Original Hermès Birkin Prototype Heads Sotheby’s Live Auction in Paris, July 2025
The original Hermès Birkin prototype, created in 1984 and owned by Paris collector Catherine B., goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s live auction during Paris Couture Week, highlighting its unmatched cultural and fashion significance.
The iconic original Hermès Birkin bag is set to make headlines again, this time under the hammer at a live auction during Paris Couture Week on July 10, 2025. After electrifying crowds at Sotheby’s Paris, Hong Kong, and New York galleries, this priceless prototype—created in 1984 and credited with launching the world’s most coveted handbag line—will finally be sold in person at Sotheby’s Paris headquarters.
Owned since 2000 by Paris collector Catherine B., the original Birkin is unlike any commercial model: featuring seven unique design details, including a wide bottom and a fixed shoulder strap. It’s the Holy Grail of handbags, a singular artifact that catapulted Jane Birkin from style icon to legend.
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Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi, said the auction will feature roughly 30 lots, including vintage pieces by Azzedine Alaïa, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano. The event promises to be a landmark moment for collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike, with a public viewing from July 3 to 9.
The original Birkin has also been celebrated in museum exhibitions worldwide, including MoMA in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, further cementing its status beyond mere fashion.
Though Sotheby’s is keeping the estimate under wraps, experts hint the bag could surpass previous auction records for handbags, joining the ranks of rare cultural artifacts with “magical provenance.” This isn’t just a bag—it’s a one-of-a-kind piece of fashion history, and the auction promises a fiercely competitive bidding battle.
Collectors, museums, and trophy hunters alike are expected to vie for this emblem of luxury, craftsmanship, and celebrity heritage. Whoever wins the paddle on July 10 will own a piece of style immortality.
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