If you were to ask fashion enthusiasts what the most valuable handbag ever made was, most would probably guess the Himalayan Birkin. It’s a good guess, but that’s technically just the most expensive one to ever be sold at auction, not that was ever produced.
I recently found out that the title of The World’s Most Valuable Handbag actually belongs to the creation of the Italian handbag brand, Boarini Milanesi.
Valued at $7 million, the ‘Parva Mea’ took the title from Mouawad’s ‘1001 Nights’ bag only two years ago, breaking its predecessor’s ten-year streak.
Anything from either one of these brands really has reputations that precede them, so it’s no surprise these bags are as mesmerizing as they are.
The Most Expensive Handbag In The World
Snatching up the title of “Most Valuable Handbag” in November of 2020, this blue beauty was made to raise awareness for ocean conservation.
It’s made of shiny aqua-colored alligator skin adorned with diamond, sapphire, and Paraiba tourmaline-encrusted butterflies resting delicately along the edges. (I’m not sure why there are butterflies for ocean-related causes, but they’re pretty!)
Only three of these have been produced since its release, but the brand seems open to creating one for lucky collector number 4.
I love bespoke Italian bags myself, so it’s exciting to see this break into the public sphere.
The Second Most Expensive Bag…
The ‘1001 Nights’ bag was created by high-end jewelry brand Mouawad with passion, romance, and fantasy in mind.
It got its name from the popular collection of Middle Eastern folk tales (called Arabian Nights in English) that tells the stories of lust, love, tragedy, and heartbreak.
Made out of solid 18-karat gold, this heart on a chain looks like something made for a Disney princess but on steroids. The clutch features 4,517 diamonds (4,356 colorless, 105 canary yellow, and 56 fancy pink) covering practically every inch of it.
Valued at $3.8 million, the 1001 Nights bag made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 and is actually only one of many record holders that help make up the brand’s renowned portfolio.
Mouawad still holds four other world records for the most valuable jewelry box, the most valuable necklace, the most expensive single pear cut diamond, and the most expensive bra (the 2003 Victoria’s Secret fantasy bra) to ever be made. It’s been the design house behind many of the Miss Universe crowns throughout the years.
The bling on the bag weighs an impressive 381.92 karats ﹘ that’s more than the 317 karat stone found in Queen Elizabeth’s crown!
I’ve expressed my opinion on whether I thought bags made by jewelry brands were hot or not, but this beauty gets a pass because it’s more of a museum piece meant for admiration rather than practical use.
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