Who Bought 'The' Birkin For 10 Million Dollars?
Who Bought 'The' Birkin
The first-ever Hermes bag went to an unidentified Japanese "private collector" after an intense bidding by nine candidates vying for the exclusive piece. According to Sotheby's, the "private collector" bid for the Birkin on the phone from Japan.
Jane Birkin's original Birkin just sold at auction for €7M (€8.5M after fees) pic.twitter.com/Sy6Lk6EQr6
— millie (@milldealss) July 10, 2025
Since the Birkin sold for 10 million dollars, Social Media has gone into a meltdown trying to find out who the 'anonymous buyer' from Japan is. Some pointed out that the buyer apparently "has over 80 pieces - 30 of which are rare or exotic leather".
A report on Japan Times said that Valuence Japan, a Tokyo-based luxury goods reseller, confirmed that it was the buyer.
Valuence Japan is a key subsidiary of Valuence Holdings Inc., and was established in 2011 that specialises in the reuse business. The company primarily buys, auctions, and sells luxury brand goods, precious metals, watches, bags, jewelry, antiques, art objects, and other valuable items both within Japan and internationally.
It also operates multiple retail stores in Japan, offering rare and one-of-a-kind pre-owned luxury items. It also runs online and offline auction platforms, including 'STAR BUYERS AUCTION,' which allows international participation.
The original Birkin bag was made for British and French actress, singer and designer Jane Birkin.
The Most Expensive Bag Ever Sold At An Auction
As per Forbes, the Hermes handbag became the most expensive handbag ever sold at an auction. It went for $8.2 million before fees.
Previously, the record for the most expensive handbag sold at an auction was set by a diamond-encrusted crocodile skin Hermes Kelly 28. It fetched $513,000 million at Christie's in Hong Kong in 2021.
Two Auctions Before This
Sotheby's official website claims that the original Hermes bag had been sold twice since Jane Birkin first auctioned it in 1994, with the proceeds going to an AIDS charity.
The first-ever Birkin bag is saddle-stitched and comes in a jet black shade. It is made entirely of leather and consists of gold hardware, contributing to its extra dose of regal charm.
The Story Of The First Birkin
The OG Birkin, stuff of legends for four decades, was made as a pure 'utility' bag for actress Jane Birkin.
About four decades ago, Jane Birkin and the then-head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, had a chance meeting on a Paris-London flight. Jane told Jean that she was unable to find a bag suited to the needs of a young mother, like her. The Birkin was sketched on an air-sickness bag, and the Dumas took it home to create the world's most famous handbag.
That's how the Hermes bag was born in 1984, with enough room to keep even baby bottles.
The Birkin Isn't For Everyone
The Hermes bag, produced in limited numbers, has maintained an aura of exclusivity. The accessory is loved by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and the Kardashians.
Sotheby's global head of handbags, Morgane Halimi, explained what the Birkin bag means in the fashion universe. She said, "There are rare moments in the world of fashion when an object transcends trends and becomes a legend. Jane Birkin's Original Birkin bag is such a moment."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Tech company CEO resigns after controversy over video captured at Coldplay concert
The IT company CEO captured in a widely circulated video showing him embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert has resigned. Andy Byron resigned from his job as CEO of Cincinnati-based Astronomer Inc., according to a statement posted on LinkedIn by the company on Saturday (July 19, 2025). 'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' the company said in its post on LinkedIn. The move comes a day after the company said that Mr. Byron had been placed on leave and the board of directors had launched a formal investigation into the jumbotron incident, which went viral. A company spokesman later confirmed in a statement to AP that it was Mr. Byron and Astronomer chief people officer Kristin Cabot in the video. The short video clip shows Mr. Byron and Ms. Cabot as captured on the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during a Coldplay concert on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). Lead singer Chris Martin asked the cameras to scan the crowd for his 'Jumbotron Song,' when he sings a few lines about the people the camera lands on. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy,' he joked. Internet sleuths identified the man as the chief executive officer of a U.S.-based company and the woman as its chief people officer. Pete DeJoy, Astronomer's cofounder and chief product officer, has been tapped as interim CEO while the company conducts a search for Byron's successor. It's easy to miss, but most concert venues have signs informing the audience that they could be filmed during the event. Look for them on the walls when you arrive and around the bar areas or toilets. It's common practice especially when bands like to use performances for music videos or concert films. The venue in this case, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, also has a privacy policy online which states: 'When you visit our location or attend or participate in an event at our location, we may capture your image, voice and/or likeness, including through the use of CCTV cameras and/or when we film or photograph you in a public location.' 'They probably would have got away with it if they hadn't reacted,' said Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern School of Business. And by the time the alleged identities emerged on social media, it hit a classic nerve around 'leaders acting like the rules don't apply to them,' she added. Still, Mr. Taylor and others stress how quickly such a video lead to an internet search to find the people involved — and note that it's important to remember that such 'doxing' isn't just reserved for famous people. Beyond someone simply spotting a familiar face and spreading the word, technological advances, such as the rising adoption of artificial intelligence, has made it easier and faster overall to find just about anyone in a viral video today. 'It's a little bit unsettling how easily we can be identified with biometrics, how our faces are online, how social media can track us — and how the internet has gone from being a place of interaction, to a gigantic surveillance system,' said Mary Angela Bock, an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media. 'When you think about it, we are being surveilled by our social media. They're tracking us in exchange for entertaining us.'
