6 chapters across the catalog
Jane Birkin Bag Auction, Sotheby's Paris, $10 Million Sale
The original Hermes Birkin bag, created for actress Jane Birkin in 1981, sold for over $10 million at a Sotheby's auction in Paris. The bag, which includes Birkin's initials and personal nail clippers, was purchased by a Tokyo-based reseller. The hosts joke about creating a "Dvorak Duffel" in response.
Three original videotapes of the Apollo 11 moonwalk, which NASA previously admitted were lost, are set to be auctioned at Sotheby's. The tapes were originally purchased by a NASA intern at a government surplus auction in the 1970s for $200 and are now expected to sell for $2 million.
A famous Banksy painting, "Girl with Balloon," self-shredded immediately after being sold for over $1 million at a Sotheby's auction. Banksy released a video claiming he built a shredder into the frame years ago in case it was ever auctioned. Skepticism is expressed regarding the battery life and technical feasibility of a device sitting dormant for years.
De Beers Diamond Market and Economic Indicators
The "Raj Pink" diamond fails to sell at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva, signaling a potential downturn in the luxury gem market. Dvorak reflects on his "biggest mistake" of not investing in De Beers during college. The hosts discuss how high-quality synthetic diamonds and the rise of Bitcoin as a "store of value" are disrupting the traditional use of diamonds for wealth preservation and money laundering.
The European Union reached an agreement allowing member states to ban the cultivation of GMO crops even if they are approved by EU regulators. In a separate, confusing news item, a record-setting 4.16-pound white truffle was sold at a New York auction to a buyer from Taiwan for $61,000. Despite reportedly higher offers from China, the auction house chose the New York venue to ensure proceeds went to local charities.
Artist Damien Hirst is bypassing traditional dealers to sell his work directly through Sotheby's, with an estimated total value of 65 million pounds. The centerpiece of the auction is "The Golden Calf," a bullock preserved in formaldehyde with 18-karat gold horns. The hosts discuss the art world as a potential scam and the risks of investing in living artists.
