, which isn't exactly surprising when you're dropping eight figures on a handbag.
But what we do know is that this collector clearly understood they weren't just buying a bag, they were buying a piece of cultural history.
The final price of £7.4 million didn't just break records. It obliterated them. The previous auction record for a Kelly was $513,04, which now seems almost quaint in comparison.
This sale more than doubled that record, proving that collectors are willing to pay absolutely anything when it comes to something as rare as the Jane Birkin prototype.
Not bad for a bag that started with a simple conversation about storage space, might we add?
The Birkin bag has long stood as a symbol of understated luxury and exclusivity. But before the endless waitlists, celebrity endorsements, and six figure resale prices, there was one bag, “the bag” that started it all. And this July, that very first Birkin is going under the hammer.
Crafted in 1984 for actress and style icon Jane Birkin herself, the original Hermès Birkin bag will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Paris on July 10, 2025. Collectors, museums, and fashion houses are expected to bid high, and for good reasons, because this isn’t just a handbag. It’s the prototype that inspired an entire empire.
Here’s everything you need to know about the bag’s history, what makes it unique, and why it might just break records when it hits the auction block.
The Flight That Changed Fashion
The origin story of the Birkin bag is now fashion folklore. In the early 1980s, Jane Birkin found herself seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of Hermès, on a flight from Paris to London when her straw bag tumbled open in the overhead bin, scattering her belongings all over the chairman. She sighed that no existing bag held everything she needed. “Draw me one,” he suggested. That impromptu sketch drawn on the back of an aeroplane sickness bag gave birth to what many now consider the most iconic and prestigious handbag line in the world.
A Prototype Unlike Any Other
Unlike the sleek, pampered versions locked away in celebrity closets, Jane Birkin’s personal Birkin bag is gloriously worn and deeply personal, and one that made shockwaves across the industry. This prototype wasn’t preserved; it was lived in.
What sets this bag apart?
For one, it includes a non-removable shoulder strap, a feature that was never made standard on Birkins. It’s also crafted in a unique size, sitting somewhere between what would later become the 35cm and 40cm models.
The hardware is another standout feature. Instead of the gold plated or palladium finishes used in later models, the original is fitted with gilded brass hardware. The feet (or “clous”) at the bottom are noticeably smaller, and the pontets (metal rings) on the handles are closed, unlike the open versions that came after.
Inside, you’ll find an Éclair zipper, an earlier detail before Hermès switched to using Riri zippers in the 1990s. And perhaps most significantly, the bag is stamped with Jane Birkin’s initials, “J.B.”, marking it unmistakably as hers.
Loved and Lived In
Unlike today’s collectors who treat Birkins as investment pieces, Jane Birkin actually used hers. A lot.
This bag shows signs of real, everyday wear. Birkin was often photographed carrying it casually, stuffed with books, snacks, and baby bottles. She decorated it with stickers supporting causes like UNICEF and Médecins du Monde, and once attached a nail clipper to its handle with a chain.
In many ways, it’s that visible wear that makes the bag even more valuable. It’s not a pristine museum piece; it’s a working object with a story, imbued with the personality of the woman who carried it.
The Bag’s Journey: From Charity to Collector
Reflecting on her legacy in an interview with CNN, she mentioned:
“You know, when I’m dead, not only will people remember me for ‘Je t’aime moi non plus,’ but they’ll possibly only talk about the bag,”
In 1994, Brikin, long before her passing, donated her bag to support Association Solidarité Sida, a French AIDS charity. It was first auctioned off that same year and resurfaced again in 2000, when it was sold to Parisian collector Catherine Benier. She has held onto the bag ever since, until now.
Reflecting on her legacy in an interview with CNN, she mentioned:
“You know, when I’m dead, not only will people remember me for ‘Je t’aime moi non plus,’ but they’ll possibly only talk about the bag,”
For the first time in over two decades, the original Birkin is returning to the public spotlight, where it’s expected to attract considerable attention, and possibly set a new benchmark for handbags sold at auction.
