Rating and value of Birkin, Kelly, Constance, Evelyne and Hermès bags

If you own a Hermès bag, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your bag, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your bag, we will direct you to the best possible device to obtain the optimum price.

The price of a bag can vary depending on the year, the leather, the edition (limited or not), the stones and metals used.

Rating and value of a Hermès bag

Handbags from the House of Hermès are today the most expensive and famous in the world.

Their success is no longer to be boasted. The price at which they sell on the art and auction market ranges between €500 and €330 000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to your Hermès bags.

In November 2020, a Birkin 25 in Himalayan Niloticus crocodile sold for €330,000, more than five times the high estimate achieved by Christie's Hong Kong.

Order of value ranging from a classic bag to the most sought-after

Reasons to sell a Hermès bag

The Birkin is a timeless bag, still in high demand on the auction market. Buyers are willing to pay unheard-of sums, as the house has made the it bag a rare item and almost impossible to obtain new.

At Hermès, you have to wait at least five years to hope to one day own this much sought-after bag.

The same goes for the Kelly, which is just as rare and can fetch prices as high as the Birkin.

You need to consider its condition, originality, the materials from which it was made (ostrich leather, calfskin, aligator, canvas), but also whether it's a limited edition or not.

Rock collections are making a strong comeback among the most sought-after bags, with the nineties (90s) trend once again invading the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week. 

The most famous it bags 

The story of Hermès' Birkin begins in 1980, on a flight from Paris to London. Jane Birkin, traveling with her daughter Lou Doillon at the time, complained on the plane that her handbag was impractical for storing Lou's baby bottles.

Then Jean-Louis Dumas, then artistic director of Hermès, overhears Jane and introduces himself to her. The actress challenges Dumas to design her ideal bag. They worked on it at regular intervals for four years.

In 1984, the first Birkin was born, given to Jane by the house as a gift. One of the actress's Birkins was resold in 2021 by Bonhams in London for charity. As soon as the bag was created, it was an immediate success.

As for the Kelly, it was renamed by the Hermès house after the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, used this model when exiting a plane to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi.  

Learn more about the history of the house

A timeless effervescence 

If Hermès bags are so highly prized today, it's because they're timeless, in addition to being practical and elegant. They're highly prized by buyers willing to put a lot of money into them because it's a luxury bag but without any big visible inscription or logo that might make the name of the house recognizable.

It's also a bag that lasts over time, thanks to the quality of the leather and metals used in its manufacture. Other houses don't put so much effort into the choice of their materials and the assembly process of their bags.

These bags dress up and transform any outfit, and can be worn in all circumstances, thanks to their straight curves and practicality.

Limited editions like the Birkin All Black, the Crocodile Nilotocus Himalaya, the Birkin Sellier Faubourg, the Birkin Rock or the Birkin Shadow reach absolute auction records.

They are all the more sought-after by buyers as it is almost impossible to obtain one of these bags in a boutique, access being even more limited than for classic bags.

Promoting the bags

Many international celebrities help maintain the reputation of the Hermès house by sporting these iconic accessories.

Among them are Victoria Beckham, who is often seen with Birkins in a variety of colors and materials, emphasizing their status as collector's items. Kim Kardashian is also a big fan of Hermès bags, which she regularly posts on social networks, reinforcing their image as a symbol of success.

Other stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Jessica Parker add to the legend by proudly wearing these bags, contributing to their aura of desirability and value on the luxury market.

These celebrities, through their fame and influence, play a key role in elevating the status of Hermès bags, transforming them into timeless icons of the fashion world.

Recognizing an authentic Hermès bag

The counterfeit market is increasingly strong in manufacturing various bags passing them off as luxury bags. Ononline platforms, the resale of these items is steadily increasing, and many customers are being tricked.

This is why, even if techniques exist to recognize a real bag, including looking at the seams, whether the bag stands up when put down (a Kelly for example even in poor condition stands up), the typography of the signature and the spacing of the letters, metalized parts, or even the inscription of the serial number inside, expertise is paramount.

Know the true value of your bag

If you happen to own a Hermès bag or think you might, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and licensed auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your bag, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you wish to sell your property, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.