A post on the Big Money blog about luxury items as an investment started a string of stories about Victoria Beckham's Birkin bag collection. The blogger at Big Money estimated that her collection could be worth as much as $2 million.
The Hermes Birkin bag is often touted as such an "investment." While classic in sensibility, the Birkin became a badge of excessive disposable income during the "Because I'm Worth It" era. Case in point: Pop icon Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckam reportedly owns about 100 of them, a collection perhaps worth $2 million. The more basic Birkin bags retail for between $6,000 and $7,000; Forbes listed a crocodile Birkin (with nearly 10 carats of diamonds on the hardware) as being one of the world's most extravagant handbags when it sold for $120,000 at auction house Doyle New York.
It's not clear exactly how much Posh's collection of Birkin bags is worth but it is certainly a big collection that is worth a lot of money. Paparazzi photos have shown her carrying many different Birkin bags including a diamond-encrusted Birkin bag called the Himilayan, which is said to be worth $120,000.
Luxist notes that there is a book called Bringing Home The Birkin about Michael Tonello, who has made money reselling Birkin bags to people who don't want to wait on the Hermes waiting list. The Boston Globe has a story about this Birkin hunter.
The Daily Maildiscusses the idea of Birkin bags as an investment. The bags actually depreciate in value but much more slowly than many luxury items. Part of the reason the Birkin bags depreciate in value slowly is because of the wait time at Hermes to get one. Hermes says they are working to reduce the wait time.
A spokeswoman for Hermès explained that the lengthy production times were due to a combination of the advanced craftsmanship involved in making the bag, and the limited availability of particular colours or skins.
Communications director Fiona Rushton said: 'If someone is looking for a classic Birkin bag - in a regular leather, colour and size - the lead time is significantly lower.
'It is not and has never been, Hermes intention to create an artificial waiting list. All long lead times experienced by customers are the consequence of capacity limitations or shortage in certain types, sizes or colours of skins.
'Over the last few years, Hermes has embarked on an ambitious program of hiring and training new craftsmen (and women) ... the production is now raising and we are happy to announce a significant reduction in lead time.'
For lucky owners, the sought-after bag will not depreciate in value like a car. Given the wait for a brand new version, second-hand boutiques and auction houses are able to charge a premium, so desperate are fashionistas to get their hands on the product.
Birkin Bags will retain more of their value than other bags but luxury handbags cannot be considered an investment because they generally decrease in value.
A 
