- 09:00
What if your best investment wasn’t Apple stock or a bar of gold, but… a handbag? It’s not a joke. Certain Chanel and Hermès models have outperformed even the strongest portfolios. Leather, it seems, weathers crashes and inflation with surprising ease.
Buying a Hermès or Chanel bag is no longer just a style statement – it has become a serious investment. Take the legendary Birkin. A Baghunter study found it delivered average annual returns of 14.2% over 35 years, outpacing the S&P 500’s 11.7% in the same period. Even more remarkable, some rare or exotic models have doubled in value in just five to ten years, according to the New York Post.
Chanel is no slouch either. Its iconic Classic Flap has appreciated around 16% per year, according to Marie Claire UK – returns that would make even top traders envious.
What sets these accessories apart is their surprising resilience in crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the secondary luxury market remained robust, showing that high-quality leather can be as reliable as gold. By comparison, gold rose only 1.9% annually over the same period and even lost value in real terms after inflation. In short, a well-kept Kelly bag has outperformed a gold bar gathering dust in a vault.
An Investment, But Not for Everyone
Not every luxury bag becomes a treasure. Collector accounts on Reddit make it clear: only iconic models like the Birkin, Kelly or select Chanel pieces truly appreciate. Standard Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent or Dior bags often lose 15 to 25% of their value the moment they leave the store.
To attract buyers, a bag must be kept in pristine condition, complete with box and certificates. And here’s a spicy detail: getting a Birkin from Hermès can sometimes take years and requires a strong relationship with a dedicated sales associate.
Bag or Stocks?
The stock market remains more accessible, liquid and diversified, but it is also unpredictable. Luxury bags, by contrast, rely on rarity and desirability, often appreciating along a strikingly upward trajectory.
Are they safer? Not entirely, since this is a niche market reserved for exceptional pieces. Are they more profitable? Often yes, but only for those who can spot the truly rare gems.
In short, the Birkin is more than an accessory. It is an asset you can proudly carry on your arm, knowing it may already be worth more than your Tesla shares.
The takeaway: if you are not playing the stock market, sometimes it pays to play the leather game, but only with the right pieces.
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