Gucci Collector bag appraisal site hits Hong Kong

The "Gucci Collector: Presented by Christie’s," an online bag appraisal portal, went live worldwide yesterday. It allows anyone with an old Gucci bag to get the value of their aging designer darlings determined by bonafide archivists.

We can think of few things that hit Hong Kong’s brand-obsessed psyche better. According to "The Cult of the Luxury Brand," Hong Kong has more Gucci stores than New York and Paris, and Asian consumers in general account for as much as half of the global luxe industry.

Users of the Gucci Collector just have to upload photos and dimensions of their vintage bags to the website and wait for two to four weeks for an appraisal. Staff of the fashion label and the auction house will assess the bag’s auction value free of charge and, if it turns out to be a collector’s item, suggest that they sell it to Gucci or Christie’s for a future auction.

It’s the first Gucci-certified online appraisal service, designed to fight fakes and put an end to dodgy negotiations on “uncontrolled auction sites such as eBay,” said Gucci CEO Patrizio di Marco.

It is also a way for ladies to rediscover their love for their woefully passé Gucci pouches, if swapping them for cash as collateral offends their tasteful sensibilities.

"Gucci Collector: Presented by Christie’s" can be found at www.christies.com.