What are the most profitable luxury bags in 2022?

On November 27, 2020 in Hong Kong, the auction company Christie's recorded a record sale.

Once is not custom, this Saturday, it is neither a masterpiece, nor a rare gem that wins the day, but a handbag.

A Hermès bag in white crocodile, Kelly Himalaya model, estimated at 100,000 euros, and sold for the considerable sum of 437,330 dollars (i.e. 365,545 euros).

In November 2021, at May & Associé in Roubaix, a Constance model from the same label, in silver mysore goatskin, is making headlines.

Estimate: between 6,000 and 8,000 euros.

Final sale price: 27,900 euros.

Less and less isolated in luxury leather goods, these surges are no longer reserved only for auction rooms.

Unprecedented gains on resale

Between 2021 and 2022, the luxury second-hand site Collector Square recorded a jump in the value of certain bags on the resale market: 52% increase for the Hermès

25cm in black Epsom leather, the same for the Louis Vuitton

limited edition

by Stephen Sprouse, dated 2009 and up to 62% Chanel

vintage in navy blue and red leather, dated 1991.

A phenomenon that is explained by the explosion of the second-hand market first.

The number of coins does not increase when demand increases, causing prices to rise.

But also by the exponential price policy of brands.

At Chanel, for example, the increase would follow an average of 4% per year.

Gold from December 2020 to 2021, the price of 2.55 would have suddenly increased by 30% according to Reuters.

An increase that necessarily impacts the secondary market.

Finally, containment also has its share of responsibility.

During this period, the production of the brands was reduced and the leisure budget of customers was shifted to material purchases.

Thus, both more inaccessible and more in demand, the luxury bag is gradually abandoning its status of simple coquetry to become a safe haven.

The most profitable luxury bags in 2022

In images, in pictures

See the slideshow09 photos

See the slideshow09 photos

The bestselling bags

"In terms of figures, a luxury bag is a more profitable investment than stone," says Sara Bennami, director of the second-hand site's leather goods department.

“On a few conditions,” she nuances, however.

Because she explains that all bags are not equal on the question of profitability.

For them to be, their resale price must equal or exceed their purchase price.

And for that, rules are observed.

Starting with the choice of models.

Profitability concerns only a handful: at Hermès, the

and

models (a fortiori the 20 and 25 cm) and the

, at Chanel the

followed by the

and the

, and finally, at Louis Vuitton, trunks and limited editions such as those resulting from the collaboration with Supreme or those designed by Virgil Abloh.

“Highly prized by the Asian market, the small sizes and the distinctive colors, pink, yellow, are seeing very strong demand,” adds Sara Bennami.

Finally, a newcomer to this list: vintage.

“A luxury bag is a more profitable investment than stone”

Sara Bennami, leather goods director at Collector Square

A treasure in my closet

“The price of vintage at Chanel has the biggest margin for improvement compared to new,” underlines the director of the leather goods department at Collector Square.

“Marked by a story, a way of doing things”, old bags are highly coveted rare objects in an era that exalts singularity.

However, not all bags inherited from grandmothers are created equal.

The value of a piece, new or vintage, is above all determined by its condition.

If the natural patina can be sought on an old model, all the details must be preserved, from the gilding of the clasps to the lining, through the quality of any repairs, with parts of the brand ideally.

An essential rigor if you want to make a luxury bag a profitable investment.

Investing, how to

The golden rule when you want to invest in a luxury bag, new or old, is conservation.

"Sheltered from light, without humidity, in a canvas bag, with padding inside so that it does not become deformed..." Sara Bennami's list of recommendations is long.

The piece must obviously be worn as little as possible, and above all be “never put on the ground!”, insists the expert.

As a bonus, it must, as much as possible, be accompanied by all its “sides”: certificates, box, protective bag and other accessories that will guarantee its authenticity.

And if the 20,000 euros for the 20cm

deter you from investing, Collector Square has already spotted a few references to follow, such as the

and

models from

.

Who knows which to bet on, it's a safe bet that the case is in the bag.