Numbers Behind The Name:
Every time the name “Hermes Birkin” swiftly passes through your ears, a strong sound of a cash register’s "ka-ching" follows.
These ultimate symbols of luxury are notably difficult to acquire, with retail prices starting at around $10,000 and reaching up to $60,000 or more; we are not even talking about the resale market. That is where the real tea happens. Rare Birkins, especially those made of crocodile skin or featuring fitted diamonds, can easily fetch prices of up to six figures.
To date, the record for the most expensive Birkin ever sold at auction stands at approximately $450,000. The Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Birkin, crafted from niloticus crocodile skin and set with diamonds, was sold in 2022.
But in 2012, Hermès unveiled the Sac Bijou Birkin: a miniature rose gold bag set with 2,712 diamonds, designed to be worn as a bracelet. With a jaw-dropping price tag of $2 million and only three ever made, it blurred the line between accessory and art, redefining what a handbag could be.
With resale values skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that many collectors now view their Birkins as investments, sometimes even exploring how best to sell a Hermès bag when the time (or the price) is right.
As for Jane Birkin’s original? Given its provenance, one-of-a-kind design, and the sheer cultural weight it carries, some predict it could fetch hundreds of thousands, if not more.
Every Icon Has Its Shadows
Contradicting all the luxury and fame it enjoys in the history books, the Birkin line continues to keep its shadow of controversy, especially when it comes to animal welfare. PETA, the activist group, had long condemned the brand for exploiting crocodile and alligator hides, revealing that up to three crocodiles are slaughtered to produce a single exotic Birkin.
Jane Birkin herself once distanced herself from the product. In 2015, she publicly asked Hermès to remove her name from the crocodile-skin version of the bag due to ethical concerns. The brand responded by investigating the suppliers involved and eventually agreed to cut ties with a farm in Texas that failed to meet international standards. After that, Birkin rescinded her request.
In light of the upcoming auction, PETA UK has urged current owner Catherine Benier to donate the proceeds to wildlife charities “to make up for some of the harm caused to animals in the production of Birkin bags.”
Who Might Buy It?
The auction is open to individual collectors and institutions. Some suspect it may land in a museum or fashion archive. Others think it could be snapped up by one of the world’s known Birkin obsessives.
Jamie Chua, a Singaporean socialite, is reportedly one of the world’s most prominent Hermès collectors, with a collection stored in a fingerprint-secured, climate-controlled room. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Pippa Middleton, and Jennifer Lopez are all noted Birkin fans and may very well have their eyes on the prize.
Why This Auction Matters
This isn’t just about luxury or status. This auction is a rare moment in fashion history, a chance to own the very object that sparked a global phenomenon. The original Birkin represents a different era of fashion, one where form met function and style had a soul.
It also represents Jane Birkin herself: a woman who wasn’t afraid to personalize, repurpose, and live in her fashion. In an age where luxury often feels impersonal and commercial, this bag is a reminder this bag reminds us that true style is lived in, not just looked at.
Final Thoughts
This whole wild auction saga proves something we've always suspected: the best fashion stories aren't really about fashion at all.
They're about people, connections, and those magical moments when something just clicks.
Jane Birkin probably never imagined that her casual airplane chat would one day result in a bidding war that would make headlines around the world.
She was just being herself. Refreshingly honest, and totally unpretentious..
Now her bag is off to start a new adventure with a collector who clearly gets it, someone who saw past the hype and the headlines to understand what this bag really represents. Because let's be real: you don't drop $10 million on a handbag unless you truly understand its soul.
And in a world where so much feels manufactured and calculated, isn't it refreshing to know that sometimes the most extraordinary things still happen by accident?
Jane would probably get a kick out of that.
While you might not be able to own the Jane Birkin bag, you can certainly own a Hermès bag. At Love Luxury, we understand that passion for exceptional pieces with incredible stories. We make it our mission to help you skip those infamous waitlists and get your hands on the Hermès bag of your dreams.
Because everyone deserves a little bit of that Birkin magic in their life.
Now, if you’ll excuse us please. We’re off to strike up some very important conversations with a stranger on a plane. Bye!
