Diamond-Encrusted Hermès Birkin Bag Sells for $220,000 at Christie’s HK
June 03, 15
(IDEX Online News) – Luxury handbags may be seen as a threat to the industry from self-gifting women who prefer to splurge on a bag rather than on diamonds, but if the sale of a diamond-adorned Birkin Bag from Hermès is anything to go by, perhaps more diamantaires should be looking to expand into the premier goods sector.
The shiny fuchsia porous crocodile diamond Birkin 35 Bag with an 18-karat white gold and diamond lock sold for $222,928 to a phone bidder, smashing its pre-sale estimate of $129,617-$194,426
The previous record for a Birkin Bag was $203,000 in 2011.
In related news, more records were broken at Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale, which took place on June 2.
A 120-carat Burmese ruby and diamond necklace, by Etcetera was bought by a private Asian buyer for just over $13 million – a world record auction price for a ruby necklace.
A circular cut Kashmir sapphire of 10.33 carats sold for $2.5 million, or $240,381 per carat, making it a record price per carat for a sapphire.
All told, the auction realized close to $118 million – a new world record for the most valuable jewelry auction ever held in Asia.