Hermes 2014 40 cm 'Birkin' in black Togo leather the Hermes Birkin bag is considered to be the most exclusive handbag in the world. There is a great elegance and simplicity in this beautifully maintained 7-year old Birkin. This handbag is in near-new condition; the bag has had very little use. Crafted in black Togo calfskin, with goatskin lining, this very special Haut … Courroies bag has a large trapeze body and silver palladium fittings. The bag includes the Clochette, a key and Hermes padlock. 40 x 30 x 20 cm Since its 1984 debut, the Birkin has become a coveted status symbol as much as it has an exclusive collector's piece. The handbag is among the most expensive in the world, and the appetite for the accessory is well-known inside and outside the fashion industry. Its history owes to a chance meeting on a flight from Paris to London in 1981, when British actress, Jane Birkin, found herself describing her ideal handbag to another passenger. The two travellers hadn't properly met, so it wasn't immediately clear that she was in effect brainstorming a future product with Hermes chairman Jean-Louis Dumas. When the latter identified himself, he told the star that Hermes was prepared to produce the accessory of her dreams. A discussion followed that involved rough sketches on an air France airsickness bag, and the Birkin was introduced three years later. A spacious and symmetrical trapezoidal bag featuring twin handles, the Birkin has amassed an enthusiastic fan base since inception. Because it is so pricey and coveted, the goatskin-lined Birkin has frequently been targeted by counterfeiters, and its modest aesthetic and understated branding prevent it from being easily discernible from fakes. An array of metallic hardware fixtures, most often produced in gold or palladium, helps distinguish and identify this handcrafted tote. Among the characteristics that are integral to determining a Birkin's authenticity as well as rendering it a truly desirable collector's item are the signature lock and accompanying keys. The lock bears the 'H' logo, and the keys are tucked inside a 'Clochette' made from a single piece of leather and draped around one of the handles.