Christie’s first Himalayan handbag auction is underway

One look at the beautiful grey leather fading into white, resembling the snow-capped Himalayas, and I knew why lovers of the Himalaya Birkin and its sister bag, the Himalaya Kelly, are willing to pay upwards of $200,000 for what some might think is just a bag.

Birkin is an iconic bag. It is made in such a way that it will stand the test of time. It is handmade by very skilled craftsmen in the same way Hermes makes saddles. Rachel Koffsky, SVP, International Head of Department for Handbags Accessories at Christie stells me that it is an iconic model that will not go out of style, even as I admire some of the stunning bags going up for auction at Handbags Online: The New York Edit Bidding for 250 lots starts on November 28 and is on until December 9th. The sale includes bags from Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and others.

The highlight is a matte white Himalayan Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourn Kelly 35 with 18 k white gold and diamond hardware. It has an estimated price of $200,000 -- $300,000. It is considered the most collectible bag in the world. We sold it for up to $500,000. Koffsky says we hold the record for the most expensive Himalayan Kelly sold at auction.

The Himalaya Kelly and Himlaya Birkin are crafted from Nile crocodile hide. The Himalayan designation does not apply to the origin of the bag, but rather to the delicate gradation of the colour. The smoky grey fades into a pearly white, resembling the snow-capped Himalayas. The process of dyeing a crocodile hide is time-consuming and exponentially more difficult as the shades lighten — to create the immaculate white of the snow and the gradation to rocky grey requires great skill and a fine eye.

In June 2018, a Himalaya Birkin with an 18 carat white gold, diamond-encrusted lock sold for 162,500 at Christie's London, becoming the most expensive handbag ever in a European auction. This record was broken at the end of the year when a matte Himalayanus crocodile diamond Birkin with 18 k white gold and diamond hardware fetched 236,750 in London.

A rare matte white Himalayane Kelly 28 with palladium hardware fetched HK $2,750, 000 $355,000 in Hong Kong in May 2021.

Will more records be broken at The Handbags Online: The New York Edit? Bag collectors and enthusiasts will be watching closely.