Used Hermès Birkin sells for $78,500 in London auction

A SECOND-HAND Hermès Birkin has smashed records at a sale at Christie's in London, becoming the priciest hand- bag ever sold by the famous auction house. The hammer fell on the 1998 Rouge Moyen alligator Birkin for an eye-watering £49,000 ($78,500) according to reports. The iconic Hermès Birkin bags have a cult celebrity following. Victoria Beckham is said to have 100 of the coveted bags in numerous colours, sizes and styles, including one embellished with a three carat diamond. It’s a collection that is valued at a cool $2.4 million. The world's most expensive handbags Eariler this year, Lady Gaga shocked fashionistas worldwide after deciding to scribble Japanese characters and add studs to her white Birkin and reality starlet Kim Kardashian reportedly splashed out on six of the extravagant totes recently (well, she did earn $US6 million this year). Named after actress and singer Jane Birkin, the classic totes new range in price from $US9,000 to $US150,000 and are custom-made for clients in the fashion house’s Parisian atelier. Even if you are willing to shell out the mega-bucks for a Birkin of your very own, you won’t get it until 2016- there’s a six year waiting list. "They’re more comparable to collectable works of art. We are talking about the absolute ¬pinnacle of heritage luxury,” Rebecca Lowthorpe, UK Elle magazine’s fashion features director, told The Daily Mail. "The animals from which they get the skins are virtually made by Hermès ! There are no machines in the production process, so we’re talking about tradesmen with 30 years of experience in the Hermes workshop, making one bag from start to finish." But, the record for the world’s most expensive handbag puts this Birkin's price tag in the shade. The Chanel “Diamond Forever” Classic bag can be yours for $US261,000 or the rare Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag (only four went on sale in the US) has a comparatively bargain basement price of $US42,000 according to Forbes. Read more:www.replicashermes.com