Hermès

Discover our carefully authenticated selection of vintage Hermès pieces: Birkin, Kelly and Constance bags, silk scarves, belts, jewellery and rare archive accessories. Every piece is hand-evaluated by our team on avenue Louise and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Because Hermès is not just a brand — it is an artisanal heritage that endures.

The history of Hermès, from the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré to today

Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès in the heart of Paris, the house of Hermès began as a saddler and harness-maker, supplying the great courts of Europe with exceptional equestrian equipment. It was Thierry's grandson, Émile Hermès, who initiated the transition to leather goods and fashion in the 1920s, introducing the zip fastener to Europe in the process.

Three creations define the myth. The silk scarf (1937), hand-printed on Lyon twill in up to 45 colours, became the signature accessory of Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy. The H belt (1949), with its reversible metal-plated buckle, remains one of the most copied pieces in luxury. Above all, the Kelly bag (renamed in 1977 in tribute to Grace Kelly) and the Birkin bag (created in 1984 following a chance encounter between Jane Birkin and CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on an aeroplane) have established themselves as the absolute objects of desire in the luxury market.

Hermès remains today a family business 66% owned by the descendants of Thierry Hermès, fiercely independent, with revenues exceeding €13 billion in 2024. Every Birkin or Kelly is entirely hand-sewn by a single craftsperson in one of the French ateliers — a process that takes between 18 and 25 hours and explains the years-long waiting list in boutique.

Iconic Hermès pieces

The Birkin bag

Created in 1984, the Birkin is widely regarded as the most desirable luxury object in the world. Handmade by a single artisan, it comes in sizes 25, 30, 35 and 40 cm (as well as special formats of 20 and 50 cm) and in an exceptional range of leathers: togo (grained, resilient), clémence (supple), epsom (structured), box (smooth, iconic), and exotic leathers (porosus crocodile, alligator, ostrich).

The Kelly bag

Designed as a saddle bag as early as 1935 before being popularised by Grace Kelly, the Kelly is distinguished from the Birkin by its rigid structure, single handle and lock-and-strap closure. It exists in two versions: Kelly Sellier (external seams, rigid structure) and Kelly Retourné (internal seams, softer appearance). Sizes range from 20 to 40 cm.

The Constance bag

Created in 1959 by Catherine Chaillet, an Hermès seamstress who named the bag after her son, the Constance is recognisable by its large H clasp in metal. More discreet than the Birkin or Kelly, it embodies French elegance in its most refined form. Highly sought-after in black or rare-coloured epsom leather.

The silk scarf

Printed on Lyon twill (90 × 90 cm), every Hermès scarf is designed by house artists and screen-printed with up to 45 colours. Vintage scarves from the 1950s–1980s, particularly those by Robert Dallet, Philippe Ledoux or Caty Latham, are highly collected. An authentic scarf is identified by its hand-rolled hem and its signature printed within the design.

The H belt and small leather goods

The reversible H belt is the most accessible entry point to the house and one of its most counterfeited pieces. Wallets, agendas, cardholders and leather bracelets (notably the Kelly double tour) complete an accessible Hermès wardrobe that is highly sought-after secondhand.

Jewellery and watches

Vintage Hermès jewellery includes Clic H enamel bracelets, Collier de chien rings, and Chaine d'ancre earrings. Hermès watches — notably the Cape Cod and Arceau — are prized pieces of artisanal horology on the secondhand market.

How to authenticate an Hermès piece

Authenticating an Hermès piece requires the examination of several combined criteria. No single point is sufficient — it is the coherence of the whole that matters. Here are the 7 checkpoints we systematically verify in our atelier on avenue Louise.

1. The date code and craftsperson stamp

Every Hermès bag produced since 1945 carries a date code inside, typically stamped beneath the flap or inside a strap: a letter (framed or unframed depending on the era) identifies the year of production. An additional digit or letter identifies the craftsperson. This code is blind-stamped and cannot be falsified without leaving a trace.

2. The saddle stitching

Hermès bags are hand-sewn using the saddle stitch: two needles, two waxed linen threads, passed simultaneously through the same hole. This crossed stitch is impossible to reproduce by machine and presents absolute regularity at a constant 45° angle. Count between 4 and 5 stitches per centimetre depending on the model and era.

3. The leather and its stamping

Hermès leather systematically carries the stamping "Hermès Paris Made in France" in gold or silver lettering inside. Authentic stamping is deep, clean, centred and without smudging. The quality of the leather — scent, suppleness, grain — is immediately perceptible.

4. The hardware

Clasps, padlocks, keys and closures are made from brass plated in palladium, gold or rose gold. They are heavy, perfectly polished and engraved "Hermès" on the hidden face. The authentic padlock comes with two small numbered keys matching the padlock number.

5. The interior lining

The interior of an Hermès bag is lined in chevreau (for the Kelly and Birkin). The lining is sewn with the same precision as the exterior, with interior pockets featuring a zip engraved "Hermès". The colour of the lining corresponds to precise codes depending on the model and year.

6. The hand-rolled hem (for scarves)

The authentic Hermès scarf hem is made entirely by hand: the edge of the silk is rolled between the artisan's thumb and index finger and sewn with a silk thread in a matching colour. The hem is approximately 5 mm, slightly irregular (a sign of handwork). A machine-rolled hem is flat and perfectly regular — and fake.

7. The box and packaging

The characteristic orange Hermès box, brown ribbon and orange tissue paper are recognisable but easily replicated. Authenticity is verified through the quality of the card (thick, rigid, perfectly printed) and above all its coherence with the piece it contains.

Our method: at Les Enfants d'Édouard, every piece undergoes a three-stage examination — visual inspection, technical