Hermes Special Stamp | Ones Vintage

1｜Introduction

2 | The composition of the Hermes seal

3 | Craftsman's Mark

4 | Rare leather engraving

5 | Horseshoe Marking

6 | Star Engraving

7 | S Marking

1｜Introduction

The Hermès engraving is a unique mark of identity, allowing products to be traced back to their origins and guaranteeing the brand's authenticity and value. In our previous article, we explained how to read the Hermès vintage engraving and its hidden locations. This article, extending the theme of the Hermès engraving, will discuss two key elements of the engraving: the artisan's stamp and the special engraving.

2 | The composition of the Hermès seal

The Hermès Blind Stamp is an important mark used by the brand to indicate product information. It mainly includes the following components:

1. Date Stamp
2. Craftsman Stamp
3. Special marking

Engraving position

The location of the Hermès engraving varies depending on the product type and is usually hidden in an inconspicuous place.

• Birkin and Kelly bags: Located on the leather inside the flap, near the metal buckle.

• Wallet: Leather trim located inside.

• Other small leather goods: found somewhere inside.

3 | Craftsman's Mark

The Hermès artisan seal is a unique identification mark used to indicate which artisan or workshop made a product. Since every Hermès product is handmade by highly skilled craftsmen, the artisan seal is like a traceability mark, allowing you to know which artisan or workshop the product came from.

This seal, often displayed alongside the year stamp (indicating the year the product was made), is part of the Hermès engraving system. The artisan seal typically consists of a set of letters, numbers, or symbols representing the code of the artisan or workshop. This seal is a crucial element of Hermès products, highlighting the uniqueness of each piece and embodying the brand's commitment to craftsmanship and quality.

For collectors or buyers, understanding the artisan stamp, like the year stamp, is an important part of authenticating the authenticity and tracing the history of Hermès products.

4 | Rare leather engraving

Everyone dreams of owning a special Hermès handbag, as these leathers make them even more unique, rare, and luxurious. Hermès uses the finest leathers from around the world, carefully sourced from Australia to Amazon. If you're still struggling to identify special leathers, we have a simple guide to help you easily identify them.

Bornean giraffe "Λ"

 

(bagsattire.com)

The Bornean gharial (Crocodylus salpinus) is the rarest of the three crocodile skin types. Its small, beautifully symmetrical scales, with tiny pores on the surface, are highly distinctive. Its smooth hide is particularly well-suited for larger Birkin or Kelly handbags. Available in matte or glossy finishes, the latter being a finely polished finish.

Nile crocodile “..”

The scales of the Nile crocodile are larger and more asymmetrical than those of the Bornean giraffe, but without markings, they can be difficult to distinguish. It also has matte and glossy finishes, and its color is rich when polished. While Nile crocodiles are more durable, water stains are permanent. Generally, Nile crocodiles are less expensive than saltwater crocodiles, but Himalaya handbags made from matte Nile crocodiles are an exception. Using an intensive dyeing technique, the Himalaya produces natural brown, gray, and white colors, making it one of the rarest collector's items in the world.

Mississippi alligator "Mouth"

The scales of the square crocodile are larger and squarer, with rougher ridges. While the pores between the scales are invisible, the skin feels thicker and more durable. This type of crocodile is available in matte or glossy finishes.

Nile monitor "—"

(sleekpackshop.com)

This lizard is very rare and has a very lustrous leather. Due to its size, lizard leather is usually only used for small bags and trims. It is very delicate and dries out easily, so it needs to be well cared for.

Salvador monitor lizard

(emier.com)

This Southeast Asian monitor lizard is extremely rare and highly valued. Hermès typically avoids over-processing to preserve its natural texture. The Salvadoran lizard, with its hexagonal scales, is often used in ombre-colored pieces, making it the rarest of lizard skins. Ombre Lizard Birkin and Kelly handbags are among the rarest examples of lizard skin, making it the Himalayan equivalent.

Ostrich leather "unmarked"

Ostrich leather is the most easily recognizable specialty leather, lacking any markings. The round pores are hair follicles, and the more numerous they are, the more valuable they are. Hermès uses common ostriches from South Africa, a leather that changes color over time, making it truly unique.

5 | Horseshoe Marking

(janefinds.com)

If your Hermès item features a horseshoe engraving, it's a dreamlike, special order. This engraving signifies a special order, meaning every detail, from color, material, stitching to hardware, has been meticulously tailored to the owner's specifications.

Hermès custom-made handbags are crafted to the customer's specifications, with the choice of color, leather, hardware, stitching, and style. This exclusive experience is primarily reserved for VIP customers, who typically have a strong purchasing history, are brand loyal, and frequently visit the store.

Hermès accepts custom orders twice a year, with each store limited to a certain number. After placing an order, it must be approved by the store director before being sent to Paris for review. Occasionally, an order is rejected, and once a successful reservation is placed, the customer must patiently wait six to eighteen months. For exotic leathers, the wait can be even longer, sometimes up to three years.

Starting about ten years ago, Hermès has printed a horseshoe-shaped logo (HSS) on each custom handbag. This mark not only looks good, but also represents the preciousness of the handbag and the unique identity of its owner.

While custom handbags used to have virtually unlimited color options, the increased demand has reduced the number of options. Most VIP customers can only choose two colors, one for the outer and one for the inner. The stitching can also be the same color as the leather or a contrasting color.

As for the choice of leather, Hermès has many options, such as Epsom calfskin, Togo calfskin, goatskin, Clemence cowhide, Swift calfskin, and the newly introduced Taurillion Novillo calfskin. Two-tone ostrich leather is relatively rare, while crocodile and alligator leather are the rarest.

6 | Star Engraving

Items with the star-shaped inscription are said to be made exclusively for Hermès insiders. In the past, they were highly prized for their rarity, but in recent years, the allure and stories behind the items have become more important than their mystique.

7 | S Marking

The "S" mark indicates a sale item or special offer, meaning it's sold at a special sale. This can sometimes be confused with the year of manufacture being 1989.