Stress in the room. The phones used to echo, while everyone’s eyes were on a bag. Scuff and a little scratch, it was the OG Birkin bag designed for the late Anglo-French actress Jane Birkin.

The most prestigious bag in fashion went under the hammer just – and became the most valuable handbag to bring $ 10.1 million (Rs 86,76,622) to Sothabi.

Did that number widen your eyes? Our too.

This bag set a record in the auction yesterday. It has been sold to the second most valuable fashion artifacts so far, which is only behind ruby-red slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which went into $ 32.5 million in 2024.

Original birkin auction

In Paris, on July 10, 2025, the auctioned chamber began to gasped, when the bidding for the hermis bag opened for $ 1 million (Rs 8.6 crore).

This was followed by a 10 -minute dialect war between nine collectors. Finally, the bag was sold to a private collector in Japan, who was bidding via telephone through Sothabi’s country’s head Miko Ichika.

Morgan Halimi, the global head of handbags and fashion in Sothabi, described the incident as “an important milestone” in the luxury fashion world. “The sale of the original Birkin is also, eventually, a celebration of permanent spirit and its collection, a celebration of Jane Birkin’s appeal.”

The original bag is different from its subsequent versions. Its size, metal detailing, fixed shoulder straps, and some other micro features were never repeated in other pieces. Daily is used by Birkin from 1985 to 1994, unique personal touch in the bag, its early “JB”, a small pair of silver nail clippers, and a collection of stickers and ornaments that reflect her personal style and daily life.

“It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermes as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin has become the most desirable bag in history and most likely that it will remain so for many years to come,” Halimi shared, emphasized the permanent appeal and position of the bag as a cultural icon.

Birkin bag

The origin of this iconic handbag is returned from Paris to London, during a flight, by 1984. Actress Jane Birkin, sitting next to Hermis CEO Jean-Lui Dumas, expressed disappointment over the absence of a practical chic bag yet.

As Birkin himself said: “He said,” Okay, attract it for me, “and so I attracted it in one of those sick bags, vomiting bags, airplanes.”

For decades, the birkin bag has developed from a functional accessory to the peak of luxury and uniqueness. When the television series was depicted in Sex and the City, its mythological position was further strengthened, where the memorable line, “this is not a bag. It’s a birkin,” Etched in the pop culture.

Each bag is prepared by hand over 18 to 40 hours, enriched by complex details, complete with unique code and artisan signatures.

Part of its attraction also lies in its uniqueness; You can not just walk in a hermis store and buy one. There is a whole process that involves synergy with a seller and identifying the right birkin for you.

Beyond fashion, it has also proved to be a strong investment. According to a deliot and credit suicide report, the Hermes Birkin Bags had an average of 38 percent withdrawal in 2020. In fact, an ancient birkin has considerable gold in the resale value.

Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Neeta Ambani, Janhvi Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and many others own themselves and often flaunt their grand colors of Birkin bags.