Valuence Japan Inc., a member of the Valuence Group, has successfully acquired the “Original Birkin” bag created by Hermès for actress Jane Birkin — a one-of-a-kind prototype that gave birth to the most coveted handbag design in the world.
The live auction was held in the galleries of Sotheby’s Paris, with nine bidders competing for the iconic bag over a 10-minute bidding battle. The winning bid amounted to an astonishing 1.47 billion yen.
With this acquisition, Valuence isn’t just adding a rare trophy to its collection — it’s carving out a pioneering path in cultural heritage preservation, and doing so with unparalleled style.
“We didn’t acquire the Birkin as a business transaction,” says the company’s CEO, Shinsuke Sakimoto. “We acquired it as a promise — to preserve, protect, and share.”
Custom-crafted in the 1980s, this singular Birkin bears the marks of its muse — actress, artist, and icon Jane Birkin. Worn, weathered, and undeniably loved, it tells a tactile story of glamour, rebellion, and timeless elegance. It’s a bag that doesn’t whisper status — it breathes history.
This acquisition was not intended for resale. As a Circular Design Company, Valuence is reimagining the lifecycle of luxury. They connect once-loved treasures — fine watches, high jewelry, heritage bags — with new custodians across the globe. But in this case, the Birkin will remain in-house: curated, conserved, and ultimately shared with the public in an upcoming exhibition in Japan.
Valuence Japan Inc. is a multi-conglomerate business — from purchasing to retail and auction, and from cars to technology and sports. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, France, the UK, China, and the UAE. With 189 stores across the globe and growing, Valuence is one of the industry leaders in the preloved luxury space globally.
In the Middle East, it operates via its subsidiary, Valuence International MEA Trading L.L.C, in Dubai, and under the brand name “ALLU”, which has stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Qatar (Doha), and Türkiye.
Valuence mainly purchases pre-owned luxury items from customers through its stores across the globe. The categories include branded watches, bags, jewellery, precious metals, art and antique items. It also operates a B2B online auction platform, Star Buyers Auction. It has an impressive line-up of luxury brands including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, and now, the OG Birkin (it also has an extensive range of the prized bags).
