Larger Hermès Birkin Bags are Coming Back
As fashion trends take a noticeable shift toward larger and larger bags, the Hermès market is following suit. Prior to 2013, the Birkin 35 dominated the market, the ultimate size for women all over the world. Since then, tastes have shifted dramatically and the Hermès Birkin 25 reigns supreme. Its smaller sister, the Mini Kelly 20 even more so! While these small bags have experienced stratospheric rises in value in recent years, the Birkin 35 and Birkin 40 bags of the world have been climbing steadily back towards their pre-mini-mania values. That being said, the prices of these larger bags at auction are still well below those of smaller Birkin and Kelly bags. Insiders believe its a great time to buy Birkin 35 and Birkin 40 bags at auction.
Crocodile Birkin 35 Bags
Back when the Hermès Birkin 35 bag was the most popular, the Birkin 35 Shiny Porosus Crocodile Birkin was the ultimate status symbol. Hermes colors, which sing on leather, erupt into symphonies against the juicy scales of crocodile that has been buffed to a near-mirror finish using a flat agate stone. The lack of glazing allows these colors to appear stronger and more luscious than otherwise. The combination of shiny Vert Emerald with Gold hardware has been considered for a long time one of the best iterations of the Hermès Birkin ever created. Currently retailing for over $60,000 according to some sources, 35cm Crocodile Birkin bags have continued to decline in value at auction for nearly a decade. So far in 2022 they have averaged close to half their current retail price. As trends shift back towards big bags, it seems likely collectors will look back on this period as a golden age for acquiring crocodile Birkin 35 bags at great prices.
Birkin 40 Bags
While Hermès Birkin 40 bag may have a reputation as being the ‘Man’s Birkin’ there are many women who absolutely love them. They’re big and bold and perfect as a weekend bag or work day tote. Their value at auction has remained consistently under that of Birkin 35 bags, despite their higher retail price (reportedly around $13,000 today). Likewise, their value has rebounded in recent years. Far more scarce on the secondary market than Birkin 35 bags, their rarity can drive collectors who find it hard to pass up the chance to acquire personally appealing examples when they appear.
JPG Shoulder Birkin Bags
Designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier and named with his initials, the Hermès JPG Shoulder Birkin was introduced in 2004, Gaultier’s first year as Creative Director at Hermès. The JPG Birkin is 42cm across with exaggerated handles, the JPG Birkin was designed to look like a Birkin sliced in half. Produced primarily in Clemence leather, rare JPG Birkins can be found in Ostrich or Crocodile as well. Updated in 2010 to include interior zip and slip pockets, the JPG Birkin II is also slimmer and replaces the classic round Birkin hardware with the square-spindle HAC hardware. By the time of their discontinuation in 2014, leather JPG Birkins retailed for close to $11,000, more than most other leather Birkin bags at the time, but their value on the secondary market has stayed around or under half that for years. In recent seasons prices for these bags have been on the rise, and the days of finding JPG Birkins for under $7,000 may soon be over.
