Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Luxury Handbags May Rival Gold, But Experts Warn Investors
Some people are buying expensive handbags because they think the bags might become more valuable later.
Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags are especially popular because they are scarce and difficult to buy directly from stores.
Some owners have reportedly doubled their money when selling certain bags.
However, not every handbag becomes more valuable.
The price depends on the bag’s condition, colour, material, rarity and whether someone wants to buy it.
Gold can usually be sold more easily because many more people trade it.
Radhika Gupta said an item becoming more expensive does not automatically make it a dependable investment.
Her advice was to buy a luxury bag to enjoy it, not to rely on it for future wealth.
Luxury resale companies are seeing more buyers treat handbags as potential investment assets.
Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags benefit from scarcity, limited supply and strong resale demand.
James Firestein said some Birkin and Kelly bags outperformed gold over the previous decade.
Resale value depends on a bag’s rarity, colour, material, condition, authenticity and market demand.
Radhika Gupta advised enjoying luxury handbags rather than building a financial plan around their appreciation.
- Who
- Luxury handbag buyers, resale experts Adam Abraham and James Firestein, and investor Radhika Gupta.
- What
- The article examines whether luxury handbags, especially Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, should be bought instead of gold as investments.
- When
- The comparison refers to resale performance over the previous decade; Gupta made her comments at the India Today Woman Summit 2026.
- Where
- The discussion concerns the luxury resale market and includes comments made at the India Today Woman Summit 2026.
- Why
- Growing resale demand and scarcity have prompted interest in handbags as alternative assets, although experts warn that their value and liquidity are uncertain.
Handbags as alternative assets
Gold and conventional investing
Potential returns
Handbags as alternative assets
Luxury resale experts say rare Birkin and Kelly bags have outpaced gold over the previous decade, with some owners doubling their money.
Gold and conventional investing
Handbag gains are uncertain, and Gupta compared betting on appreciation to winning a jackpot rather than relying on a dependable investment.
Scarcity and demand
Handbags as alternative assets
Limited boutique supply, purchase-history requirements and strong resale demand can push certain bags above their original retail prices.
Gold and conventional investing
A bag’s performance varies by colour, material, condition, authenticity and changing trends, so scarcity does not guarantee a return.
Ease of selling
Handbags as alternative assets
A well-preserved, desirable handbag may retain or increase its value in the resale market.
Gold and conventional investing
Gold has a much broader market and is generally easier to liquidate when money is needed.
- Luxury resale company
- Love Luxury co-founder Adam Abraham said customers are increasingly treating handbags as investment assets.
- Key handbag models
- Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags are presented as the strongest luxury-handbag candidates because of scarcity and resale demand.
- Reported performance
- James Firestein said Birkin and Kelly resale values outpaced gold over the previous decade.
- Example return
- Firestein cited a Black Togo 30 Birkin whose value doubled in five years.
- Value factors
- Resale prices depend on rarity, colour, material, condition, authenticity and changing demand.
- Gold’s advantage
- Gold has a broader market and can generally be liquidated more easily than a handbag.
- Investor guidance
- Radhika Gupta said buyers should enjoy luxury handbags rather than build financial plans around expected appreciation.