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As you know, I am obsessing and looking for the ultimate crocodile bag. The question is, how big of an investment do I want to make? Of course with an exotic, it has to be investment worthy and a true classic so of course Chanel came to mind along with the Hermes croc Birkin. I have been working with my Chanel SA for a while now so when this Chanel white alligator flap classic came across my shopping ventures, I had to stop and think, but only for about 2 seconds. This bag has 334 diamonds totaling 3.56 carats, set in 18-carat white gold. I'm sorry, I want my jewelry to be jewelry and my bags to be bags. I do not see the benefit of combining the two. It is $261,000, a diamond croc birkin is only $150,000, although in the after market, a 30cm black shiny crocodile Birkin with pave diamond metalware containing 12 carats of diamonds for £110,000 just came my way (so in US dollars it is approximately $220,000). If I went to my diamond dealer downtown, who gets his stones directly from Antwerp, I could, for example get a 8 carat emerald cut, flawless, D color for $200,000. And of course who wouldn't want one giant rock instead of 334 tiny ones that cost the same? Well, you get the bag with the $261,000 investment, of course. But the bag itself is not worth $61,000. And 334 diamonds totally 3.56 carats is certainly not worth $200,000.
Anyway, I am losing my point here. This bag came out last year and there are only 13 of them, but interest is now starting to get intense as the economy takes a turn. You would think otherwise but luxury buyers tend to "invest" when there is fear of recession and inflation - to get what they want while they can afford it and to beat the price increase caused by inflation. For the most part, the luxury market doesn't take that big of a hit during mild recessions, in fact, Hermes just showed the best quarter ever. I personally have no plans to slow down, I am particular about what I buy so I don't consider my spending habits to be frivolous (though some might disagree, mainly my mother). The whole industry is dying to know what our readers think, so.....
P.S. If you are interested in buying any of the items mentioned here, including the 8 carat diamond, email me directly and I will provide contact information for you directly, seeing that you might need personal attention for these matters.
i love this bag, but i would definitely rather have the diamond croc birkin. to answer your question, my spending hasn't changed, but then again my parents pay for everything that i buy (at least until i graduate in MAY).
The Chanel handbag is beautiful, but I agree with you. It is not worth that price.
It's beautiful but if I had that much money spare I don;t think I'd spend it on a bag!
I´d prefer to buy my croc./alligator bag and diamonds separately. Surely there are greater croc.bags than the one pictured that cost much less.
There are tons of amazing crocs out there and no, you do not need to pay these kind of prices for them.
Really? Cuz last time Alice checked it was a 5 carat F VVS1 for $200,000. She said 8 carat D flawless would run double or triple that price. Is she holding out on me?
My spending is stronger than ever!
But I have to say NAY to both ( both are beautiful but I'll pass) . I went to both paris and abu dhabi and a few places here in the US recently and the selections are endless in the 100K or more "investment" category. I find both hermes and chanel a bit too commercial. I dont like when brands become opportunist, meaning they make a super expensive bag just to cash in . Chanel is in too many socioeconomic price points and Hermes seems to be headed down that road as well. BUT if i had to help you choose . I would say go for the Hermes!
Kelly its your CASH , so spend it well, where ever you want. Don't over think it. :)
Google Answers has an interesting piece on long-term trends in diamond prices:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=495791
The Price of Diamonds Over Time
The trends are surprising, with dramatic increases a few decades ago, followed by a long period of nothing much happening in terms of price appreciation.
Does that make a diamond handbag a good investment? Who knows?
Anyway, the article is worth a look.
This is a BEAUTIFUL, Flawless bag, But the Price is not worth it! I own One Chanel bag, and i saved up for a long time to get it sine this line is soo pricey,i have been in love with chanel since i was 14, and i come from a middle class family, so i would hope that one day they would make a less expensie, bag. But still as BEAUTIFUL as this one...