Imagine patiently waiting to check in for your flight and upon looking down, realize your beloved diamond and gold-encrusted Birkin full of glimmering goodies is gone.
Resting daintily atop a Louis Vuitton suitcase was the Hermès Birkin bag of a Dubai-bound Russian family in Barcelona. Having arrived slightly late for their Emirates flight at Terminal 1 on August 2nd, the travelers were no doubt worriedly passing through Aeroport de Barcelona-El Prat (BCN). Eventually, it was discovered that their prized possession full of prized possessions was in their possession no more.
The contents of the bag included jewelry, watches and cash. One 47-carat ring alone has been valued at US$5 million; meanwhile, a Chanel brooch, Tiffany & Co. bracelet, Versace necklace, Bvlgari and Chopard watches, and diamond earrings all jangled alongside.
The group notified staff and authorities who did their utmost to ensure the capture of the thieves and the retrieval of the valuables.
Considering such items were being transported, it might be assumed the travelers were in Emirates’ upper echelon of clientele. Ergo, naturally, a hasty recovery process and bespoke customer experience would have followed to hamper the stress of the debacle.
A pair were traced by regional police thanks to the airport’s CCTV footage. It has been revealed a rented Ford Focus posed as the getaway car and the thieves were making solid headway in an effort to leave Barcelona entirely.
The man and woman were tracked along the AP-7 out of town and quick to scramble were the Catalan Mossos D’Esquadra police force, who intercepted the couple and retrieved the loot.
They had ventured to a nearby car rental company after leaving the terminal building. Once there, they had time to peruse the shelves and sign on the dotted line before driving as far away as 100km, where they were arrested two hours after the incident. Fortunately, the bag’s contents had not been altered.
Police Sub-Inspector Francesc Garcia announced in a video shared on Twitter that “thanks to the rapid investigation management”, the thieves have been arrested, and all items returned to their owners.
To the untrained eye, a fancy bag is merely a fancy bag. However, to those in the know, Birkins are immediately distinguishable as a mark of prestige and glamour thanks to their intricate stitching, metal clasps, and unique and controversial hide; crocodile and ostrich skin have often been used, for example.
First introduced after Jane Birkin serendipitously sat next to and met Hermès CEO and artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London, the model was designed as an “everything” tote. While the two discussed what would make the ideal purse, Dumas made crude sketches and inspired by his new muse, proceeded to design The Birkin.
Having rapidly become the brand’s best-selling range, the hallowed Birkin is often sported by celebrities and clients who have proven themselves to be loyal customers and deserving of one. As such, they are deemed unattainable and legitimate assets with a greater ROI than most.
The Emirates travelers at Barcelona Airport were proprietors of a gold and diamond-encrusted Birkin, suggesting it was perhaps the Sac Bijou model. According to Sotheby’s the bag was valued at US$2 million in 2012 and only three are in existence, making it beyond sensationally rare. It could, of course, have been a different model altogether and merely customized by the owners.
Alas, such a treasure was sure to have been just as great a loss, if not more so, than its contents.
Simple Flying
