Our Designer Handbags & Accessories auction often includes a variety of Hermès handbags and accessories. Hermès has remained faithful to its quality and craftsmanship. Today you can still recognise Hermès for their traditional techniques.
The company, established in 1837, is primarily known for its handbags. However, this wasn't always the case, the company first started making handcrafted harnesses, bridles and saddles. In 1922 they made their first handbag and in 1937 their first scarf.
Hermès History
Something really interesting to know about their iconic items, besides the fact they come with great history, is you can easily find how old your purchase is by identifying the date stamp on all leather items made by Hermès after 1945. All of their leather items should have a blind stamp. Hermès uses letters in alphabetical order to date the bags surrounded by a shape.
The company always hires the best artisans who are specially trained in leather. Many processes must be followed to make each item a ‘Hermès’. It is these authentication facts that make up the overall uniqueness of a Hermès item. The stamps are a final seal of approval by an official inspector in passing the quality of the items made for sale. The stamp contains the date code which is a way of identifying the artisan and the workshop in which the item was made. If an item is not passed by the inspector it is actually discarded!
For example, if you came across a stamp that had an hourglass, AR & a P inside a square, the hourglass is the mark of a master artisan, AR would identify which factory the item was made in and the square will have an alphabet within it which identifies the year it was made. Another reason to include the stamps is for repair if ever it is needed as the stamp would be able to identify which artisan crafted the bag and it would go directly to the person/factory.
Types of Hermès Stamps
An ‘S’ Stamp
The S stands for sale and at Hermès it has happened twice a year since 1938, bags stamped with S have a lower resale value, not that much lower though!
A Shooting Star Stamp
Handcrafted for an employee of Hermès or the Artisan themself. Some see the shooting star as being a collectable.
Horse Shoe Stamp
Horse Shoe stamp indicates the bag has been a special order. Special ordered bags can include a coloured interior or even your initials blind-stamped in the bag.
Exotic Skin Stamps
Exotic Skin Stamps are on the front of the bag to the left of the Hermés made in Paris stamp and will be in either the same silver or gold as the brand stamp or plain. Alligator, crocodile, lizard, ostrich handbags and look like, •• (Crocodile Niloticus), ^ (Crocodile Porosus), - (Varanus Niloticus Lizard), = (Varanus Salvator Lizard), or a square (Alligator Mississippiensis).
Hermès Birkins at Auction
These date stamps and symbols are important to all Hermès bags as they validate their authenticity. However, looking for them is important as fake bags also try to replicate these stamps. Finally, it is so important when buying a second-hand to use a reliable and trusted seller like Fellows Auctioneers.
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