Birkin bag costs are sinking at public sale regardless of high-profile gross sales

Regardless of two latest blockbuster auctions for Birkin baggage, total public sale costs for the enduring Hermès purses are falling, in accordance with a research.

Earlier this month, a Birkin bag beforehand owned by Jane Birkin offered at Sotheby’s for $2.9 million, effectively above its high-end estimate of $440,000. The Black Field Birkin 40 with palladium {hardware} was signed by the actress, who owned the bag between 2003 and 2007. The public sale adopted the July sale of her authentic Birkin bag, which additionally offered at Sotheby’s for $10 million.

But, past baggage as soon as owned by Birkin, public sale costs for secondhand Birkin and Kelly baggage have been sliding from pandemic highs, in accordance with Bernstein. The analysis agency’s Secondhand Pricing Tracker gauges the resale premium — or the public sale sale value of a bag in comparison with its authentic retail value — and is weighted by quantity. A resale premium of 1.5, as an illustration, means a bag that initially retailed for $10,000 offered at public sale for $15,000.

In keeping with the worth tracker, the common resale premium for Birkins and Kellys has fallen from 2.2 instances in 2022 to 1.4 instances in November. The Birkin Togo 30 is now reselling for a median of 1.0 the unique retail value, that means no premium to its authentic sale value, down from 1.7 in 2022 and 1.9 in 2018.

Luxurious specialists say aspirational luxurious shoppers are dealing with new pressures from inflation and a slowing job market, that means fewer Birkin consumers at public sale. The rising provide of secondhand Birkins available on the market and rising numbers of secondhand luxurious resellers can be placing stress on costs.

“There was a sobering up from the post-Covid euphoria,” mentioned Luca Solca, a Bernstein luxurious analyst. “We’re atoning and normalizing from that increase.”

Granted, the overwhelming majority of Birkin and Kelly purses are nonetheless promoting for greater than their authentic retail value, proving that demand outstrips provide and that many shoppers desire to pay a premium to keep away from Hermès’ opaque gross sales course of and wait instances for high baggage.

A report from Rebag, which sells pre-owned Birkins and different luxurious items, mentioned that Hermès “dominated the bag class” in 2025 with eight bag types promoting for above their authentic sale value.

Birkin purses have been promoting for a premium of 122%, or 22% over the unique retail value. Whereas Birkin costs have leveled off over the previous two years, failing to maintain tempo with retail value will increase, resale costs have practically doubled since 2015, the report mentioned.

Solca mentioned that even when their public sale costs fall, Hermès nonetheless holds the highest perch in luxurious.

“What counts is the rating within the pecking order, by way of shopper desirability,” he mentioned. “I see Hermès firmly within the high spot.”