With the stock market roiling, luxury goods—especially designer handbags—are becoming a hotly sought-after investment commodity. One July study from the Business of Fashion said 40% of US consumers had bought or were planning to buy one, helping bolster the category from a global market of $72 billion this year to a predicted $100 billion in 2026.

Buy them to store and trade, rather than tote, and that as-new purse could offer an impressive return on investment: In June a study from Credit Suisse Group AG showed that Chanel bags rose in value 24.5% from the previous year. Those by the house’s late designer Karl Lagerfeld are especially coveted.

The entire luxury bag sector was singled out, over other categories like cars or wine, for its risk-reward proposition. Handbags, Credit Suisse says, had annualized volatilities of 2.5% to 5%, with mid-single-digit returns.

They aren’t going to replace your BlackRock exchange-traded funds—retail prices can range from about $2,000 for an entry-level Balenciaga bag to more than $50,000 for some of the rarer, exotic-skin Birkins made by Hermès. But they offer an opportunity for investors at many levels to get into a fun game. (An August study by resale website TheRealReal reported that Gen Z and millennial shoppers make up 41% of its customers, with Gen Z the age group fastest to buy and try to turn items around quickly to make a profit.)

We canvassed the world’s best secondhand bag dealers, asking for recommendations for investment-worthy totes in two categories: first, a bag that’s already proved bankable on the secondary market; and second, a bag you can find in retail boutiques right now that the experts expect to offer impressive returns in the future.

To get the best price, which is well above average, a bag must be in absolute mint condition, preferably with tags on. And to increase in value, rather than just hold it, a bag must have been rare at retail—sold in limited quantities or made from a sought-after material.

So Black Birkin

Money’s In the Bag: Two experts recommend the Hermès So Black Birkin, a Jean-Paul Gaultier-era limited edition in which both hardware and leather are black. “It’s seductive, the way it draws you in,” swoons Diane D’Amato, director of luxury accessories, private sales, and boutique at Heritage Auctions Inc. Judy Taylor, president and CEO of reseller Madison Avenue Couture, advocates for it because none of the So Black designs have been reissued.

Price: A So Black in crocodile fetched $208,000 three years ago. Taylor says a 35-centimeter So Black Matte Alligator Birkin in mint condition can go for $175,000. This year, she sold a never-used So Black Birkin 30cm from 2011 for $75,000.

Goyard Plumet Pocket Wallet

The Stuff of Potential: Step inside a Goyard store today, and you’ll be politely asked not to take any photos. “The associates aren’t allowed to send you pictures either,” D’Amato says. “The brand ensures its exclusivity with almost no advertising, no e-commerce, and very few stores in select cities.” The best investment piece, she says, is a Plumet Pocket Wallet first introduced in 2018 that can also be worn as a crossbody bag.

Price: It started at $1,080 then and has already reached $1,310 at the store, with most Goyard models holding about 111% of their value, according to D’Amato’s calculations: “Goyard has a substantial ROI, and I foresee impressive growth moving forward.”

Gucci Jackie

Money’s In the Bag: Kate Moss, Harry Styles, and everyone else has carried the 1961 hobo-style model made famous as a paparazzi shield by the former first lady in the 1970s. It’s been reinterpreted by Gucci creative directors including Tom Ford, Frida Giannini, and Alessandro Michele. “It’s the perfect investment piece,” says Sophie Hersan, co-founder of Paris-based online consignment store Vestiaire Collective SA, which operates in more than 50 countries. “Most vintage Gucci bags have plus-100% retention values.”

Price: Resale site Rebag, which tracks historical prices, estimates a medium Gucci Jackie 1961 Hobo in GG Supreme Canvas runs $2,320 to $2,575. New, it now starts at $2,850.

Balenciaga City

The Stuff of Potential: “It was unlike anything of the time,” says Hersan of the buzzy bag then-creative director Nicolas Ghesquière designed in 2001. “It had a slouchy silhouette, no logo, and tassels and studs. Balenciaga’s execs refused to greenlight it.” Determined, the designer had 25 made and gave them to influencers such as editors Carine Roitfeld and Emmanuelle Alt, and the rest is history.

Price: Balenciaga’s City line evolved into two new ones, the Neo Classic and the Cagole. The Cagole (seen above) is the most wait-listed bag currently on TheRealReal; new versions in colorful crocodile start at $2,500. Meanwhile, gently used City bags can be found on Vestiaire in the range of $500 to $1,000.

Louis Vuitton Monogramouflage Speedy

Money’s In the Bag: It was part of the multiyear collaboration between Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and then-creative director Marc Jacobs, and limited distribution has helped the bag soar from $1,530 to more than $7,000 in the last 14 years. “The Marc Jacobs era is a time when LV seemed to come alive,” says Lara Osborn, senior procurement director of reseller Fashionphile Group LLC, which opened a huge space in New York this spring. “This is unisex, utilitarian, and camo is like leopard, in that it can be pulled off as a neutral.”

Price: The resale website Grailed lists a good-condition Louis Vuitton Monogramouflage Speedy 35 for $7,650.

Fendi Baguette

The Stuff of Potential: The trend toward re-editions means everything old is new again—especially handbags. “It’s the increasing popularity of Y2K culture in the Gen Z market,” says Hanushka Toni, co-founder of London-based online reseller Sellier Ltd. “Bags that were released in the past are being launched again, often in new materials or colorways.” Her standout future investment among these is the Fendi Baguette, that Sex and the City-toted staple, ideally in lilac-colored sequins, as shown above.

