Bag a Hermes in London

THEY MAY be citizens of an egalitarian republic but no nation does exclusivity quite like the French. Not even money can guarantee a woman the Hermès handbag of her dreams because the company cleverly limits the production run of each model and colour variant.

The luxury goods manufacturer sells sinfully expensive handbags which in Ireland are sold only at a concession shop in Brown Thomas.

Women who collect these bags sometimes find that they never reach the top of waiting lists. Quelle horreur!As a result, a "secondary market" has opened up and the bags occasionally pop up at auction.

This morning in London a selection of the famous handbags will go on display at Christie’s saleroom in Old Brompton Road, South Kensington ahead of their auction next Wednesday, November 16th.

Some 60 examples in a range of colours, styles and exotic skins are featured with estimates starting at £1,500 (€1,751) and rising to £28,000 (€32,679).

But hammer prices could well go much higher.

Highlights include a 2006 fuschia-coloured, lizard skin Birkin handbag – named for the Anglo-French actor Jane Birkin which is estimated at £20,000-£24,000; and a 2006 mustard-yellow, pigskin leather Kelly bag, in the style favoured by the late Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, with a more modest estimate of £2,500-£3,500.

Christie’s spokeswoman, Leonie Pitts, said the auction offered “discerning fashion conscious females the perfect opportunity to brighten up their winter wardrobes”.

She described Hermès handbags as “the ultimate luxury fashion accessory . . . favoured by high profile celebrities and members of the fashion elite all over the world”.

Fans include Victoria Beckham, Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lindsay Lohan, Eva Longoria and Kim Kardashian.

Meanwhile, what Heritage Auctioneers of Dallas, Texas describe as “a beautiful example of one of the most exceptional handbags made”, is expected to sell for more than $80,000 (€58,669) at auction on December 6th.

The Hermès Diamond Birkin, featuring “diamond and white gold hardware” is, apparently, “one of the rarest, most sought-after and valuable bags in the world”.

It has a retail price of more than $140,000 (€102,643).

Matthew Rubinger, director of luxury accessories at Heritage Auctioneers, said the handbag “would make quite a Christmas for one savvy collector”.