How to Authenticate Hermès Bags
Our authentication team have put together some tips on how to Authenticate Hermès Bags. It is important to educate yourself in the brands that you invest in.
To authenticate Hermès you require years of knowledge and research, Hermès is one of most difficult brands to authenticate, Hermès specialists have years of experience and dedication devoted to only Hermès. Hermès is a French fashion house rich in history and is the most coveted brand worldwide. known for their exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious leathers and silks. Our resident expert has put together a guide on how to authenticate Hermès Bags using the date stamps.
Date Stamps are stamped in to the bag’s clochette or discreetly hidden within the leather along with the Hermès artisans ID stamp. The date stamps should match the year in which the bag was purchased. From 1945 onwards Hermès stamped their bags without a shape, in 1971 Hermès introduced shapes into the date stamps, the letter was set inside the shapes. In 2015 to the present the Hermès date stamps do not have any shapes. Exotic materials have unique and special stamps.
How to authenticate Hermès Bags using the date stamps
| No Shape | (Circle) | [Square] |
| 1945 A | 1971 A | 1997 A |
| 1946 B | 1972 B | 1998 B |
| 1947 C | 1973 C | 1999 C |
| 1948 D | 1974 D | 2000 D |
| 1949 E | 1975 E | 2001 E |
| 1950 F | 1976 F | 2002 F |
| 1951 G | 1977 G | 2003 G |
| 1952 H | 1978 H | 2004 H |
| 1953 I | 1979 I | 2005 I |
| 1954 J | 1980 J | 2006 J |
| 1955 K | 1981 K | 2007 K |
| 1956 L | 1982 L | 2008 L |
| 1957 M | 1983 M | 2009 M |
| 1958 N | 1984 N | 2010 N |
| 1959 O | 1985 O | 2011 O* |
| 1960 P | 1986 P | 2012 P |
| 1961 Q | 1987 Q | 2013 Q |
| 1962 R | 1988 R | 2014 R |
| 1963 S | 1989 S | 2015 T – Letters and Digits |
| 1964 T | 1990 T | 2016 X – Letters and Digits |
| 1965 U | 1991 U | 2017 A – Letters and Digits |
| 1966 V | 1992 V | |
| 1967 W | 1993 W | |
| 1968 X | 1994 X | |
| 1969 Y | 1995 Y | |
| 1970 Z | 1996 Z |
* Below are some images of Hermès date stamps from the Luxury Promise archives.
This A Stamp from 2017 image is taken of a Birkin 35.
Pictured is a 2017 A stamp from a Birkin 35.
Pictured is an [A] Stamp from 1997 this s pictured on a rare Ado Backpack.
Pictured is the [O] Date Stamp 2011 from a Birkin 35.
Pictured is a T stamp from a Kelly 35 2015.
This is a [L] square stamp 2008 from a Birkin 35.
Exotic Skins
The stamp will also feature the artisan’s ID and an indicator symbol of exotic skins the back is crafted from (if applicable) – “square” for alligator, “..” for Niloticus crocodile, “˄” for Porosus crocodile, and “-“ for lizard.
Pictured is the Hermès Stamping for Porosus crocodile.
Pictured is an Hermès Niloticus crocodile Skin Birkin 25.
Pictured is the -” stamp for lizard (Varanus Niloticus) skin, there are two types of lizard skin and the =’ Stamp for Lizard (Varanus Salvator), While both come in an array of colours the “Salvator” specie also comes in a natural colour known as Ombre.
Pictured is a =’ Stamp for Lizard (Varanus Salvator) this is the natural Ombre colour.
All exotic skins is CITES controlled.
Rare Stamps
Pictured is the Shooting Star Stamp. The shooting star stamp is a special bag crafted by the Hermès Artisan for friends and family. Hermès use to allow artisans to craft their own bags once a year. These bags are known to be the best as lots of love and care went it to creating the bags.
The “Horse Shoe” Hermès stamp is a special Order. Hermès invite only elite selected clients to create their very own Birkin or Kelly, they are able to choose every details on the bags. The special orders are then sent to the atelier Paris where artisans craft the bags. Sometimes these orders can take years to complete. This is every fashionistas ultimate dream.
