WWYD: Stories of the Rich and Famous
Photos: Curtesy of 1stdibs
So recently there was a news report about a one-of-a-kind Hermès Birkin handbag being auctioned for $377,000. Wow!! That's a lot of money for one handbag! That's a nice house in Houston. This got me thinking.... What would one do if one was a millionaire?
Clearly this isn't the first time a Birkin has been auctioned for a substantial price. Apparently back in 2011, there was a different diamond Birkin that was sold for $203,000, it actually exceeded the expected amount of $150,000. This took place at a Heritage Luxury Accessories auction in Dallas. Later it was sold again for $185,000 in 2014 in Beverly Hills. Last year in Hong Kong a similar bag was auctioned for a whopping $300,000. At the time that was a record high.
As reported, the Birkin sold in 2011 and the Birkin auctioned recently look nearly identical, but with slight differences. The most recent bag sold was encrusted with higher grade diamonds and featured more gold hardware. Hmmm... Maybe just maybe, if money wasn't an issue, I would have taken the splurge and purchased this handbag. But then again, I think I would have felt a little cheated too...like I needed my diamonds upgraded, I'm just saying. But hey! If you can afford a $300,000 handbag I'm sure that's not a concern. I mean $300,000 is probably like $30,000 to us. Well maybe $3,000 because to be honest I would be a little perturbed over the $30,000, but that's just me.
Anyway! The recent record breaker is a matte, rare white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile diamond Birkin 30cm handbag. After an intense 15 minutes of bidding, it was eventually sold for over $377,000 in Hong Kong Wednesday. This made it the most expensive handbag ever to be sold at an auction.
So you have to wonder what makes this Birkin so much more expensive than the already pricey bags. Well, it's a rare white Himalayan crocodile with 18k white gold hardware, and has 242 diamonds with a total weight of 9.84 carats. The Cadena Lock is 1.64 carats of 40 gorgeous VVS F white brilliant cut diamonds set in 68.4 grams of 18k white gold. There are three different structural elements of the Birkin (the Touret has 7 diamonds, the Pontets has 16 diamonds, and the Plaques de Sanglons has 182 diamonds) that features 10 grams of 18k white gold encrusted with more than 205 dazzling diamonds, totaling a weight of 8.2 carats of VVS F round brilliant diamonds. Aside from it being made from the skin of an extremely rare, almost albino crocodile, and the conscientious dyeing process, the interior is lined in Gris Center Cendre Chèvre Leather. All this attention to detail makes this beautiful bag a one-of-a-kind collector's dream.
Now going back to my original question. What would you do if you were millionaire? Considering $377,000 would be over a quarter of my million dollars, I would not make that investment unless I was a multi millionaire or billionaire. However, because it would be an investment, and a once in a lifetime opportunity...YOLO! I probably would do it and have buyer's remorse afterwards. SMH. Also, I would do it ONLY because if I needed my money back I could auction it off and possibly get what I paid for it back plus extra. Think about it! Sure you'll have money in the bank and watch it build with interest, but why not carry the bank on your arm? It’s like investing your money in the bank, but instead of it being actual bills and a bank, it’s you and your extremely expensive bag you can walk around and wear. Obviously this would not be an everyday handbag! Hello!! That’s what you have your other colorfully displayed Birkin bags for…Duh! Then again, rich folks thinking can be a little different. I’ll let you all know when I’m wealthy LOL…but for real I will.
So, again, what would you do?! Would you pay that much for a one-of-a-kind Hermès Birkin bag used or new?
Well FYI, there is a 6yr waiting list to buy a new one...if you're interested. It also comes in a limited edition box with all of the paperwork.
xo,
M&C