Handbags & accessories are always winners

If you have thought for one second that the lockdown has people chilling in sweatpants, and not in the least bothered about shopping and luxury accessories, think again! Collectors are having a field day with online exhibits in art, wine, and believe it or not fashion accessories.

Christie’s online sale titled ‘Handbags & Accessories: Summer in the City’ proves just that. The New York sale which took place from the 14-28 July totaled at $2,266,750, achieving the highest total for an online handbag sale at Christie’s, with 88 per cent sold by lot and 117 per cent hammer compared to the low estimate. There was global participation with registered bidders from 29 countries and the sale attracted over 40 per cent first-time registrants and 34 per cent new bidders.

The top lot of the sale was an extremely rare Hermes Diamond Himalaya Birkin 25- the first-ever offered in a New York online sale-which realized $300,000, setting a new record for a handbag sold in the US and the highest price achieved for a handbag sold in any online-only auction.

Other notable results included a rare matte white Hermes Himalaya Birkin 30, which sold for $150,000; a delightful Hermes Mini Picnic Kelly 20 II that sold for $56,250; and a highly sought after limited-edition Hermes Bleu Marine Faubourg Birkin 20, which sold for $200,000 against a low estimate of $80,000. Additionally, strong prices were achieved for artist collaborations, Chanel runway accessories, and Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh designed limited edition pieces.