Sex and the City fans left STUNNED by shocking price of Samantha Jones’ Hermes Birkin: ‘I wish I could go back in time’
A lot has changed since Sex and the City first aired in 1998 — and since the series launched on Netflix last month, Gen Z has been scrutinizing everything from the price of apartments to clothing choices, and even how many Hermès Birkin bag cost at the time.
When Samantha Jones, the iconic character played by actress Kim Cattrall, searched for a red 11-inch Birkin bag during an episode, viewers were shocked to learn that it would only cost her $4,000 – a stark contrast with the current starting price of approximately $13,500.
Unfortunately, Jones also received the news that in addition to the price, there would also be a five-year wait for the exclusive accessory.
To make matters worse, Samantha’s attempt to get the bag failed: she tried to use her celebrity customer’s (Lucy Liu) name to skip the waiting list and keep it for herself, but the sales associate ended up donating the Birkin directly to the Charlie’s Angels star. .
The saga took place during season four of the series, which debuted in August 2001 — and it turns out that a Birkin at the time did indeed cost $4,000, according to Caroline Bui, aka The Birkin Fairywho runs a luxury consignment store specializing in the sale of Hermès.
When Samantha Jones tried to buy a Birkin during season four of Sex and the City, it cost just $4,000 — and came with a five-year waiting list.
Recently the clamp A group of Jones begging for a Birkin made its way to TikTok, leaving fashion fans totally shocked at the bag’s $4,000 price tag.
“$4,000. Now that’s a keychain lol,” one person wrote.
Another typed: ‘4 grand could have been invested in this.’
“When Birkins were available,” someone else complained.
“I wish I could go back in time when they were $4,000 because now they’re insane,” one user agreed.
Others pointed out how different the in-store experience is now compared to the late 1990s.
“They don’t just show you a Birkin, the salesperson has to wear gloves and takes you to another room,” one fashion fanatic explained.
However, some may be surprised to learn that the Birkin bag originally cost much less than $4,000.
Unfortunately, Jones also received the news that in addition to the prize, there was also a five-year waiting list for the bag
The saga took place during season four of the series, which debuted in August 2001 — and it turns out that a Birkin did indeed cost $4,000 at the time.
The hit show first aired in 1998 and starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon
Fashion fans were shocked by the resurfaced Sex And The City clip, which showed Samantha wanting a Birkin that cost $4,000
According to Business insider, the bag first sold for $2,000 in 1984, after being inspired by actress Jane Birkin.
She came up with the design on an airplane, while sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then the CEO of Hermès. Birkin sketched the design on the back of a barf bag – and the rest was history.
The price continued to rise, reaching $5,000 in 2002, $9,000 in 2009, and by the time 2019 rolled around, a Birkin cost $11,000, Bui told DailyMail.com.
Caroline Bui, known as The Birkin Fairy, told DailyMail.com all about the history of the Hermès Birkin
Today, Birkin bags can cost much more than $11,000 – for example, the Diamond Himalaya Birkin 30 sold for more than $450,000 at Sotheby’s in 2022.
“In the luxury sector, which heavily influences the resale market, an item’s value is determined by more than just its physical attributes,” Bui, who boasts more than two decades of experience in the luxury and pre-owned luxury sector, told DailyMail. com.
The price of the bag isn’t the only thing that has changed since the 2001 episode of Sex in the City.
The waitlist no longer exists and now potential Birkin buyers must work with a sales associate to establish a purchase history to gain access to the wallet.
Today, Birkin bags can cost thousands of dollars, and rare examples can sell for even more
The price of the bag isn’t the only thing that has changed since the 2001 episode of Sex in the City
The Birkin first sold for $2,000 in 1984 after being brought to life by actress Jane Birkin
In 2010, the Birkin waiting list came to an end and was replaced by an application system
“The waiting list was created before this SATC episode aired,” Bui said.
‘Due to the close-knit social networks in each city, it was important to create an effective and reliable distribution process.’
The five-year waiting list, as seen on Sex and the City, may have been a bit long.
“The waiting list varied from store to store depending on key factors such as the number of requests, store size, how many bags were allocated and how quickly they could be produced,” Bui revealed.
‘I don’t remember it lasting more than two to three years. For some, it was prestigious to add their name to the list, even if they had no intention of purchasing it.”
In 2010, the waiting list came to an end and was replaced by an application system.
Fortunately, this story has a happy ending and Samantha eventually obtained her dream bag.
In the second Sex and the City film, which premiered in 2010, Jones bought the signature orange Birkin during the girls’ trip to Abu Dhabi.
Despite the well-documented search for the elusive Birkin, it appears the cast didn’t get their hands on one; all bags used in filming were fake.