Hermès Stamp Guide: Everything You Were Too Shy To Ask

You’ve probably come across the term Hermès stamp, and you’re wondering what on earth it is and where it’s located. Worry not curious one, this Hermès stamp guide is going to answer everything you were too afraid to ask at the boutique. 

First, the basics. 

What Does Hermès Stamp Mean?

The date stamp, also commonly referred to as the date code, comes in handy when you need to inquire about either the date of manufacturing or the godly artisan behind it. These are also sometimes called Hermès blind stamps — confusing, we know, but this is the worst of it, we promise. 

Don’t let this fool you, though. A Hermès stamp isn’t sufficient proof of an authentic purse. You’d be surprised at the lengths fraudsters go to. 

If you’re a Hermès noob, the thought of knowing your investment is stamped enough to have you floating high. However, since these stamps can be altered, why else are they so important? 

You’d be surprised to know real Hermès stamps are also great indicators when it comes to validating or identifying certain colours. We all know that certain colours come with only so much life written to their name, but that doesn’t mean some are eerily similar. 

Take the Candy Series Limited Edition bags for example. Bleu Celeste and Bleu Aztec were quite similar. Some would even go as far as to mix the two up. The ‘P’ stamp, however, was great at telling the two apart. 

Do All Hermès Bags Have A Stamp?

This leads us to our next question: do all their bags have stamps? 

The answer is yes! All genuine Hermès bags produced after 1945 have a Hermès date stamp. This stamp is essential for identifying the bag’s authenticity and age. However, finding the stamp can be tricky as Hermès places them in different spots depending on the bag style and year.

How To Check Hermès Stamp?

Now before you go around hunting for your Hermès stamp with your magnifying glass, you need to know what you’re even looking for. Hermès blind stamps are small, discreet and follow alphabetic order since the mid-40s. 

Originally, the alphabets were circled or squared around. This was back in 1971 and the trend continued till 2015. However, that’s when codes started becoming super random. We’re still not sure what happened there but no worries, we’ll have you up to date in a jiffy. 

Now, to check Hermès stamps, you need to know where to look. Here are some common locations:

• Birkin and Kelly Bags: For Birkins and Hermès Kelly, it’ll be inside, close to the back flap or under the strap
• Constance Bags: On the interior panel
• Evelyne Bags: Inside the closure strap

How To Read Hermès Date Stamp?

Reading Hermès stamps might seem daunting at first, but it’s pretty straightforward once you know what to look for. 

Hermès uses letters, sometimes enclosed in shapes, to indicate the year a bag was made. 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

What Is B Stamp Hermès?

Okay, so following the chart we just shared with you lovelies above, The “B” stamp in Hermès bags indicates the year the bag was made. 

Depending on the shape around the “B,” it could mean:

• No Shape (1946)
• Circle (1972)
• Square (1998)
• No Shape (2023)

What Is U Stamp Hermès?

Similarly, the “U” stamp can indicate different years:

• No Shape (1965)
• Circle (1991)
• No Shape (2022)

What Is Stamp Z In Hermès?

The “Z” stamp follows the same pattern:

• No Shape (1970)
• Circle (1996)

Extra Hermès Stamps: Exotic Leathers and Special Marks

We know we said that was the worst of it (remembering it all can seem a lot like memorising the periodic table), but there’s something we may have forgotten to mention earlier. Hermès also uses additional stamps to denote exotic leathers such as ostrich bags and special orders. 

Here’s what you need to know: 

• Square (☐): Alligator mississippiensis
• Caret (^): Crocodile Porosus
• Double Dots (··): Crocodile Niloticus
• Dash (-): Varanus Niloticus Lizard
• Equal Sign (=): Varanus Salvator Lizard
• Horseshoe: The Hermès horseshoe stamp is custom for VIP clients
• Shooting Star: Bags made for the artisan’s personal use
• Employee Stamp (S): Indicates a bag purchased at a discounted rate by an employee