Holiday Gift Guide for the Birkin Lover
Shop Birkin bags this holiday season, available for immediate purchase.
Brief History of the Birkin Bag
The Birkin is an icon in the fashion world, highly sought-after by celebrities and the handbag-obsessed. The Birkin’s design is a collaboration between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. The two met on a flight from Paris to London in 1984. Birkin confided in Dumas that she lacked a purse with appropriate functionality for her fast-paced lifestyle. Out of this conversation, the Birkin 40 in chic calfbox leather was born. The Birkin’s practical design featuring two rolled handles, a flap top, clou “feet,” and a lock closure continues to resonate today. The Birkin remains the most coveted Hermès bag thanks to its craftsmanship, design and icon status. A Birkin takes an expert artisan a minimum of 18 hours to complete. Each Birkin is marked with a code that identifies the year, the workshop, and artisan. Every month, there are over 1 million Birkin related searches on Google in the US alone.
Holiday Gift Guide for the Birkin Lover
With the holiday season fast approaching, shop Sotheby's for the Hermès Birkin bag lovers in your life. We have the perfect gift for the seasoned Birkin bag collector and someone new to collecting Birkin bags. Most importantly, you can shop for Birkin bags online at Sotheby's. One less line this holiday season is the perfect reason to shop early and check the Birkin bag lover off your list. Read on to learn about our top Birkin bag gift picks this season.
Limited Edition Hermès Birkin 25 $52,000
Hermès has collaborated with Nigel Peake on several projects including the One Two Three and Away We Go! Birkin 25. This unique limited edition Birkin 25 blends the Irish architect's distinctive geometric and colorful design aesthetic. If your Birkin lover is a seasoned collector and loves bold statement making accessories and fashion, this is the ideal gift.
Hermès Birkin 25 $85,000
There are few grander gestures for a seasoned Birkin collector than an HSS Alligator Birkin bag. We love the pretty vert-d'eau and vanille color combination in elegant matte alligator with brushed gold hardware. This rare Birkin 25 will be a cherished new addition to any Birkin collection.
Hermès Birkin 25: Updated Classic $33,800
If your Birkin lover has a closet full of Togo Retourne Birkins in classic color and hardware combinations or you are looking for an extra special first Birkin, a Sellier Birkin 25 from 2024 is the perfect gift. We love the combination of Gris Asphalt and Black Epsom leather with contrast stitching and brushed gold hardware. This Birkin 25 is a classic for a new collector but all of the subtle details make it special for a seasoned collector. The more structured Sellier Birkin 25 is also more formal and can easily transition from day to night.
Limited Edition Hermès Birkin 40 HAC Rock $60,000
The Limited Edition Hermès Birkin 40 HAC Rock was first released as part of the men's Fall/Winter 2022 collection. While the basic shape and size are like a Birkin HAC 40, this limited edition version has an outside zippered half moon pocket and removable pouch with chain that has it's own exterior pouch. The back of the bag also has an exterior zippered pocket similar to the HAC Cargo. So if your loved one is in lock step with the latest celebrity or professional athlete fashion must have, the Birkin HAC Rock is the perfect gift.
Hermès Birkin 30 Himalaya $220,000
The Himalayan Birkin 30 was the first Hermès Himalayan bag and remains the most popular and coveted. The matte niloticus crocodile is meticulously buffed to reveal the natural ombré of the skin. Every Himalayan Birkin is unique in its exact color, contrast of dark to light and how it is assembled by the artisan to create the final bag. If you're looking for a grand gesture to surprise and delight, a Himalayan Birkin 30 is the ultimate holiday gift.
Buying a Birkin Online
While there are over 1 million monthly searches for Hermès Birkin bags, you can only purchase a Birkin in one the 294 Hermès global retail locations. Additionally the availability of Birkins is very limited and generally only available to purchase if you have an established relationship with an Hermès sales associate. Even established clients are limited to two quota bags per year, which includes the Kelly, Birkin and Constance bags. The only way to purchase an Hermès Birkin bag online in store fresh condition is from a trusted secondary market seller. Given the strong demand for Birkin bags, there is a premium for pristine Birkins on the secondary market that ranges from 50% above retail to almost 3x retail for a leather Birkin 25.
Buying an Hermès Birkin at Sotheby's
Sotheby's has a curated selection of Hermès Birkin bags available to purchase online or in person in one of our global Salons. Shop the newest colors with 2024 date stamps, classic neutrals in all sizes and rare limited edition Birkin bags. Expect to find pristine leather Birkins that are size 25 and 30 to be priced between $25,000 to $35,000. Exotic Birkin bags are priced higher while vintage Birkin bags that are size 35 and 40 are generally priced lower. Prices for rare limited editions Birkin bags can range from $50,000 to more than $100,000 depending on the bag. If you are looking for a specific Birkin bag you don't see listed online, make sure to contact a salon associate to assist. New bags arrive weekly, so you can also check back regularly for the latest selection.
- Browse Hermès Birkin bags available for immediate delivery.
- Explore upcoming handbag auctions across the globe.
- Contact a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule a viewing.
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