The rare Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Birkin 30 went to an unknown phone bidder late Monday for HKD2.32 million, beating a pre-sale estimate of HKD2 million, the auction house Christie’s said.
“It was the world record price for any handbag sold at auction,” Bingle Lee, a Hong Kong-based spokesman for Christie’s, told AFP.
Designer handbags are increasingly seen as investment opportunities and are the latest craze for collectors, taking global auction houses by storm and scoring record prices.
The new record beat one set last year, also in Hong Kong, when a fuchsia-coloured Hermès bag (also encrusted in diamonds) sold for HKD1.72 million.
The handmade bag – described by the London-based auctioneers as the “rarest, most sought-after” – is encrusted with diamonds, while the buckle and trademark mini Hermès padlock are made of 18 carat white gold.
“It is believed that only one or two of the Diamond Himalayas are produced each year, globally, making it one of the lowest production runs for handbags,” Christie’s said in a statement issued before the sale.
The bag was made in 2008 and is from Hermès’ iconic “Birkin” series named after iconic British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin.
A smaller Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Birkin 25 handbag will go under the hammer today with an estimate price of HKD1.3 million to HKD1.5 million.
The auction was part of the firm’s 30th anniversary sales to mark its presence in Asia, with a range of luxury goods on offer, including Chinese paintings, watches and wine.
Words: AFP
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