Sotheby's Paris Hosts Historic Auction: Jane Birkin's Hermès Bag Breaks Records with $10 Million Sale

This combination of pictures created on July 09, 2025 shows the "Birkin" bag by Hermes which belonged to British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin at the Sotheby's auction house in Paris on July 2, 2025 and which will be auctioned by Sotheby's as part of the Fashion Icons auction sale. (R) British actress and singer Jane Birkin, among many celebrities, takes part to the silent protest against a terrorist attack on March 29, during the International Jewish film Festival, at the "Rivoli-Beaubourg" cinema, in Paris, on March 31, 1985.. Birkin prototype bag that was designed by French luxury brand Hermes for British actress Jane Birkin, is set to be sold at auction house Sotheby's in Paris, on July 10, 2025. "The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records", Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global handbag and fashion head, said in a statement. (Credit: ALAIN JOCARD and JACQUES DEMARTHON/Getty Images)

In an unprecedented turn of events, a Hermès Birkin bag once owned by the late Jane Birkin was auctioned off at Sotheby's in Paris on July 10, 2025, for a staggering 10 million dollars, equivalent to approximately 9.3 million Swiss francs. This sale eclipsed all previous records, effectively making it the most expensive handbag ever sold. A Japanese private collector secured the prized bag for 8,582,500 euros, which included commissions and fees—a landmark sale in the world of luxury handbags.

The extraordinary piece was the very first model of the iconic Birkin series. Known colloquially as 'the superBirkin,' 'the Birkinazo,' or 'the Birkinest,' the bag is not merely a luxury accessory but also a cultural artifact long coveted by collectors and fashion aficionados. The original prototype of the Birkin bag created for Birkin is now considered one of the most prestigious and exclusive status symbols in the fashion world.