Second-hand handbag sells for £162,500 at auction

A ten-year-old Hermès handbag has sold at a London auction for £162,500, making it the most expensive handbag sold at auction in Europe.

The 2008 Himalaya Birkin from the French fashion house comes with a 18-carat white gold diamond encrusted lock.

Bids for the bag at the Christie’s auction exceeded its list price of £100,000 – £150,000 on Tuesday.

The second-hand handbag is made of niloticus crocodile hide and diamonds and was said to be in “grade 2 condition” with no obvious flaws.

Its name is said to resemble the snow-capped hills of the Himalayas, referencing its colour.

The lucky bidder remains anonymous.

The record for a handbag sold at auction – again, a Hermes Birkin – is £253,700, sold in Hong Kong in 2017.

The ‘Birkin’ bag, first designed by Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984, is named after famous actress and singer Jane Birken.

The legend goes that Dumas was sat next to the French icon on a flight in 1982 when her straw bag fell from the overhead compartment and the contents spill on the seat. Dumas then vowed to design her a practical, leather weekend bag – and so the Birkin was born.

Since, the Birkin has become a symbol of opulence due to their high prince tags (the average bag ranges from £9,000 to in excess of £70,000 depending on the exotic animal skin used) and celebrity admirers.

Victoria Beckham reportedly owns over 100 Birkin bags.

We’re here if you fancy offloading any, VB.

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