Ten Most Expensive Handbags

Most Expensive Handbags and Purses in the World

Which are the Most Expensive Bags and Purses in the World ?

Louis Vuitton was the first manufacturer of "designer bags" and he created a fashion that has been with us ever since. I consider anything over $1,000 to be expensive for a handbag but some people are willing to pay tens of thousands or millions. So just in case you have a few thousand dollars to spare here are the top ten most expensive handbags ever sold.

Top 10 Most Expensive Women's Handbags

1. The Mouawad's 1001 Nights Diamond Purse - $3.8 million

The new and official most expensive handbag in the world - the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse. The purse is handcrafted from 18kt gold with 4,517 diamonds (4,356 colorless, 105 yellow, 56 pink) with a total weight of 381.92 carats. Made by 10 artisans who worked on it for a total of 8,800 hours.

2. The Hermes Birkin bag created by Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka - $1.9 million

This bag was sold in 2008 for around $1.9 million made of platinum with over 2,000 diamonds. In addition to being a handbag you can also use the diamond strap as a necklace or bracelet. The bag has an 8-carat pear shaped diamond that can also be used separately

3. The Chanel "Diamond Forever" Classic Handbag - $261,000

The "Diamond Forever" handbag has 334 diamonds for a total of 3.56 carats, in 18-carat white gold. The shoulder straps are also made from white gold. There are only 13 available worldwide.

4. Lana Marks Cleopatra Bag - $250,000

Lana Marks produces one Cleopatra clutch for retail each year. The one in the picture is made of metallic silver alligator skin and a clasp with 1,500 black and white diamonds in 18-carat white gold. Lana only allows one star each year to carry her handmade diamond studded designs down the red carpet.

5. Urban Satchel Louie Vuitton Bag - $150,000

The Louie Vuitton Urban Satchel Bag is created from all sorts of urban junk but it doesn't actually exist, it was put together as a spoof by an artist called 14 ?

6. Hermes Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag - $120,000

Named after British singer/actress Jane Birkin. The clasp of this tote boasts 10 carats of white diamonds. The bag itself is made of crocodile. You can get cheaper versions sarting at around $5000

7. Leiber Precious Rose Bag - $92,000

The Precious Rose is in the shape of a perfect flower, - 1,016 diamonds totaling 42.56 carats, 1,169 pink sapphires and 800 tourmalines.
8. LV Tribute Patchwork Bag - $42,000

20 are available in Louis Vuitton stores in Europe and Asia but the 4 in the USA have already been sold.
9. Gadino Bag by Hilde Palladino - $38,470

This crocodile Gadino Bag from designer Hilde Palladino has 39 white diamonds in clasps of white gold.
10. Marc Jacobs Carolyn Crocodile Handbag - $38,000

One of Marc Jacobs' most popular bags. Purple crocodile skin, quilted with interior pockets and separators.

Spot Fake Coach Handbags

Designer Handbags - Video on How to Spot a Fake Coach Bag?

Coach bags are high quality and very popular but how to make sure you are not buying a fake or knock-off? In this video Pam explains how to spot the difference between a genuine Coach bag and a fake - in her charming southern accent.

Why buy a genuine Coach bag? Two reasons - they are high quality bags that will last a lifetime and they are not as expensive other designer bags such as Louis Vuitton or Gucci.




What to look out for when buying a Coach handbag?

1. Zipper should be high quality - they are designed to last a lifetime
2. Stitching must be perfectly straight everywhere
3. All letters must be perfectly symmetrical
4. There should be 2 rows of Cs
5. If there are signature prints they must be on the inside OR on the outside but not both
6. The hardware must be good quality nickel or brass and heavy
7. Any leather tag inside a Coach bag must have a serial number with letters and numbers
8. There should be no paper or plastic wrapping round the metal parts
9. Buckles must be tight-fitting
10. Dustbags are high quality and plain (no letters) 
11. The leather used in Coach bags is very thick and long-lasting - Coach handbags are made to last a lifetime

For information on Vuitton bags see - How to Spot a fake Louis Vuitton bag
See also How to Spot a Fake Radley Bag

Mulberry Alexa and Tillie Handbags

Designer Bags - Mulberry Alexa and Tillie with 20% Discount!

Mulberry is one of the great success stories in UK retailing, despite the economic hard times the world is going through.

Mulberry Alexa

It would appear that luxury goods and designer handbags are immune to the general woes. One of Mulberry's greatest successes is the Alexa (named after Alexa Chung) handbag and despite being just over 1 year old it is still very much sought after by handbag junkies.

The Alexa costs around £785 or $1200 if you are in the

 USA and a lot of Mulberry's success is due to the popularity of this bag, which was launched in January 2010. Sometimes selling over 350 a week. You can however get 20% reductions on Mulberry bags at certain specific stores if you buy 500 shares in the company. You need a special shareholder discount card which you can get from Mulberry's after you've bought your shares.

According to Mulberry's creative director, the recession actually helped in the Alexa's success in the UK at least, as British people turned to buying British. Also apparently women will spend money buying handbags and shoes rather than pay the rent!

