1969 Rabanne Nano Bag: The Most Expensive Bag in the World

Rabanne has hit the spotlight this year with the Spring/Summer 2025 ready-to-wear line that debuted in Paris this past September, and people were waiting in anticipation to view the collection. A standout piece that has many buzzing is the updated version of Rabanne's well-known 1969 Nano bag by Creative Director Julien Dossena. According to Women's Wear Daily, this 18-karat solid gold handbag has been named the most expensive handbag in the world.

Francois Hardy in "the world's most expensive dress."

One thing about Rabanne (formerly Paco Rabanne) is that he will break the boundaries of fashion, as much of his inspiration stemmed from his avant-garde vision and architectural background. In the 1960s, a butcher's chainmail apron influenced Rabanne's signature chain link designs, and shortly after, the original Nano bag was born. The updated version of the handbag pays homage to the "world's most expensive dress" - a 1968 chain link dress weighing nearly 83 lbs and consisting of 300 carats of diamonds and 1000 gold plaques. The infamous dress was donned by Francois Hardy, one of France's most beloved singer-songwriters, and she required protection from security guards and transportation in an armed truck while wearing the valuable piece. Rabanne's gold bag is a tribute to Hardy, who passed earlier this summer. She was a fashion muse to many and was well-beloved by Rabanne. Her ethereal beauty and style made her the perfect canvas for Rabanne's futuristic vision, resulting in many collaborations between the artist and the designer.

Arthus-Bertrand, a renowned French silversmith company, produced exclusive creations involving the reinvention of the classic Rabanne plaques and turning them into medallions, ultimately resulting in the 18k gold version of the original 1969 Nano bag. The chainmail purse reportedly lists at $279,000, and behind its production are 200 hours of research and prototyping, 100 hours of fabrication, and 371 disks per 18k bag. Other highlights from the Spring/Summer 2025 show included the work of two top-notch masons credited with producing the artisan editions of the 1969 handbag. Bertrand and Astier de Villatte, a French luxury homeware brand, constructed a glazed milky white ceramic bag of 550 small disks, requiring ten production days per bag. Italian Glassmaker Venini created a gorgeous gradient Murano glass bag, including 240 disks per bag, with 40 pieces in six colors.

While the handbags come with a hefty price tag, I do not doubt that those who can afford them will try to get their hands on the limited-edition pieces as soon as possible. They will be available to order at the Paris Rabanne Boutique.