Last week in Paris, Hermès’ most storied accessory made headlines again—this time not on the runway, but at Sotheby’s, where Jane Birkin’s original, battered prototype handbag fetched a staggering €8.6 million (~₹84.3 crore). The auction, held during haute couture week, saw a frenzied ten-minute bidding war between nine elite collectors. According to Vogue, Lauren Sánchez—yes, that Lauren Sánchez—was reportedly among the final bidders before bowing out, leaving the win to a private Japanese collector.
The bag, scuffed and stickered, wasn’t just another luxury piece. It was the very first Birkin, born out of a chance flight conversation between the singer and then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. This wasn’t a transaction—it was theatre. A show of status, sentiment, and the surreal values placed on objects once touched by icons.
And it’s far from the only accessory to reach nosebleed territory at auction. Below, we chart the most expensive luxury accessories ever sold—across rings, sneakers, sunglasses and more—each the highest-priced of its kind, converted into Indian Rupees for maximum sticker shock.
The Pink Star Diamond Ring – ₹595 Crore
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2017
A 59.60-carat vivid pink diamond with flawless clarity. It became the most expensive gem ever auctioned when it sold for $71.2 million, later renamed “CTF Pink Star” by its Hong Kong-native buyer—after his own initials.
Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Bag – ₹84.3 Crore
Sotheby’s Paris, 2025
The very first Birkin, with Jane Birkin’s initials, political stickers, a fixed shoulder strap, and even nail clippers attached. It didn’t just birth an icon—it became one.
The Last Dance” Air Jordan 13 – ₹18 crore
Sotheby’s New York, 2023
Worn in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals—Jordan’s final championship season with the Chicago Bulls—this pair of Air Jordan 13s became the most expensive single pair of sneakers ever sold at auction when they fetched $2.2 million (~₹18 crore) at Sotheby’s in April 2023. The shoes were signed by Jordan and worn during his legendary “Last Dance” run, cementing their value not just as footwear, but as a piece of basketball mythology
Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond – ₹404 Crore
Private Sale
Launched in 2014 and still unbeaten, this outrageously lavish iPhone 6 features a 24K gold case and a colossal rare pink diamond embedded into the rear. With a jaw-dropping price tag of $48.5 million (~₹404 crore), it holds the title of the most expensive smartphone ever made—even if it’s still running iOS 8 beneath all that sparkle. And if internet rumours are to be believed, it may well be in the hands of Nita Ambani herself.
Chopard De Rigo Vision Sunglasses – ₹3.4 Crore
Private Sale
Crafted from 24K gold and studded with 51 flawless diamonds, these are the most expensive sunglasses ever sold—reportedly for $408,000. Designed by De Rigo Vision for Chopard, they weigh 60 grams and scream quiet excess.
Satya Paul x Suashish Diamonds Tie – ₹1.83 Crore
Private Display
Created with 150 grams of pure gold and set with 271 diamonds, this €189,000 (~$220,000) piece is considered the most expensive tie ever made. More sculpture than silk.
Montblanc Boheme Royal Diamond Pen – ₹1.34 Crore
Private Sale
Encrusted with over 1,400 diamonds and made from 18K white gold, this Montblanc isn’t for jotting down grocery lists. It sold for $160,000, becoming the world’s most expensive writing instrument.
Indiana Jones’ Fedora (Temple of Doom) – ₹5.27 Crore
Propstore, Los Angeles, 2024
Harrison Ford wore this dusty fedora in Temple of Doom. It sold for $630,000, making it the most expensive hat ever auctioned. A sweaty, cinematic relic that’s somehow more coveted than most Patek Philippes.
