Hermes Bags Under the Hammer: Christies Auction Lot Tops £420K

Nov. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- The waiting lists are endless and not even the highest disposable income can buy seasoned aficionados of the iconic Hermes Birkin or Kelly bag a fast track ticket to ownership.

Little wonder then that a collection of 60 of the world’s most wanted bags realised a collective £420,000 at a recent auction at London’s Christies.

The auction, which took place on 16 November at the eminent South Kensington auction house, saw bidders vying for a share in an extensive and eclectic collection of the legendary bags so loved by fashion icons such as Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Sarah Jessica Parker.

In the lead up to the auction, Christie spokeswoman Leonie Pitts suggested it would offer “discerning fashion conscious females the perfect opportunity to brighten up their winter wardrobes”.

Truly Effervescent

And indeed it did, with some pieces going under the hammer that could be described as truly effervescent. A 2006 25cm fuchsia lizard Birkin with palladium hardware for starters, which realised £21,250 and a saffron crocodile Birkin from 2004 with gilt metal hardware which tempted someone with £25,000 to splash. A 2009 tricolour red, gold and brown goat skin Birkin that could quite simply never fail to get the wearer noticed went for £7,500.

1970 Vintage Kelly

Vintage Kelly fans were treated to a piece of fashion history in the form of a black box leather Kelly with interior jewel case lined in scarlet velvet. The 1970 piece, name after style icon Grace Kelly, went for £3,125.

Sold to the Highest Bidder: For £46,850

Some bidders were really in the mood for spending. The highest estimates reckoned before the auction were around £28,000 but some lots far exceeded that figure. A 2007 30cm bi-colour black and graphite crocodile Birkin was sold to the highest bidder for a tidy £34,850. And that wasn’t the sale of the day, because two bags reached £46,850 a piece, one of them being an amethyst matt crocodile Birkin from 2009. The other was another matt crocodile Birkin, this time a 35cm havane piece with palladium hardware.

Hermes Aficionados: Skip the Waiting List

For those Hermes Birkin and Kelly admirers who missed out on joining the elite band of owners courtesy of the auction, and for whom the official waiting list is too trying of their patience, Bags of Luxury offers an alternative. Experts in sourcing authentic Birkin and Kelly bags, their collection is available for immediate private viewings at their Mayfair boutique. And if there’s a particular bag on the wish list, they’ll endeavour to source it. Take a look at http://www.bagsofluxury.com or join the conversation on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BagsofLuxury.

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Bags of Luxury is a niche expert in sourcing authentic Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags and other rare and luxury items. Clients are invited to browse our wide selection of Hermes bags which are available immediately.