Price: A new Baguette 1997 in lilac sequins, featuring a matching, satin-lined internal compartment, is available on the Fendi website for $4,300.

Chanel Classic Flap

Money’s In the Bag: Nicknamed “Chanel Diana” as a nod to how frequently the Princess of Wales was spotted with it, this bag was released in 1989 and cost a few hundred pounds at the time. Toni says the key models to look out for include black with 24-karat gold hardware (Diana’s favorite) and lambskin leather, used sparingly as a material. “It was originally quite flat, thinner, and lighter,” Toni says. So don’t be fooled by the version rebooted in 2015. “There are distinct changes—10 stitches per quilt edge create a puffier effect than the vintage 12.”

Price: Rebag estimates that a vintage medium Chanel Classic Flap will cost as much as $6,000.

Hermès Kelly

Money’s In the Bag: The Kelly started out as the Sac à dépêches in the 1930s but earned its nickname (and, later, official moniker) after Princess Grace Kelly famously used one to hide her baby bump in 1956. Vintage models can now fetch as much as $60,000, according to Vogue stylist Clare Richardson, who recently started the consignment platform Reluxe. She says her current favorite is the Kelly Sellier in Epsom leather. It’s finely grained but also scratch-resistant; it cost $10,300 new in 2021. The colors to hunt down are black with gold hardware or the brownish étoupe, also with gold: “They’re easy to style—and timeless.”

Price: Rebag estimates $9,770 to $14,995 for a vintage black Hermès Kelly 35.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Illusion Keepall

The Stuff of Potential: Less than a year after this neon eye-catcher was introduced, some versions are already reselling for almost double the original retail price, Richardson says. It’s a riff on the brand’s soft travel bag, first released in the 1930s and produced under the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s creative direction. This model has only recently started to receive design refreshes, Richardson says. “Virgil managed to add spirit to a simple traveling bag and make it look cool—a nice object to carry,” she says. “And once a genius is gone, everyone wants to pay tribute to them. Owning an object like that is a way of doing that.”

Price: It sells for $4,450 at retail, if you find it!

If you are determined to purchase an expensive piece of fine jewelry, it is important to asses its likely future value. You don’t want to spend a large amount on a piece that is going to depreciate highly over a short period of time. You want something that will maintain or increase in value. Follow these tips when browsing for your next purchase.

1. Precious Metals Are Key — Everyone knows that precious metals are the basis of all global financial value. So when you plan on purchasing a new piece of fine jewelry be sure to assess what will give you the biggest return. You want to focus on size:carats and value:karat – Size:Carats means you want the size of any jewels to be in a range of cost that is equal to or provides a discount to what market cost would be for the same alone, while Value:Karat means you want the value of the piece to match or be less than the market value of the Karat of the metal involved. For example 24 karat gold or platinum you want the ratio of size and weight to be valued at a discount or less than that of the current market cost. (if possible) 
2. What’s Your Style? — Jewelry that complements your ensemble or your style sense as a whole will be much easier for you to style on a regular basis. Having a little look through your wardrobe before investing is a really good idea so you can find something that will be practical for you to wear on a common basis.
3. Get The Essentials — As they say, “The classics never go out of style.” Classic examples of jewelry that are common are band or wedding rings, bracelets, and pendant necklaces or chains. These can be easily integrated into a daily wardrobe and can be just as essential as your handbag or wallet. 
4. Understand Precious Materials — Making informed choices after knowing the meaning of precious metals and stones, which gold to buy, and different types of diamond cuts can be helpful before making an investment from a financial perspective. So brush up on these subjects before going in for a purchase. 

Looking For Designer Fine Jewelry?

Everyone has heard of Jared’s and Kay Jewelers. These are stores that sell various brands of fine jewelry from vendors they have contracts and agreements with. It won’t always be a name that you see on TV and may even be unbranded. If you are looking for your favorite designer, you’ll be happy to know there are some luxury designer brands that are either dedicated to or who have branched into making fine jewelry pieces that are available. This includes world famous brands. Some of our most favorite luxury designers are listed below:

Founded in Rome in 1884 by the talented Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari, the brand quickly established a reputation for Italian excellence with exquisite craftsmanship and magnificent jewelry creations. Over the decades, the Bulgari generations defined a distinctive style made of vibrant color combinations, exquisitely balanced volumes and unmistakable motifs that pay homage to the Roman roots of the company. While always revering its cultural legacy, Bulgari introduced innovations that rewrote the rules of the jewelry universe and launched new trends that stood out as icons of contemporary design.

Charles Lewis Tiffany’s passion for acquiring rare and unusual gemstones paved the way for Tiffany & Co.’s longstanding legacy of discovery and exploration, establishing the company’s reputation as a world-renowned jeweler.

Prior to the mid-19th century, colored gemstones were seldom used in American jewelry. This changed in 1876 when gemologist Dr. George Frederick Kunz joined Tiffany and embarked on a lifelong quest for the world’s most extraordinary gemstones. In fact, Kunz played a critical role in discovering new specimens including his eponymous stone kunzite in 1902, as well as morganite in 1910. 

The Tiffany tradition of introducing exceptional stones continues to this day with an assortment of collectors’ gemstones. From cuprian elbaite tourmalines and Padparadscha sapphires to vivid demantoid garnets and alexandrites, these stones exemplify a vast range of color, rarity and beauty that can only be found at Tiffany & Co.