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 be happy to offer you their expert appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your bag, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Then, if you want to sell your bag, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.

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

Rating and value of a Hermès bag

Today, Hermès handbags are the most expensive and famous in the world.

Their success is beyond question. The price at which they sell on the art and auction markets ranges from €500 to €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 realized by Christie's Hong Kong.

Order of value from classic to most popular bag

Reasons to sell a Hermès bag

The Birkin is a timeless bag, always in demand on the auction market. Buyers are prepared to pay unprecedented sums, as the house has made the it bag a rare item that is almost impossible to obtain new.

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

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

Take into account its condition, its originality, the materials from which it was made (ostrich leather, calfskin, aligator, canvas), and whether or not it's a limited edition.

Rock collections are back among the most popular bags, as the nineties (90s) trend once again invaded the catwalks at Paris Fashion Week. 

The most famous it bags 

The story of Le Birkin d'Hermès begins in 1980, on a flight from Paris to London. Jane Birkin, traveling with her daughter Lou Doillon, complained on the plane that her handbag was too small to hold Lou's baby bottles.

It was then that Jean-Louis Dumas, then Artistic Director of Hermès, heard Jane and introduced himself to her. The actress challenged 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 as a gift by the company. One of the actress's Birkins was resold in 2021 by Bonhams in London for charity. The bag was an instant success.

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

Learn more about the history of the house

Timeless effervescence 

If Hermès bags are so popular today, it's because they're timeless, practical and elegant. They are highly prized by buyers prepared to spend a lot of money on them, because they are luxury bags, but without any large 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 brands don't put so much effort into the choice of materials and the assembly process.

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

Limited editions such as the Birkin All Black, the Crocodile Nilotocus Himalaya, the Birkin Sellier Faubourg, the Birkin Rock and the Birkin Shadow set absolute auction records.

They're all the more popular with buyers as it's almost impossible to get one of these bags in-store, as access is even more limited than for classic bags.

Bag promotion

A number of international celebrities help maintain the reputation of Hermès by wearing these iconic accessories.

Among them is Victoria Beckham, who is often seen with Birkin bags in a variety of colors and materials, underlining 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 personalities, 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, manufacturing a variety of bags and passing them off as luxury items. On online platforms, the resale of these items continues to grow, and many customers are being tricked.

That's why, even if there are techniques for recognizing a genuine bag, such as looking at the seams, whether the bag stands up when you put it down (a Kelly, for example, even in poor condition, will stand up), the typography of the signature and the spacing of the letters, the metallic parts, or even the inscription of the serial number inside, expertise is essential.

Know the true value of your bag

If you happen to own a Hermès bag, or are thinking of buying one, don't hesitate to request a free evaluation using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your bag, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you want to sell your property, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.