Hermès Birkin Auctioned For A Record US$383,522 In Hong Kong

World’s most expensive handbag ever sold at auction is now this matte white Niloticus crocodile Himalaya Birkin 30, which was auctioned for HK$2.98 million at Christie’s today.

The rare matte white Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Birkin. Image credit: Christie’s

Fans of the iconic Hermès Birkin bags are beating lengthy waitlists by scoring the coveted bags at auction. The much sought-after Birkins have been continuously breaking auction records.

Earlier today, a matte white Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin 30 with a diamond-encrusted white-gold buckle and hardware was auctioned for HK$2.98 million at Christie’s, making it the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction. The collector, who won the bid by phone, is not from Asia.

‘The overall market for top [handbag] collectors has really matured,’ says Matthew Rubinger, international head of handbags & accessories at Christie’s.

Among all of the Birkin bags, the Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya is one of the most coveted. A similar style was auctioned for HK$2.94 million at Christie’s last year. It’s dubbed the Holy Grail for bag lovers.

The aptly named ‘Himalaya’ Birkin reflects the bag’s delicate gradation of colour from smoky grey to pearly white – resembling the snow-capped Himalayas. Diamond Himalayas are also scarce – as reportedly only one or two are made each year. Apart from the Birkins, Hermès also crafts a few Himalaya Kelly bags for top clients.

You can read all about Birkin’s and Kelly’s in Fashion Industry Broadcast’s iconic book Masters of Fashion Vol. 36 ‘Bags’, available now from Amazon.