5 Things To Consider Before Buying a Hermes Handbag

The reigning queen of luxury handbags, Hermes has been long prized by luxury handbag lovers. Based on the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, luxury handbags were the top collectible investment of 2021 with a gain of 13%, a gain unmatched by other collectible investments or even the S&P 500 stock exchange index performance in 2021.

Hermes handbags are prized for their craftsmanship and exclusivity. Though not all Hermes handbags will give you the same investment returns that made Hermes top the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index. Here are the 5 what exactly you need to think about before buying a Hermes handbag as an investment.

#1 Select A Timeless Model: Choose a Birkin Or A Kelly

Out of all of the leather products which Hermes produces, there are only two that remain desired throughout the years: the Birkin and also the Kelly. Named following the actress Jane Birkin and Princess Lana turner, these classic handbag designs haven't changed ever since they were first produced. Much of the gain in luxury handbags on the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index was driven by the rise in the value of Hermes Birkins.

One reason why these handbags have retained (if not increased) their value is their exclusivity. Hermes is said to simply make only 12,000 Birkins annually and they are restricted to privileged customers. You can't be prepared to waltz right into a Hermes store and buy a Birkin out of the box. If you are a loyal Hermes customer, you might be invited to buy a Birkin or perhaps a Kelly, with respect to the availability.

The Birkin is easily the most famous of Hermes handbags, using the Kelly is really a close second. The Kelly is available in two versions: the Sellier and Retournes. The Kelly Sellier is much more structured as the Kelly Retournes includes a slouchier look. Both the Birkin and Kelly retain their value with time and therefore are highly sought-after within the resale market.

#2 Colour, Leather And Hardware Matters

Crocodile hide is recognized as a high-end material for any Hermes handbag. The Himalayan Birkin has been said to become the “Holy Grail” of Hermes handbags most abundant in expensive one being auctioned by Christie's in 2021 for HK$2,940,000 or about S$500,000. The Himalayan refers back to the subtle colouration of the crocodile hide which requires tremendous skill to achieve, using the grey fading into white, resembling the snow-capped Himalayas.

For an entry-level, you are very likely to pay for above S$16,000 for any first-hand leather Birkin. The most popular leathers for that Birkin would be the Togo, the Clemence and the Epsom. These leathers are relatively hard-wearing, scratch-resistant and easy to look after.

You can’t select a Birkin bag; if you're lucky, you're invited to purchase one. With all this exclusive nature of purchasing a Birkin, colour selection is often limited. The classic black Birkin can command reasonably limited within the resale market, particularly the black leather Birkin with gold hardware.

#3 Size Gets into And Out Of Fashion

Another consideration in selecting a Hermes Birkin or Kelly for investment is its size. While mini bags are currently highly popular, mini bags weren't well-regarded not too long ago when larger bags were fashionable. In general, avoid extremes in size (such as the mini bag trend and also the huge bag trend) when it comes to buying a bag for investment.

Medium to large bag sizes tend to be safe bets. This would be the 30 and 35 for the Birkin and 28, 32 and 35 for the Kelly. That said, there are other considerations in choosing the size of your bag. For example, Asians tend to prefer smaller sizes, thus a 25 Birkin may do better in the Asian resale market compared to the European resale market. The smaller Kelly Selliers are preferred for formal occasions, particularly in a color, leather and hardware that suits the formal look.

#4 Condition And keep Your Investment

No collectible investment will go without referring to maintaining the health of the collectible. If your Hermes handbag is made from among the 3 most widely used leathers (the Togo, the Clemence, the Epsom), they're likely to be relatively simple to look after. These leathers are more scratch-resistant when compared to other more delicate leathers that Hermes uses. Exotic leathers, such as crocodile hide, will require more care also it might not be smart to make use of the bag as an everyday carry if you intend to help keep it as being an investment

Humidity is always a problem for leather goods in Singapore, so you should have a dedicated storage solution, especially if you plan to keep your Hermes handbag in prime condition using the intention to resell. If your authentic Hermes handbag needs some love and attention, you may also take it towards the Hermes Spa (Hermes in-house bag conditioning and repair shop) where they can recondition your bag or even make more complex repairs such as replacing the handle.

#5 Authenticate Your Resale Purchase

One of the trickiest things about buying a Hermes handbag for investment is the authenticity from the handbag if you are buying from the second-hand market. You should always undergo a reputable reseller.

While Hermes does not authenticate or verify products sold outside of its stores, the resale market for Hermes handbags has established an environment where external experts can authenticate your potential Hermes buy for you. You can and should request for authentication just before purchase through reputable resellers or third-party authenticators. Although this is an additional cost over the high purchase price, it is a cost worth paying to make sure that your potential investment isn't a fake.