Jane Birkin's Original Hermes Birkin Sold for $10 Million Record-Breaking Price

In July 2025, fashion history was made when the very first original Birkin bag—designed by Hermès in 1984 for Jane Birkin herself—sold at Sotheby’s Paris for a staggering €8.6 million (approx. $10.1 million USD), setting a new record for the most expensive handbag ever auctioned.

Why This Birkin Is Truly One-of-a-Kind

• Origins: Born from a chance meeting aboard an Air France flight in the early 1980s, Jane Birkin sketched a need for a practical yet stylish bag. Hermès’s then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas transformed that sketch into a prototype that would become the iconic Birkin bag.

• Unique Specs: Unlike any other, this original Birkin bag blends the width and height of a Birkin 35 with the depth of a Birkin 40. It features gilded brass hardware, closed pontet rings, a rare “Eclair”-brand inner zipper, smaller feet. Most notably, this Birkin features a non-removable shoulder strap—a singular combination found only on this bag.

• Personal Touches: Branded with Jane Birkin’s initials and even holding her personal nail clippers, this “every-day bag” reflects the casual elegance Birkin was known for. Scuffs, stickers, and wear only deepen its authenticity and emotional weight.

This Birkin's Journey Over The Years

• 1994 Charity Auction: Jane Birkin donated it to raise funds for AIDS research through a charity auction Association Solidarité Sida in Paris. It sold for about $2,000 USD—a drop in the bucket compared to today's pricing.

• 2000 Sale: It was sold via auction to Catherine Benier for an undisclosed amount and became part of her private collection.. It was exhibited at MoMA (New York) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) over the years.

• 2025 Auction: On July 10, Sotheby’s held it in its Paris Fashion Icons sale. What was initially planned as an online event became a live auction amid intense interest—nine bidders fought for ten minutes before the final buyer took it home for €7 million hammer price, with fees bringing it to €8.6 million. Who was the lucky recipient? Japanese businessman Shinsuke Sakimoto, CEO of luxury resale firm Valuence Holdings. 

Record-Breaking Sale & Aftermath

• Auction Shockwaves: The bag's sale shattered the previous record—the 2021 Hermès White Himalaya Kelly sold for around $513,040—eclipsed now by this one-of-a-kind prototype.

• Buyer’s Remorse: Sakimoto won the piece—and later admitted to CNN: “It was the most expensive purchase I’ve ever made for a single item… it really made me sick to my stomach.” A raw, yet understandable and perfectly human feeling amid opulent excess.

Reflecting on the Birkin's Legacy

This original Birkin underscores how heritage, provenance, and personality can elevate an accessory into legend. Its rugged wear speaks to authenticity, its backstory enchants, and its price redefines expectations. Yet even for those with deep pockets, sometimes the cost remains too real—emotionally and financially.

The Luxe Loop Takeaway: Luxury, Legacy, Less

At TLL, we believe in the power of investment pieces—bags that appreciate or at least retain value over time. While no Birkin prototype will likely ever hang in our inventory, we offer curators' picks of investment-grade luxury that won’t make your heart or bank account ache. We carry many iconic Hermès, Chanel, Gucci pieces well under $10,000 that carry serious resale upside.

So if Jane Birkin's original bag had you holding your breath, take a breath—and check out The Luxe Loop's assortment of luxury treasures. Your next statement piece (and smart investment) might be just a click away.