Birkins, Louis Vuitton trunks, and vintage Chanel: Collecting rare handbags can be a lucrative investment strategy. Check out 5 of the most expensive bags ever sold at auction by Christie's.

Hermès Birkin handbag at the New York Loan Company.Sarah Jacobs/Business Insider

• Christie's is in the midst of its "Summer in the City" handbag auction, which is set to end July 28.
• The auction includes various styles of Hermes bags, including the beloved Birkin and Kelly bags.
• Business Insider teamed up with Christie's to highlight some of the most expensive bags the auction house has ever sold.

The Christie's handbag sale is one of the few times a year where Birkins, Kelly Bags, Louis Vuitton Trunks, and vintage Chanel all come together to be bid upon in peace. It's also one of the few times a year when the ultra-rich en masse drop hundreds of thousands of dollars on some of the rarest bags in the world.

In fact, one of the most expensive items ever sold at the Christie's handbag was a Louis Vuitton Trunk, which sold in 2018 for $198,656. And 2020 could see even more record-breaking sales, especially as wealthy people under lockdown look to put their money in assets like luxury watches, high-end bags, real estate, and artwork.

Business Insider and Christie's teamed up to see what sales this year's bidders have to beat to set a record. Here, in ascending order of price, are some of the most expensive bags the auction house has ever sold.