Hermès Year Engraving | Ones Vintage
1｜Introduction
2｜What is the year engraving?
3｜The importance of the year engraving
4｜Marking location
5｜Year engraving letters and year
6｜Complete comparison table of year engravings
7｜Second-hand consignment
1｜Introduction
Want to know when your Hermès bag was made? Since 1945, Hermès has used a variety of symbols and seals. We've compiled a detailed Hermès authentication guide to help you understand the bag you're about to purchase. In this article, you'll learn how to easily decipher the Hermès year markings.
Unlike many brands, Hermès doesn't use a large logo to promote itself, nor does it have labels or authenticity cards. All information about the bag is hidden in a special symbol on the leather, known as a "blind stamp." This article will explain this crucial part of Hermès bags—the vintage stamp, how to identify a bag using the vintage stamp, and where these stamps are located.
2｜What is the year marking?
The year mark represents the symbol of Hermès' workmanship and one of its identification points. The year engravings on bags are symbols and letters inscribed by different craftsmen during the production process, and they hold significant craftsmanship. These symbols not only indicate the year, code, and model of the bag, but also significantly influence its value, status, condition, and material, and are often considered key points in identification.
Bags of different eras and types are usually engraved in different positions, generally on the back of the front strap, but due to the increasing problem of counterfeit goods, since 2015, these engravings have gradually moved to the edge of the inside of the bag, which can more effectively prevent counterfeiting.
3｜The importance of the year mark
The year stamp is incredibly important when verifying the authenticity of a Hermès bag! For those considering buying a pre-owned Hermès bag, this stamp is a reliable way to verify its authenticity. It features a unique code that tells you the year the bag was manufactured. Simply comparing the stamp with the Hermès code system confirms the bag's age and the claimed year of manufacture. A correct stamp significantly increases the likelihood of the bag's authenticity, providing peace of mind and adding value to the transaction.
Furthermore, the year marking isn't just for authenticity; it's also incredibly helpful for determining a bag's market value! Hermès bags are often considered investment pieces, and their market value fluctuates based on many factors, age being a significant one. Older Hermès bags, especially rare or limited editions, can sometimes be worth more than newer ones. The year of manufacture indicated by the year marking can help you accurately assess a bag's value in the secondary market. Collectors and resellers alike rely on this information to set and negotiate prices, ensuring each bag's value is properly recognized.
(source: purseblog)
4｜Marking location
In fact, only Hermès leather products have this stamp. Fabric handbags, for example, do not have any stamp but instead come with a special label.
Another reason why the seal may not be there is that the Hermès leather product was released before 1944. During that period, Hermès did not use any seals on its bags and accessories.
Finally, the engraving may fade, especially on very old Hermès items.
When checking Hermès bags, the engravings on large bags are usually on the back of the metal buckle, the edge of the inner compartment or the bottom. These locations are not very obvious, so pay special attention!
As for small leather goods, the engraving may be on the inside of the zipper compartment, behind the leather label, or on the bottom of the inner lining. These places are also relatively hidden, so you really need to be careful! I hope everyone can find the bag they like!
5｜Year engraving letters and year
First, let’s talk about the relationship between the production year and the year engraving! In general, we can summarize five different Hermès eras and their corresponding date stamp formats.
Phase 1: No marking (1922-1944)
During the first period, from the founding of the Hermès leather department in 1922 until 1944, Hermès bags did not have any stamp at all. Only after this period did the date stamping system begin to appear.
Second stage: single letter engraving (1945-1970)
In 1945, the second period began, when the seals appeared for the first time, with only one letter, a system used until 1970. Most of the seals at that time were single letters without other Hermès symbols.
The third stage: engraving of letters within the circle (1971-1996)
In the third period, Hermès decided to keep the letter system, but added a circle around the letter. Bags from 1971 to 1996 can be identified by the circle letter. Later, Hermès also began to add some other symbols next to the letter.
Phase 4: Square Letter Engraving (1997-2014)
Next up is the period from 1997 to 2014, when the stamp swapped the circle for a perfect square. Bags from this period typically have a square letter stamp, which may also have other symbols next to it.
Phase 5: Simplified Marking System (2015 to Present)
In 2015, Hermès began its fifth era, with a simpler marking system. The first letter indicates the year of production, followed by the letters and numbers that serve as the artisan's stamp. This design eliminates the need for a date stamp to be accompanied by other stamps.
Furthermore, to prevent counterfeiters, Hermès deliberately made the order of the letters unpredictable. Instead of following the alphabetical order, they mixed the letters at the beginning and end of the design, making it harder for counterfeiters to predict. This is truly clever! For example, they skipped the letter "S" in 2015 and the letter "B" again in 2018. These are all clever tricks by Hermès!
It is worth mentioning that since 2015, the year engraving no longer has an outer frame, the font has become bolder, and is often paired with some special symbols, such as dots and lines, which is really distinctive!
6｜Complete comparison table of year engravings
7｜Second-hand consignment
If you're unsure of the vintage of your Hermès handbag, come to Ones Vintage to find out and get your handbag appraised. Whether it's a vintage handbag or the latest model, even if the warranty card is lost or accessories are missing, Ones Vintage offers a consignment quote. We'll proactively inspect and authenticate your handbag, and if it meets our acquisition criteria, we'll provide a quote.
We also offer discounts and giveaways from time to time. Feel free to visit Ones Vintage to find your used items! If you have any questions or need further explanation, please let us know.