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Andy Byron, Astronomer CEO caught in Coldplay kiss cam scandal, resigns
Andy Byron has resigned as CEO of AI company Astronomer, days after a viral video showed him and the company's HR chief, Kristin Cabot, on a stadium 'kiss cam' during a Coldplay concert near video, which captured the pair appearing to dodge the camera while closely embracing, triggered widespread speculation online, including rumours of an extramarital lead singer Chris Martin, confused by the moment, remarked, 'Either they're having an affair or they're very shy.' The incident quickly gained attention across social In a statement released Saturday, Astronomer confirmed Byron's resignation: 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.'Earlier in the week, the company said Byron had been placed on leave and an interim CEO was appointed. Astronomer also clarified that contrary to online claims, the woman in the video was not Vice President of Human Resources Alyssa company stated it remains committed to its core values and has initiated an internal review of the BYRON-KRISTIN CABOT SCANDALUS-based AI company Astronomer found itself at the centre of online attention after an incident involving its CEO, Andy Byron, went viral. During a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Byron was caught on the kiss cam hugging the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin pair were shown on the stadium's big screen before quickly ducking out of view. The video quickly went viral and was watched millions of times on social after, they were identified as Byron, who is married to marketing professional Megan Kerrigan, and Cabot, who is married to Andrew Cabot, the CEO of Privateer Rum. The video sparked widespread speculation and led to both executives being placed on administrative leave by the company pending an internal ABOUT ANDY BYRON & KRISTIN CABOTAndy Byron had been leading Astronomer as CEO since July 2023. The New York-based software firm is known for its flagship platform, Astro, which helps businesses manage data workflows using Apache Cabot joined Astronomer in November 2024 as Chief People Officer, overseeing the company's HR operations, including employee engagement, workplace culture, and career the buzz surrounding their recent public appearance, neither Byron nor Cabot has made any public comment on the viral video.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sand shortage hits real estate, govt infra projects across state
1 2 Ranchi: The National Green Tribunal 's ( NGT ) ban on sand mining from June 10 to October 15 for monsoon has led to a sand crisis across the state, severely affecting construction work in both govt and private sectors. The restriction, aimed at curbing environmental degradation during the monsoon season, has led to an acute shortage of sand, causing prices to surge exorbitantly. With sand supply halted, ongoing infrastructure projects, including road development, housing schemes, and public utility construction, have either slowed down or come to a complete standstill. Private builders and contractors are also bearing the brunt of the shortage. Many real estate projects have been delayed, leading to cost overruns and growing frustration among investors and homebuyers alike. Sand mining from riverbeds stopped in Jharkhand on June 10 in accordance with the NGT order. A Ranchi-based contractor who builds buildings for state govt, Rohit Agarwal, claimed, "Sand shortage have forced work to come to a halt. Unavailability of sand is causing delays in construction which would eventually lead to delay in completion of projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo A few projects are ongoing by some contractors who have their own sand stock otherwise a lot of projects are on halt." The president of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Paresh Gattani, said, "Sand shortage across the state is creating major inconveniences. Price of sand has become exorbitantly high and businessmen are procuring sand from Bihar." Within the span of a month, rates of sand have increased at least Rs 10,000- 15,000 per truck. "Before the ban was, it was around Rs 40,000 for a truck, which has now become Rs 50,000- 55,000 a truck of sand from Bihar," said Vikash Kumar, a businessman. State mines director, Rahul Kumar Sinha, said, "Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation has a stock of around 80 lakh cubic feet of sand and parties needing sand can procure it through its website."
