It's better to invest in a Hermes' Birkin bag than in gold or the stock-market

The fashion accessory named after Jane Birkin has increased in value by 500 per cent in the last 35 years

A crocodile Hermes Birkin (AFP/Getty)

A study by online retailer Baghunter has shown that is better to invest in a Hermes’ Birkin bag than in gold or the stock-market.

The iconic luxury handbag, which was given the name after British singer and actress Jane Birkin, has increased in value by 500 per cent in the last 35 years - that’s faster rate than gold or the US market.

Bringing home the Birkin: Jane with her eponymous handbag

According to the study, since 1980 gold has depreciated in value at a rate of 1.5 per cent a year, while the Biking bag went up by 14.2 per cent, making the fashion accessory "the safest and least volatile investment market".

Glad bags: the £270,000 Hermès Birkin

"As a whole, the study findings show how stable the ultra-luxury industry has been over the past 35 years when compared to more traditional investment opportunities," Evelyn Fox, founder of Baghunter, told Luxurydaily.com. "In particular, the study displays how high-end, rare and sought-after luxury items such as Hermès Birkin handbags have never dropped in value, even during times of recession and economic difficulty,” she continued.

"There is a difference between luxury and ultra-luxury," she added. "While the luxury market suffers during worse economic times, the ultra-luxury market is impervious to economic factors that can affect other industries such as high-street retail and stock markets.”

The handbag, a beclasped and catchable leather tote (with a dinky little lock), has become one of the most sought-after things ever in the fashion industry. Celebrities, from Victoria Beckham to Kim Kardashian and even Pharrell Williams own a Birkin or two - it's even said that Beckham owns the biggest collection yet, which in 2009 was reportedly worth at £1.5m.

The staggering price tag has also made the Birkin a symbol of wealth. It retails between £7,500 and £100,000, however, even if you can afford it, it's tricky to get hold of one at the shop. There’s a six-year waiting list to own one - the only way to get a new one quickly is at auction, where they go for as much as £160,000. Alternatively, you can buy it second hand at online shops such as Vestiaire Collective.