Balenciaga · Tier 3
City
By Arielle · Catalogued July 2026
The Classic City, Balenciaga's motorcycle bag, is the slouchy lightweight shoulder bag that defined mid-2000s It-bag culture. Designed under Nicolas Ghesquière, it grew out of his earlier First and Lariat prototypes and is recognizable by its buttery distressed lambskin, front zip pocket, whipstitched handles, and buckle-and-stud hardware with a mirror and leather tassels on the zip pulls. It carries with both handles or a detachable shoulder strap. The motorcycle line launched in the early 2000s, with the City version dated variously between 2001 and 2003.
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Made in
What the house has produced this bag in, from our sourced records.
Material
Hardware
Permanent finishes are offered year-round; seasonal ones rotate and retire. A finish being listed here doesn’t mean we have one for sale right now.
The Balenciaga City Mini in Black is a designer bag.
What it's worth
Best listed right now: $540 on The Luxury Closet, well below the typical price (median $1,260).
Prices have been trending up over the tracked window.
Discontinued: no longer in production, so resale is the only way to buy it.
By condition · compared like-for-like
Estimated from recorded resale prices (12 with condition unrecorded) · not an appraisal. As of 2026-07-13.
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Guides for this bag
Articles on the City and Balenciaga from our verified experts.
Photos
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Specifications
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Resale price history
+181%
$805 → $2,260 across 16 recorded sales
2026-07 – 2026-07
Estimated from recorded resale prices · not an appraisal or investment forecast. Values can go down as well as up.
Research depth
Where to buy
Pre-filled searches on the major resale platforms. Listings and prices are set by each reseller. What protects you at each venue
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Where to sell
Selling is a trade: top dollar takes patience, fast cash costs you margin, keeping it all costs you the safety net.
See what you'd keep at each venueThe Balenciaga City run through every venue's real published fees, ranked by what lands in your pocket.Or start a sale now
Sell fast for cash
An instant buyout quote. Less than top dollar, but paid on receipt.
Consign for more
Listed for you and paid when it sells, after commission. Usually nets more than a buyout.
Care for it
Grained leather is forgiving, but it still likes a gentle clean and the odd condition.
Leather cleaner
A mild cleaner that lifts everyday grime before it sets into the grain.
Find on Amazon →Leather conditioner
Puts moisture back so the leather stays supple instead of drying and cracking.
Find on Amazon →Protectant spray
An invisible barrier that helps the bag shrug off water and light stains.
Find on Amazon →Our picks are a starting point. Test anything new on a hidden spot first. Some Amazon links are affiliate links.
See the full care shelf →
