The World’s Most Expensive Hermès Birkin Shines This Diwali

As the golden glow of Diwali lights up homes across the world, the festival marks a season of renewal — one that shimmers with gold, silver, and celebration. This year, that spirit of brilliance found its most exquisite expression in one extraordinary Hermès creation: the Sac Bijou Birkin.

The miniature masterpiece made a striking appearance at Manish Malhotra’s pre-Diwali soirée. Nita Ambani turned heads in a signature saree of luminous silver sequins with chevron detailing. She paired it with rare heart-shaped Colombian emerald earrings and a matching emerald-and-diamond bracelet.

But the true showstopper was the Hermès Sac Bijou Birkin. A one-of-a-kind fusion of Haute Bijouterie and the Maison’s legendary design, it made one of its rare public appearances — perfectly suited for a festival of light.

Image courtesy: @manishmalhotraworld

Image courtesy: @manishmalhotraworld

Image courtesy: @manishmalhotraworld

Part of Hermès’ Haute Bijouterie Collection, unveiled in 2012 under the direction of Pierre Hardy, Hermès’ Creative Director of Jewellery, this limited lineup transforms the Maison’s most iconic handbags into miniature works of high jewelry. The collection reimagines the Kelly, Birkin, Nausicaa, and Chaîne d’Ancre designs – each meticulously crafted from precious metals and gemstones.

Image courtesy: Vogue Signapore

At the heart of this extraordinary collection is the Sac Bijou Birkin — with just three of each diamond design in existence. Ambani’s version is crafted from solid 18k white gold, its body designed with an almost chain-mail effect and topped with a crocodile-textured flap, all lavishly adorned with 3,025 dazzling diamonds totaling 111.09 carats. The top handles are slightly elongated, while the impeccably proportioned sangles and touret fastening secure the bag with impeccable precision. At just 4.7 x 3.8 inches (12 cm x 10 cm), the Sac Bijou Birkin is designed to be worn as a bracelet. Despite its diminutive size, it functions as a fully operational handbag — enough to hold your credit cards with a touch of audacious flair.

Image courtesy: @three.over.siz

Image courtesy: @three.over.siz

Alongside Ambani’s white-gold dazzler, the rose-gold Sac Bijou Birkin takes a slightly “modest” approach — with 2,712 diamonds totaling 89.22 carats instead of 3,025. Lighter, of course, only in number, it retains the same meticulous proportions and features as its white-gold sibling. Yet it still shines with full drama, and its reported $2 million price tag might just make your eyes water.

Image courtesy: Vogue

Hermès later revisited the Sac Bijou Birkin in 2019 with a darker, more dramatic version featuring black spinels and garnets. But the Maison displayed its colors in 2024 with a rainbow-hued Sac Bijou Birkin, part of Les Formes de la Couleur — a collection celebrating light, color, and form. Crafted in 18k white gold with plates that mimic crocodile skin, the bag’s body and handle are encrusted with a gradient of nearly 3,000 gems—including diamonds, amethysts, spessartite garnets, aquamarines, and sapphires—transforming the miniature masterpiece into a kaleidoscopic spectacle.

Image courtesy: The New York Times

Image courtesy: NSS Magazine

Image courtesy: The New York Times

Among the world’s most coveted Birkins, the Sac Bijou editions stand apart—not merely for their value, but for their artistry. Whether worn as jewelry or admired as a work of art, the Hermès Sac Bijou Birkin brings a touch of Diwali sparkle to any collection. Which version would you covet?

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