Original release date: 1984, created by former CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a plane where Jane Birkin herself asked him to create a functional bag.

It's all about size: size 40 is the original size.

Features: padlock and "Clochette".

Sellier or retourné ? Vintage Birkin only exists in retourné (more round, casual). The Birkin Sellier (more square, formal) was indeed introduced in 2014.

Available leather: Togo leather (big grains), Swift (smooth), Epson (fine grains), Box leather (very smooth and glossy). Togo and Epsom and other grained leather tend to scratch less.

Great investment: in 2001 a new Birkin bag was around USD $4000. Today a new Birkin 40 costs more than 10 000€ and vintage second-ones can be found around 12 000€.