Why Now Is the Time to Buy A Pre-Owned 'Big' Birkin

If you’re still in shock from the latest round of Hermès price increases, we can’t blame you. With spikes of 6-8% this month, some may feel that the cost of entry just gets further away. In the U.S., the smallest Birkin now retails for $13,500, while the original size, the Birkin 35, will set you back $16,300 at the boutique. That’s of course, if you can get it.

Read also: New US Hermès Prices 2026

Image courtesy: @birkinboy

Despite the B35’s heftier price tag, though, when you get to the secondary market, demand and popularity-based pricing reverses the value placed on Birkins, as is evident on reputable luxury resale platforms like FASHIONPHILE. Since the Birkin 25 was introduced two decades ago, its popularity has soared as mini and small bags dominated fashion choices. As a result, Birkin 25 resale prices generally exceed the retail price, depending upon factors including leather, hardware, color, and condition.

The same has not been universally true for its large sibling. The Birkin 35’s popularity waned for years as the lighter, more compact silhouettes took center stage. Secondary market pricing mirrored this, with fewer premiums on the large bags, resulting in more deals on Birkin 35s to be had at resellers.

Just a week ago, a used Birkin 35 typically ranged from $6,500 to $10,000, clearly less than the retail prices, in part due to lower demand, and because these bags often show substantial wear and tear. After all, the Birkin 35 is known to be the ultimate workhorse and travel bag. However, since we began compiling this content, the secondary market began responding to Hermès’ latest price increase. Today, prices now span from $7,000 for well-worn examples to an eye-watering $27,000 for bags in excellent condition, underscoring just how quickly the secondary market adjusts.

Image courtesy: @birkinboy

Interestingly, this rapid response has not played out uniformly across Hermès’ largest sizes. While the Birkin 40 now retails for $20,300, secondary market prices remain comparatively restrained, typically ranging from around $8,000 to $14,000. However, the B35’s recent surge suggests that a similar uptick for the B40 may be on the horizon.

That shift is certainly not accidental. Hermès itself may be recalibrating its B35 pricing. The latest pricing indicated brewing momentum for the large bag, as the B35 experienced the greatest price increases in the Birkin lineup, rising nearly 8%. Several factors could be at play; no doubt a larger bag requires greater quantities of raw materials and that costs more. Or Hermès could be betting on the return of big bags to fashion prominence. Moreover, with men (looking at you NFL and NBA players) including statement bags in their ensembles, they are likely gravitating to a larger style than the petite version, even if they’re not carrying their own equipment.

Image courtesy: @thepouf

Interest in the Birkin 35 continues to rise on the secondary market, reflecting today’s shifting luxury landscape. Gen X’s gravitation toward ‘beat-up,’ lived-in bags favors silhouettes like the Birkin 35, which wear patina well and feel authentic rather than ‘precious.’

For those ready to act, FASHIONPHILE offers the chance to secure a Birkin 35, or even a Birkin 40 today – providing an opportunity to get ahead of the curve before secondary market demand pushes values even higher.