The $10 Million Birkin: How Valuence Japan’s CEO Shinsuke Sakimoto Made History.

The $10 Million Birkin: How Valuence Japan’s CEO Shinsuke Sakimoto Made History

1. Record‑Breaking Auction

On July 10, 2025, the original 1985 prototype Hermès Birkin sold for 1.47 billion yen (US $9.97 million) at Sotheby’s Paris—the highest price ever paid for a handbag

2. Revealing the Buyer

The triumphant bidder was Shinsuke Sakimoto, CEO of Valuence Japan. A former J1 League footballer turned luxury resale magnate, he orchestrated the winning bid via Sotheby’s Tokyo office

3. From Footballer to CEO

Sakimoto began his career with Gamba Osaka before retiring at 22. After gaining experience in his father’s second‑hand shop, he launched Nanboya in 2007 and founded Valuence Japan in 2011

4. A Brand Rooted in Heritage

Valuence focuses on luxury resale, art, and antiques. It also operates storefronts (ALLU) and auction platforms globally, emphasizing circularity and sustainable consumption

5. A Cultural Stewardship Purchase

Sakimoto and his team clarified the acquisition isn’t for re‑sale. The Birkin will be preserved, exhibited publicly, and honored as cultural heritage

6. Icon Born on a Plane

Jane Birkin dreamed up the original bag in 1984—a sketch on an airsickness bag—designed to hold her essentials. This single prototype led to the iconic line we know today

7. Features of the Prototype

Distinct from commercial models, the OG Birkin includes:

• Permanent shoulder strap, gilded brass hardware

• Jane Birkin’s initials engraved on the flap

• Lower-profile studs and unique interior zipper

8. A Fierce Bidding War

The auction launched at €1 million and escalated rapidly—with nine bidders—culminating in a €7 million hammer price (≈$10.1 million with fees)

9. Celebrating Feminine Freedom

Sakimoto explained that Jane Birkin’s “freedom and independent beauty” align with Valuence’s mission to empower women and represent diversity

🔟 Legacy Beyond Luxury

The acquisition underscores Valuence’s shift from transactional resale to cultural curation—using the Birkin as an asset for global exhibitions, education, and conversation on sustainable consumption