What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but you ought to know what happened in Monaco. A reseller of luxury brands called Sellier Knightsbridge made a TikTok video showing how luxury, even Birkin-level, is commonplace in the jewel of the French Riviera. In the video, the Birkin owner leaves her black Hermes Birkin on a street bollard in Monaco. What happens next is unbelievable: not one person looks remotely interested in even checking out the black Birkin, let alone stealing it.
A Birkin bag typically starts at around $10,000 for a basic version in standard materials like Togo or Clemence leather, which seems to be used in the video. It simply blends into the sea of people and the morning chaos, despite the Birkin bag having a staunch fan following and plenty of clout even among the richest of fashionistas.
It is nearly impossible to not turn around and notice the Hermes handbag, especially when left unattended on the street. The chic owner walked home with her Birkin in hand after she left it on the road for a whole 18 minutes (perhaps a record for the bag too). But that’s Monaco for you, the richest country in the world accommodating 12,261 millionaires within a land area of just 0.78 square miles. Their vaults are overflowing, their closets are chock-a-block, and their fashion desires are fulfilled.
Moreover, Monaco boasts a crime rate lower than in most European countries. Also, there is a substantial police presence relative to its population, ensuring that affluent residents and visitors can enjoy their opulent lifestyles without the fear of losing their prized possessions, as the video successfully proved. Places like Monaco, Dubai, etc., are known for their ultra-rich lifestyles and are the rare few places worldwide where nearly everyone is rich and, more importantly, content.
In 2023, a Dubai-based resident conducted a similar social experiment to demonstrate how truly safe the city is. A stunning Rolls Royce Cullinan (starting at $350,000) was left unattended with its keys on the car’s hood. That almost sounds like an invitation to come take the car, but not in Dubai. The car owner goes to the gym, finishes his workout, and comes back to his gorgeous vehicle waiting outside, right where he had left it. The video, per Khaleej Times, had garnered over 570k views on social media.
Coming back to the Birkin left abandoned on the bollard in Monaco, it belonged to Hanushka Toni who owns a sea of Hermes handbags, and resells the luxurious accessory, among others, on Instagram. Her collection also features a spectacular spread of Dior, Chanel, Valentino, Miu Miu, and Gucci handbags.
