Uncertain economic times have spurred an increase in people investing in vintage designer purses. If you have one of these luxury goods and don’t use it anymore, you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to sell big.
You might be surprised by how lucrative the vintage designer purse market is. Part of the reason designer purses are popular is because they’re renowned for holding their value.
Whether you are a vintage purse collector or someone who came into possession of an antique handbag, you have a good chance of finding a buyer for your designer purse. You may be able to sell it for much more than you got it for.
Here is how to tell if your old designer purses are valuable.
Which Designer Purse Brands Are Most Valuable?
The most valuable purse brands are Chanel, Goyard, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton. These brands hold their value and have a high resale value.
If you are planning to invest in a vintage purse, make sure it is a classic style that was created with longevity in mind, not a trendy one made for the “novelty” factor. Classic styles are more likely to be sellable and in high demand when you wish to sell in the future. Many of these bags can give you over 100% return on investment (ROI).
One of the most valuable bags is the Hermes Kelly Mini bag, which is very hard to find. In 2022, sellers got an average 212.5% ROI relative to the retail value for this bag. People who sold their Hermes Birkin 25 last year got an average 150% ROI, and the Louis Vuitton Bumbag gave sellers a 119% ROI.
Though most designer bags will not give you over 100% ROI if you buy them and decide to sell later, many of them can be sold for more than their original price if you wait a decade after purchasing them.
Other designer purse brands, such as Gucci, Dior, Prada, and more are also highly sought-after. As with any item, value will depend on variables such as rarity, demand, and perhaps most importantly, condition.
The Most Popular Vintage Purses
Though not a comprehensive list, here are some of the current most popular vintage purses:
- Celine: Black Clutch, Double Flap Macadam Handbag, Monogrammed Canvas Crossbody Bag
- Chanel: 2.55 bag, Flap Bag, Gabrielle
- Dior: Cloth Crossbody Bag, Saddle Bag, Lady Dior
- Fendi: Baguette, Crossbody Bag, Cloth Tote
- Gucci: Clutch Bag, Satchel, Shoulder Bag
- Hermes: Birkin Bag, Kelly Status Bag, Shoulder Bag
- Louis Vuitton: Collaboration Collections, Drawstring Bucket Bag, Shoulder Bag
- Prada: Messenger Purse, Mini Crossbody Bag, Nylon Bag
- Whiting & Davis: Metal Mesh Evening Bag, Small Mesh Purse, Shoulder Bag
How To Sell Your Designer Purses
An auction can be a great way to sell designer purses. This method allows the purse to go to the highest bidder. If the purse has a high demand, holding an auction may help you secure a big payday for it.
If you are planning to sell more than just purses, you may want to consider holding an estate sale. The estate sale advertisements can feature your purses, which will help attract interested buyers.
You can also sell your designer purses through consignment. If you don’t want to go through the process of selling it yourself, you can hand it over to a consignment company. These professionals have connections with buyers looking for antique goods, and it will be easier to find a buyer who will pay for what it’s worth and appreciate the antique purse for what it is.
However you decide to sell your vintage designer purses, make sure to do thorough research to find out how much it’s currently worth. Better yet, hire an experienced appraiser to evaluate the worth of your vintage handbag.
Your older designer purse may be worth a lot of money. At Fruitcocktail Collectibles, we can help you get it appraised and sell it via auction, consignment, or estate sale. Have any valuable designer purses you are looking to sell? Contact us to get an appraisal.