10 Most Expensive Handbags in the World- From Hermès to Mouawad

Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse – $3.8 Million

Taking its inspiration from one of the world’s most epic tales of romance, intrigue, and fantasy, the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse incorporates 4,517 diamonds (105 yellow, 56 pink, and 4,356 colourless) with a total weight of 381.92 carats. This bejewelled masterpiece was hand-crafted by ten highly skilled artisans working for a total of 8,800 hours. In 2010 the Guinness World Records certified the piece as the most valuable handbag in the world.

Hermès Kelly Rose Gold Crocodile Bag– $2 Million

French luxury brand Hermès in collaboration with shoe designer and jeweller Pierre Hardy, Hermès released this bag which is made out of solid rose gold moulded to resemble a crocodile leather and encrusted with a total of 1,160 diamonds which sold for $ 2 Million.

Originally called ‘Sac à dépêches’, this bag would go on to achieve worldwide recognition 20 years later, when in 1956 Princess Grace Kelly used her ‘Sac à dépêches’ to shield her baby bump from the paparazzi. In an early instance of what might today be described as ‘viral marketing’, Hermès received so many requests for ‘The Kelly Bag’, as it became immediately known, that it was renamed in honour of the princess.

Hermes Birkin Bag by Ginza Tanaka – $1.4 Million

Japanese designer Ginza Tanake made the body for this Hermes Birkin bag with 100% platinum, which is such a hard material to work with which makes it unique from the get go. As if this wasn’t fascinating enough, she adorned it with 2,ooo diamonds which equals a whopping  164 carats and an 8 carat pear shaped shimmering diamond. Both the strap and the 8 carat diamond  can be detached and used separately.

Chained’d Ancre Bag – $1.4 Million

For the 2012 ”  Hermes Haute Bijouterie” collection, jeweller Pierre Hardy wanted to pay tribute to Hermes bags. It features several white gold studs which were strategically placed all over the bag and it was encrusted with 1,160 pieces of diamonds. The diamonds have a combined weight of 33.94 carats. The chain used to create this bag was worked on for 2 years. The Hermes Haute Bijouterie collection are collectable items because there are only three pieces made.

Lana Marks Cleopatra Clutch – $400,000

The Cleopatra Clutch or famously known as The Oscar “It” bag was originally designed for A-List stars attending the Academy Awards, and  handcrafted in northern Italy by highly skilled artisans. Lana Marks produces only one Cleopatra bag every year, made of metallic silver alligator skin and a clasp with 1,500 black and white diamonds in 18-carat white gold. Some of her clutches are named after A list celebrities who have dorned her clutches on red carpets for years – Helen Mirren Cleopatra Clutch, Kate Winslet Cleopatra Clutch, Angelina Jolie Cleopatra Clutch and many others.

Niloticus Crocodile Himalaya Birkin – $379,000

This 35cm Himalayan Birkin is possibly the rarest and most desirable handbag in the world. This bag features a subtle coloration, done in Nilo Crocodile, that is meant to evoke images of the majestic Himalayan mountains. This dyeing process takes many painstaking hours to complete, as the lighter the hue, the more difficult the process. That coloration is paired perfectly with Palladium Hardware.. Niloticus crocodile skin is created by polishing the spots with agate for a “Lisse Finish” to the leather of crocodile originating from Africa. Niloticus means Nile River.

The take-home-price of that Himalaya, which boasted 18 karat gold buckles and strap loops encrusted with 205 diamonds, According to Christie’s, there is currently a six-year waiting list to acquire a new Himalaya Birkin bag, which takes at least 48 hours to create.

Chanel “Diamond Forever” Handbag – $261,000

The deluxe version of this classic Chanel bag appeared with 13 pieces to this limited edition collection. The ‘Diamond Forever”  Handbag is made of milky matte white alligator leather featuring a CC turn lock closure replete with a dazzling 334 diamonds mounted in 18K White Gold hardware totalling in weight at an astonishing 3.56 carats. Chanel has made only 13 of these bags.

“This is the bag that shook the luxury world in 2008 when it was announced that Chanel would release a limited edition series of classic flap bags,” said Diane D’Amato, Director of Luxury Accessories at Heritage Auctions. “These bags were dubbed the ‘Diamond Forever’ bags and this auction gives collectors an eminently rare opportunity.”

Fuchsia Diamond-Studded Hermes Birkin – $222,000

The Birkin by Hermès is one of the world’s most popular bags. In 2015, this hot pink bag with 18 karat gold and diamond elements was sold at auction by an anonymous seller from Hong Kong. Created from authentic crocodile leather and dyed a perfect shade of fuchsia pink, the record-breaking  Hermès Birkin bag features diamond-studded embellishments and 18K white gold hardware.

Hermès Exceptional Collection Shiny Rouge H Porosus Crocodile 30 cm Birkin Bag – $203,150

Crocodile Birkin with its diamond-encrusted hardware is one of the most elusive and expensive collector’s items in the world. This blue crocodile Hermes Birkin handbag managed to crack our top 10 list, fetching a whopping £125,000 during the first-ever Christie’s dedicated handbag sale in Mayfair, London. With this, it managed to smash European records for the priciest handbag sold, Thousands of online bidders tried to get their hands on this Birkin handbag with white gold and 18-karat diamonds, with an anonymous buyer taking this prized possession.

Blue Crocodile Hermes Birkin Handbag – $150,000

Unlike the other bags in this list, this bag is not designed with diamonds and features silvery-white palladium hardware which is a very rare and lustrous white metals which adds value to bags like this. Not that it’s stopping bidders from snatching it up at a record- setting price.