The Hermès Birkin is a staple piece in the collection of both handbag lovers and investors alike – boasting a vibrant history, which is inspired and subsequently named after the actress Jane Birkin, whose own ideas and needs culminated in the now iconic design.
First brought to life in 1984, the history of the Hermès Birkin is one inspired by the bridging of functional design and optimal style – alleviating the bag of logos and unnecessary aesthetic details, and instead generating a staple piece which is elevated with useful features.
Since its inception and launch on the market, the Hermès Birkin has grown to become one of the most coveted and recognisable bags on the luxury market – and is available in a seemingly endless array of colours, finishes, and sizes.
Should I invest in an Hermès Birkin bag?
Owning an Hermès is no longer simply a case of owning a luxury handbag. In fact, getting your hands on an authentic and highly coveted Hermès Birkin bag is as much of a status symbol as it is a style decision – showcasing wealth and representing a dream which, due to exceptional demand and limited supply, remains unfulfilled for so many.
There are many reasons why Hermès Birkin bags make excellent investments, with the unique and hand-finished craftsmanship of each, combined with the exquisite material usage and long timespan involved in finishing each bag, contributing to the highly coveted status of each individual piece. The fact that they sell for so much money, and continue to increase in value, is optimised by the limited nature of not only each Hermès Birkin collection and design but also the product as a whole. It is believed that only 200,000 Hermès Birkin bags are in circulation; a stark contrast to the thousands more who would like to own one.
With that said, and with the Birkin such a reputable investment, let’s take a closer look at two of the most popular sizes.
Hermès Birkin 30
The Hermès Birkin 30 was the third in a run of four sizes that the brand created and released. Following the high standard set by the original 35 and then the slightly larger 40, the Birkin 30 marked a move to create and bring to life a more compact bag for those who wanted a functional and practical yet still petite and stylish bag to carry around. This tends to be a popular bag with western buyers who want a bag which offers sufficient storage for all their daily essentials, and which compliments their look as the perfect accessory.
Hermès Birkin 25
The smallest bag in the Hermès Birkin collection, the Birkin 25 is often referred to as the Baby Birkin, and was the fourth in the long-term collection to be released. Despite limited collections of even smaller models being created as part of exclusive Hermès Birkin runs, the 25 is the smallest classic design and was interestingly developed as part of a call from smaller framed women who wanted a bag to suit their proportions.
Measurements and how the sizes compare
The measurements of both the Birkin 30 and the Birkin 25 do what they say in the title – that is, the numbers 30 and 25 relate to the length of the bag from side to side. The Baby Birkin, the Birkin 25, is suitable for essential items and has a measured height of 20cm with a depth of 13cm. Conversely, the Birkin 30 measures 22cm high and 16cm deep, and is suitable for everyday use, with that little bit of extra space lending itself to everything you need for a day trip.
However, it’s not just the size of the bag itself which differs between the two. Another crucial difference lies in the size of the handles and how the bag can be carried. In the case of the Birkin 30, the handles are large enough to slip over your arm, whereas the Birkin 25 is only really suitable to be carried by hand – thus impacting the way you carry, access, and use your bag.
What can you fit in each bag?
When we measured the Birkin 30 against the Birkin 25, we found that each bag was able to hold the following items.
The Birkin 25 has an internal zip and a flat pocket, and can store a mobile smartphone, purse, keys, and a few additional essentials, such as tissues, make-up, and perfume.
The Birkin 30 can hold all of the aforementioned items, plus a book, pair of gloves or other accessory, hand wipes, and a snack.
It’s worth considering that, not only do you need to look at the amount of space in the bag, but you also need to consider the weight and how much the bag can hold without causing any damage to the handles and/or structure.
Other available Hermès Birkin bags on the market
Beyond these two staple sizes, buyers can also browse the Birkin 35, which is the original size, and the Birkin 40, which is a larger model.
The Birkin 35 tends to be an ideal bag for travel, as hand luggage, or when heading out of town for the day or even a weekend. The Birkin 40 is the biggest in the Hermès Birkin collection and is robust enough to carry a laptop for work, as well as all your daily essentials.
Where can I buy an authentic Hermès Birkin bag?
All of the bags mentioned in this article are most likely to be found on the preloved market rather than brand new from retail, owing to the coveted status and exceptional demand for any and every Hermès Birkin to hit the market. Finding a reputable boutique which specialises in valuation and authentication, as well as the very best products, is essential when it comes to buying an Hermès Birkin, with our Knightsbridge store boasting a rolling and ever-changing collection of stock from this and other Hermès collections.
