The experience of a wealthy individual splurging $10 million on a handbag, as shared by the man himself.
Shinsuke Sakimoto, the President and CEO of Valuence Japan Inc., a Tokyo-based luxury resale firm specializing in high-end goods, made headlines in July 2025 when he successfully purchased the "Original Birkin" bag at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris. The one-of-a-kind Hermès handbag, custom-made for actress Jane Birkin in the 1980s, sold for approximately 1.47 billion yen (around $10 million USD), setting a record price for a Birkin bag [1][2][4].
The Original Birkin bag is historically significant as it is the prototype that inspired the world-famous Birkin handbag line. Crafted from black leather and adorned with Jane Birkin's engraved initials, it showcases the personal touch that made this bag a cultural icon [1][4].
Valuence’s acquisition of the Original Birkin bag was not for resale, but rather to preserve this cultural artifact and display it publicly. This aligns with the company's mission of sustainability and cultural heritage preservation [1][4].
The auction was a nine-way bidding battle, with Shinsuke Sakimoto, an unlikely suitor for one of fashion's most coveted artifacts, emerging as the victor. The winning bid, as expected, broke the record and was reported worldwide [4][5].
The buyer of the Original Birkin bag was a then-anonymous telephone buyer, later identified as Shinsuke Sakimoto. The auctioneer's gavel fell at 7 million euros, with the final price being $10.1 million after fees [3].
Additional costs, such as shipping and import duties, are estimated to add around $2 million to the initial $10.1 million investment. Despite years of daily use, the bag remains in usable condition [2].
The Original Birkin bag has been featured in exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and London's Victoria & Albert Museum [6]. Jane Birkin, the creator of the Birkin bag, passed away in 2023, and it is anticipated that the bag may be displayed to the public in the future [7].
Shinsuke Sakimoto admitted to not being a long-time Birkin bag fan but saw a connection between his mission and Jane Birkin's. He believes that the bag's legacy of craftsmanship, sustainability, and cultural significance aligns with Valuence’s business philosophy, which is centered on circularity, aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and water waste [8].
In summary, Shinsuke Sakimoto is notable for leading Valuence in acquiring this iconic and historically important Hermès Birkin bag at a landmark auction in 2025 [1][2]. The bag's legacy of craftsmanship, sustainability, and cultural significance aligns with Valuence's mission, making it a valuable addition to their collection, which primarily focuses on handbags [9].
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-10/jane-birkin-s-birkin-bag-sells-for-record-10-million-at-sotheby-s [2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-sothebys-birkin/hermes-birkin-bag-sells-for-record-10-million-at-sothebys-auction-idUSKCN24J27G [3] https://www.cnn.com/style/article/hermes-birkin-bag-sothebys-auction/index.html [4] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57892127 [5] https://www.businessinsider.com/hermes-birkin-bag-sells-record-breaking-10-million-at-auction-2025-7 [6] https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/mar/12/birkin-bag-jane-birkin-hermes-victoria-albert-museum [7] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/06/obituaries/jane-birkin-dead.html [8] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/jane-birkin-birkin-bag-sells-for-record-10-million-at-sothebys-auction.html [9] https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/2025/07/10/jane-birkin-s-birkin-bag-sells-for-record-10-million-at-sothebys-auction
- The luxury acquisition of the Original Birkin bag by Shinsuke Sakimoto, CEO of Valuence Japan Inc., not only signals a significant financial investment, but also aligns with the company's mission of preserving cultural artifacts and promoting sustainability within the fashion-and-beauty industry.
- The purchase of the one-of-a-kind bag, custom-made for actress Jane Birkin in the 1980s, enables Valuence to expand its collection towards the realm of lifestyle and business, showcasing the company's commitment to perfection in craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
- The record-breaking investment in the Original Birkin bag sets a new standard for the finance sector, demonstrating that the art of style can serve as a viable avenue for business ventures and an opportunity to contribute to the preservation and appreciation of cultural icons.
