The Hermès Himalayan Birkin trades from around $250,000 USD, with auction and private resale prices climbing past $300,000. A diamond version sold for over $400,000 in 2017. Prices stay high because the bag is nearly impossible to buy at retail and Hermès has never revealed how many exist.
How much does a Himalayan Birkin cost?
The Himalayan is among the rarest and most sought after bags in the world, which pushes every price tier upward. The retail price varies depending on the size, but because of the extreme scarcity, exact retail prices are not publicly known, and the difficulty of obtaining one makes the bag nearly impossible to get in store.
| Channel | Price seen |
|---|---|
| Resale market | From $250,000 USD |
| Auctions and private resale | Up to $300,000+ |
| Diamond version, 2017 | Over $400,000 USD |
| Retail | Varies by size, exact figures not public |
The Hermès edit
Shop Hermès
Why is the Himalayan Birkin so expensive?
The process to create a Himalayan Birkin is very precise and partly secretive. To create the matte white coloration, the craftsman must begin by finding a naturally light skin, which in itself is a complicated job. Once selected, the hide is dry salted to preserve the material, soaked to clean the skin, limed for descaling and de-limed to prepare it for pickling. It is then chrome tanned, which turns the organic material inorganic and makes the skin more durable. After that, the hide is shaved and degreased to thin it out, re-tanned to soften it and make it easier to work with, and finally dried. Only then does the dyeing process begin, and that part is highly guarded and a mystery to most people.
How rare is a Himalayan Birkin?
The quantity out there is unknown. Estimations have been made based on the ones circulating the resale market, but no one knows the exact amount produced, which makes the Himalayan a very rare investment piece to find. The difficulty of obtaining one keeps the bag practically out of boutiques, and when examples do surface, they move fast.
Where can you find a Himalayan Birkin for sale?
The resale and consignment market is where Himalayans realistically change hands. Luxe Du Jour sold a Himalayan Birkin within 24 hours of listing it, and since clients are the top priority, the CEO flew into Vancouver to hand deliver the bag to the client, who was thrilled to add the most desired Birkin to her collection. That example says a lot about how this bag behaves: scarcity sets the price, and demand sets the pace.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Himalayan Birkin cost?
Expect upward of $250,000 USD on the resale market, with auction and private sales climbing past $300,000 depending on size and provenance.
What was the highest Himalayan Birkin sale mentioned?
In 2017, a diamond version sold for over $400,000 USD, the highest figure cited in the original reporting on the style.
Why is the Himalayan Birkin so hard to find?
Production numbers are unknown, the dyeing process is secretive, and the bag is nearly impossible to buy in store, so only a handful surface each year.
See the wider story in the holy grail guide to the Himalayan Birkin and the world's most expensive Hermès Birkins, or browse authenticated Hermès bags at Luxe Du Jour.