There is also the argument that quality designer handbags are actually more of an investment than an expense as you can always sell them on, perhaps for more than you paid for them! 

Mulberry Tillie



Also according to Emma Hill, the next big thing after the Alexa is the Tillie a mid-sized, soft leather bag which capitalizes on being both utilitarian and luxury.

Further information on Mulberry handbags

Hermes Bags Prices

Hermes Bags - Prices are High but so is the Quality of the Bags

Hermès (pronounced airrr-mess in French) is a French fashion house established in 1837, now famous for their bags and other fashion goods. They specialize in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, ready-to-wear, and luxury goods. Its famous logo is of what is known as a "Duc carriage" with horse.




Thierry Hermes - Founder of Hermes

  The Hermès family were originally Protestant Germans, who moved to France in 1828. In 1837, Thierry Hermès established Hermès as a harness workshop, in the "Grands Boulevards" district of Paris, with the aim of supplying goods to European noblemen. He set about creating the finest wrought harnesses and bridles available to the carriage trade. The company gained fame in 1855, when it won the first prize in its class at the 1855 Exposition Universelle in Paris and the company has never looked back since.

Hermes' son Charles-Émile Hermès took over control from his father and in 1880 moved the shop to 24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, near the Palais de l'Elysée. The Hermès shop is still at this location today. The company catered to the elite of Europe, Russia, Asia, and the Americas.

Hermès now has 14 different product divisions which include leather, ties, scarves, women's fashion, menswear, watches, perfume, footwear, gloves, stationery, enamel, tableware, decorative arts, and jewelry.

Given that Hermes only use very high-quality materials and the best hand-craftsmanship the prices of Hermès goods are very high. For example a Hermès scarf may cost US$375, a tie may cost US$180, and a Kelly bag is in the region of US$6,900. Hermès is considered by some to be "the height of luxury with a nod to the house's equestrian heritage."

Hermès only employ one craftsperson on one handbag at a time, who hand-stitches each individual piece. Hermès production methods are therefore very labor-intensive and can take 18 to 24 hours to make. Each Kelly bag, for example, requires 18 hours of work by a single craftsman. Hermès' leathers include alligator, buffalo, crocodile, shark, lizard, oxen, calf, deer, goat, and ostrich.



Hermes Evelyne Bag



If a Hermès bag requires repair, owners are encouraged to bring the item back to their nearest Hermès store where it can be shipped to France for reconditioning or repair.



Popular bags include the Birkin bag, made famous by English actress Jane Birkin, the "Kelly bag", made popular by actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, the Constance shoulder bag preferred by Jacqueline Onassis. Kelly and Constance bags are still in high demand, and there used to be a one-year waiting list although since economic crisis in 2007 waiting lists have been eliminated, or reduced.

Some current Hermes handbags with prices :-

 

Evelyne Bag, silver and palladium hardware, café taurillon clemence leather,  outside pocket, adjustable strap,leather tab closure, perforated leather plaque, 11 1/4" x 12" x 2 1/2"

$2,625.00

Hermes Bag Victoria Fourre Tout

Victoria Fourre-Tout
Tote Bag, dark brown grizzly calfskin, ebony calfskin details. Canvas lining. Padlock, key holder and luggage tag. Measures 9"h x 13.8"w x 6.7"d. With handles, height is 17".

$5,400.00

Due to their popularity Hermes bags have given rise to numerous fakes and replicas - to see how to spot a fake Hermes bag click here - Hermes replica handbags


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Radley Bags Valentines Day Bags

Radley Bags Sale - Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

With Valentine's day just around the corner you may be scratching your head wondering what sort fo Valentine's day gift would be appropriate for your significant other. Radley Bags are currently offering significant savings in their designer handbag sale ! Their USA store is offering up to 40% off selected Radley bags and their UK store is offering up to 60% off !

It is worth point out that Radley bags are the best-selling UK designer handbags so they have a good reputation and are also of high quality - just make sure you get the genuine article not a fake or replica bag. For how to spot the difference see here - how to spot a fake Radley Bag

Radley Stella

Radley Stella Bag Sale

Soft textured suede in a structured scooped shape with contrasting leather trim. 2 large zip pockets - decorated with a liner and zig-zag stitch.

Buckles at the ends of the leather shoulder strap, with stitch pattern.
Dimension : W32 x H18 x D8.5 cm
Was £135 - on sale at 60% off - now £54








The Radley USA store is offering (amongst many other Radley bags) the
Radley Grosvenor Harris Tweed  Large Flapover Shoulder Bag

Radley Grosvenor Harris Tweed Flapover Shoulder Bag

To celebrate British craftsmanship and heritage, Radley has joined forces with Harris Tweed to design this original textured tweed - hand woven in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

The beautiful leather in three rich colors, is combined with Radley's tweed to create the best-selling Grosvenor satchel style. Each Radley Harris Tweed bag has the iconic Harris Tweed label to highlight authenticity.
Dimension : W13.8“ x H9.8 “ x D3.9 “
Was $398 now $199


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