Luxury As You Know It: The Most Expensive Handbag Brands In The World

The crème de la crème of high-fashion labels cater to collectors over consumers. Their most limited-edition purses are released in limited numbers, with these one-of-a-kind designs becoming prized possessions. According to Credit Suisse, expensive designer bags are 2023’s best-kept investment, swiftly beating both art and jewellery. If you are someone who has a taste for the finer things in life and wants to invest in a luxury bag- below are the most expensive handbag brands of 2024 to consider:

House of Mouawad

The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive bag. With 105 yellow diamonds, 56 pink diamonds, and 4,356 colourless diamonds- the 18-kart handcrafted piece took 8,800 hours to create. Valued at a whopping 2.3 million, the bag tops the list of the brand's collectibles.
Beyond the diamond purse, the jewellery house is a heritage name. With multiple global creations to its name, and celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and the Duchess of Cambridge championing their designs- it's a must-add on your list of brands to keep an eye out for.

Judith Leibe

With just 4 boutiques in the world- India, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, Leiber is not only expensive but also exclusive. With unique, recognizable, and memorable designs, this brand stands out in a sea of basic luxury items.

Their iconic Cupcake Minaudière became all the rage after it was featured in the iconic Sex and the City. From Ananya Pandey who recently sported Khloè’s Pot Of Gold Bag a piece from their collaboration collection with the Kardashians, to Blake Lively who has carried multiple Leiber bags including the Seamless Sacred Heart Clutch at the Met Gala- their bags are celebrity favourites. The most expensive Judith Leiber bag is the Precious Rose which costs around $92,000 making it one of most expensive handbag brands in the world.

Hermes

One of the most widely-recognised brands of the lot, Hermes’ is a coveted luxury purchase. A pink crocodile skin Hermes Birkin with diamond embellishments currently holds the record for the most expensive bag to ever be sold at an auction.

The aftermarket prices of Hermes bags are astounding, with pieces reselling at the north of a million dollars, making this one of the best investment purchases. The French label recently faced a lawsuit due to the exclusive nature of their sales practices, where prior purchasers are given priority to their more elusive drops. A great way to get your hands on these is by purchasing them through a luxury second-hand reseller, like My Almari.

Chanel

Next up on the list of most expensive handbag brands, is a more mainstream brand- Chanel. Besides their classics and retail pieces, they also have more exclusive and high-end items that are more difficult to snag.

The Chanel Diamond Forever has only 13 pieces worldwide, with each piece priced at $261,000. With gold hardware, a white alligator skin body and upward of 300 diamonds- it is a collector special and one of the most difficult items to find worldwide.

Saint Laurent

Known for its modern and minimalistic designs, Saint Laurent is a brand that focuses on execution, construction, and materials.

One of their most expensive brands is the Yves Saint Laurent Muse Bag, priced at $18,990. Even though this list has multiple bags that outdo the brand in terms of price, the brand as a whole continues to be higher than average earning its place on this list of most expensive handbag brands.

Louis Vuitton

Arguably one of the most recognition-friendly brands for those looking to get into luxury, Louis Vuitton also has certain extravagant and audacious collections that take most by surprise.

Crafted under the guidance of Virgil Abloh, their Airplane Travel Bag is one of their most expensive pieces at a price tag of £39,900. While many joked that the bag is more expensive than a plane itself, this 2021 Fall/Winter piece sold out in no time. Their Tribute Patchwork Bag and Crocodile Lady Bag, are some of their other notable pieces that come with a hefty price tag!

Fendi

One of the few labels that have maintained a strong relationship with their authentic craftsmanship, Fendi (though named after a French culinary item) is as Italian as it gets. Since Lagerfeld’s association with the brand- the double F motifs, diamond sequins, and patchwork have become synonymous with their handbags representing the perfect mix of retro and modernity.

Their iconic Selleria handbag is made of sable and chinchilla, two of the most expensive skins in existence, and is exclusively made to order. Priced at $26,500 the bag can accommodate a decent amount of accessories while continuing to be fashionably edgy.

-- Written by Anusha Kala