Hermès is one of the most popular designer brands when it comes to long-lasting, ultra-stylish, and highly investable handbags, but which handbags are the best for those seeking a good investment?
In this blog, we look at the Hermès Mini Kelly 2 as an investment piece and consider if vintage Hermès bags are really as good an investment as the preloved market would have you believe.
About the Hermès Mini Kelly 2
This bag may be small in size but as a handbag which retains its value, the day-to-night aesthetic and functionality of this bag make it one of the best on the market.
To look at the preloved market, the Hermès Mini Kelly is considered the top short-term investment handbag – mainly for its scarcity in the marketplace, the fact that they are hard to get hold of, and for the simple reason that it boasts the standard look and high-level quality that buyers expect from the Hermès brand.
The Hermès Mini Kelly 2 was designed to sit between the clutch bag market and the shoulder or day bag market – and while its interior size is very small, it can be carried from day to night seamlessly. It is a streamlined version of the Hermès Kelly and was brought out around 2016 – ticking all the boxes that the Hermès Kelly covers but in a much smaller version.
The intricacy of the size makes the detail of this bag all the more impressive – from the ornate clasp and metal detailing to the small feet which elevate the bag from any surface it is stood upright on.
How much does a Mini Kelly cost as new?
Due to the immense popularity of the Hermès Mini Kelly and the fact that Mini bags, in particular, are at the height of fashion right now, the retail cost of the Hermès Mini Kelly when purchased directly from the brand is £5,990.
How much will a Mini Kelly sell for on the preloved market?
The fact is, with the Mini Kelly so high in demand on the new and preloved market, even buying a Mini Kelly from Hermès and taking it directly to a preloved store like ours will increase your investment and enable you to see returns upwards of twice what you paid in-store.
Why is a vintage Kelly bag such a good long-term investment?
A long-term investment handbag is one which not only holds your money over time but could help you to see a substantial return on your investment later down the line. For luxury accessories buyers, this tends to mean storing the handbag in its box and keeping it in pristine condition for months or even years, waiting for the market to slow and demand to rise.
In terms of the Hermès collection of handbags, the best long-term investment option is a vintage Kelly bag – and there’s a very clear reason why.
Every year, Hermès increases their price by between 5 and 10% – meaning that a bag purchased for a set amount back in the 1950s would now be worth an incredible 1000% more than it was upon purchase 70 years ago.
To look at this in investment terms, the price increase on a Hermès Kelly which was purchased when the bags were first released would see a life-changing return on the original cost price.
Another interesting thing to note about the vintage market is that some of the designs and materials used were discontinued for large chunks of time – making pieces and products from past decades ever more coveted and rarer.
Are vintage Hermès bags durable?
You only have to look at some of the vintage Hermès Kelly bags on the preloved market to see just how durable well-kept bags are and can be. For example, a box calf vintage Kelly bag is highly durable thanks to its smooth outer finish – and that’s not all.
To look at and consider the craftsmanship from the 1950-1990s compared with that of today, it seems safe to say that the quality back then is likely even better – with finer attention to detail and only the very best manufacturers used to bring these bags to life.
In terms of the durability of your investment, a vintage Hermès Kelly bag from the 1950s which cost approximately £700 to purchase at the time would now be worth in the region of £10,000.
What colour should you buy?
You won’t be surprised to hear that no matter what Hermès handbag you purchase and invest in, there are some colours which are considered better than others when it comes to making a good investment. Neutral colours are typically much better for the resale market and will fetch much better returns compared with brighter colours which are harder to wear.
Not only that, but neutral colours are also best for those seeking a long-term investment to ensure that it remains stylish in the future, and even for those who want to use and wear their bag out and about.
Having said that, there are some specific colours which fetch high prices on the preloved market – namely the vert Jade shade of the Mini Kelly which plays into the idea of green as a lucky colour in some cultures.
How can you sell your Hermès bag for the best price?
From short-term investments to long-term strategies, a Hermès handbag is a great way to see an instant or later return on your purchase. If you’re looking to sell your Hermès handbag, then finding a reputable and authentic preloved dealer such as Love Luxury is undoubtedly the best way to not only get the best price but to ensure that your bag and the sale are handled with the utmost care.
For more advice on getting a formal valuation and selling your Hermès bag, get in touch or visit us in our boutique in Knightsbridge, London.
