The 10 Most Expensive Bags In The World
Hint: Hermes and Birkin make the list.
These bags called me broke in several different languages. For some people, a handbag is a way to transport belongings from place to place; for the proud owners of these bags, a handbag is a source of pride and ultimate status. These heavily-jeweled bags make a statement and the statement usually can be interpreted as, “I’ve got money.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many commas for a bag before in my life.
From least to most expensive:
Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag
Kicking off the list is the bag to end all bags: the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork Bag, which derives its name from the 15 other Louis Vuitton bags that are combined in order to make it. Marc Jacobs designed this bag when he was the director of the house of Louis Vouitton, creating only 24. Who is its most illustrious owner, you might ask. None other than Queen Bey herself.
Worth: $45,000
Leiber Precious Rose
One of the many purses to feature 18k white gold on this list is this minaudière, designed by Judith Leiber in 2010. With a modest amount of 1,016 diamonds, 1,169 pink sapphires, and 800 tourmalines, the purse forms a perfect, “precious” rose.
Worth: $92,000
Fuchsia Diamond-Studded Hermès Birkin
Its name says it all: fuchsia and diamond-studded. That might explain why it has a waitlist of 6 years. Aside from the diamonds, it is made out of real alligator skin (yikes) and 18k white gold.
Worth: $222,000 (a world-record for its time)
Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag
Back in 2008, Chanel released 13 classic flap bags that were made out of white alligator skin and embellished with a diamond encrusted Chanel logo, and, you guessed it, 18k white gold. It may be small, but it’s price tag is not.
Worth: $261,000
Hermès Himalaya Birkin
The Hermes Himalaya Birkin is less of a luxury item and more of a collector’s item. It is not just one of the most expensive handbags in the world, but is the most expensive Birkin in the world, and it's not difficult to see why. It is made from Nile crocodile hide before being meticulously dyed to “Himalayan white.”
Worth: $379,261 –as sold at Christie’s auction house
Lana Marks Cleopatra Clutch
This clutch has received a lot of love from Hollywood in the past. It used to be that someone couldn’t turn their head on the red carpet without catching a glimpse of an actress in a floor length evening gown, holding on to the Cleopatra Clutch. Many modern day starlets have been seen clutching it from time to time, such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Mirren, Li Bingbing, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, and Julie Christie. Each version is custom made, switching up the style for each lady, but remains true to the original Lana Marks style.
Worth: $100,000 to $400,000
Ginza Tanaka Hermès Birkin
Ginza Tanaka’s 2008 Birkin is made entirely out of platinum and 2,000 diamonds. But wait there’s more! The diamond-encrusted strap can be used as a necklace and the tear-drop shaped diamond in the center doubles as a brooch. A person can accessorize with this bag, any way they please. No wonder it’s worth so much.
Worth: $ 1.9 million
Hermès Chaine'd Ancre by Pierre Hardy
Designed by the Creative Director of Fine Jewelry, Pierre Hardy, in 2012, this Hermes Chaine was part of the Haute Bijouterie collection. The ever-popular white gold staple of handbags makes up this look along with 11,000 diamonds.
Worth: roughly $2,000,000
Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse
The beautifully named handbag is beautifully decked out in 4,517 diamonds, requiring 8,800 hours of work and earning it a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. The heart-shaped purse is made up of white, yellow, and pink diamonds, turning heads, to say the least, wherever it goes.
Worth: $3.6 million
Debbie Wingham’s Upcycled Easter Egg Purse
Finally, in 2019, British designer Debbie Wingham created a masterpiece in the shape of a silver, gold, and deep blue bag that looks like a Faberge egg. An unnamed American client had this bag custom-made, supplying her own jewels and scarves. It is now the most valuable handbag in the world.
Worth: (brace yourself) $6.7 million.
Up Next, Bottega Veneta is designing a fabulous tote bag with New York City’s hottest bookstore: The Strand
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