THE BOUTIQUE BY HERITAGE HAS THE LUXURY ACCESSORIES YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR — AND THEY CAN BE YOURS RIGHT NOW, NO BIDDING REQUIRED
By Barbara Tunick
Imagine if you could buy any Hermès bag whenever you wanted, without wish lists and quotas, a place where you could buy the latest release before it was available anywhere else and find unique Special Order and Runway pieces from previous collections.
There’s no need to imagine. All you have to do is visit The Boutique by Heritage, either online at HA.com/TheBoutique or in person at Heritage Auctions’ New York City gallery at 445 Park Avenue. “The Boutique is every Hermès collector’s dream come true,” says Diane D’Amato, Global Luxury Director for Heritage Auctions. “You can buy Birkins, Kellys, Mini Kellys and Pochettes without hassles or restrictions. You can buy crocodile, alligator, lizard, ostrich and leather, plus So Black, metallic, color and neutrals without quotas or questions.”
Collectors who shop The Boutique by Heritage can purchase hard-to-find bags like this Hermès Metallic Doré Chevre Leather Mini Kelly 20. Price: $70,000.
Having spent her entire career in luxury retail – including stints as Store Director and Buyer for Hermès, Store Director at Louis Vuitton and Director of Couture and Fine Apparel at Neiman Marcus before joining Heritage Auctions 10 years ago – D’Amato knows the intricacies and nuances of the luxury market. It’s no surprise that The Boutique is her brainchild. “It feels great to be able to give our clients the opportunity to buy exactly what they want when they want it,” she says.
The Boutique functions very differently from other retail stores. It’s well known that Hermès clients need to achieve a pre-spend in other métiers before qualifying to purchase a quota bag such as a Birkin or Kelly. And even then, it may not be the bag they desire. Hermès also limits the number of quota bags a client can purchase in a year. The Boutique is also different from other luxury resale shops in that it carries only store-fresh bags. “Our inventory is constantly changing. I buy bags every day, so we always have the most sought-after pieces in the world,” D’Amato says. “It’s the perfect place to find a spectacular bag for yourself or a fantastic gift for someone special. It’s instant gratification.”
Only store-fresh handbags find their way to The Boutique, like this Hermès 25cm Mauve Sylvestre & Gris Perle Epsom Leather Verso Birkin Sellier Bag priced at $34,000.
D’Amato’s clients often contact her when they’re on the hunt for a specific bag, knowing that if anyone can find what they’re looking for, it’s her. “Last year a man reached out to me after he couldn’t find the So Black Alligator Birkin he was desperately trying to find for his wife’s 50th birthday. I sourced it and had it delivered the same day, in plenty of time for her surprise party,” she recalls. “We have another client, also a husband, who’s incredibly strategic with his purchases. He regularly buys his wife’s favorite bags at auction and from The Boutique. Whenever he gets in trouble with her, he reaches into his personal Hermès collection and gives her a beautiful orange box.”
Because The Boutique’s inventory is constantly changing, D’Amato says she’s always open to buying phenomenal, new pieces. “So if you’ve been gifted a bag or bought a quota bag offered to you in a color or size you’re not thrilled about, you might want to consider selling it and buying one that truly makes you happy,” she says. “You can email me images at DianeD@ha.com, and if it’s something I think will work in The Boutique, we can meet to discuss it.” She cautions, however, that she doesn’t buy every Hermès bag she’s offered: “It has to be exceptional and highly desirable, such as a Birkin, Kelly or Special Order bag.”
The Boutique’s inventory is ever changing, but the always exceptional offerings might include pieces like this Hermès Limited Edition Craie & Vert Verone Epsom Leather Mini Bolide on Wheels 1923. Price: $26,000.
Likewise, D’Amato notes, because she knows which bags people are looking for, the bags she buys are often sold before they ever make it to The Boutique. “I have access to the most incredible bags in the world, plus I know what clients have in their closets and may be willing to sell,” she says. “The bottom line is if you know what you want, we probably have it. If we don’t, I’ll find it for you. I can literally source your dream bag.”
BARBARA TUNICK is a contributor to Intelligent Collector.