Birkin Bag for 8.6 million – Mysterious buyer revealed

An extraordinary bidding duel ensued at an auction held by the venerable Sotheby's last Thursday. The very first prototype of the iconic Hermès Birkin bag was auctioned in Paris for an incredible €8.6 million. It is the highest price ever paid for a handbag.

The buyer was initially kept anonymous, but his identity has now been revealed. 42-year-old Shinsuke Sakimoto, President and CEO of Valuence Japan Inc., placed a bid by phone through a representative of his company.

Sakimoto is known for his strategy of not only trading luxury goods but also making them available to the public.

Sakimoto explained to the Japanese portal “Fashionsnap” that he did not want to hide the bag, but rather display it publicly – as a cultural heritage.

"The bag embodies Jane Birkin's freedom and originality—values we share," he said. His company focuses on a combination of sustainability and transparency in the luxury segment.

The bag dates back to 1984 and was co-designed by British actress Jane Birkin. It has changed hands twice before: in 1994, Birkin herself auctioned it off for a French AIDS charity, and again in 2000 at Poulain-Le Fur. Most recently, the collector's item belonged to Frenchwoman Catherine B., who has now parted ways with it.