A Guide To Hermès Symbols And Stamps

We, of course, all know that Hermès uses codes to date their bags, but did you know that they have many other symbols that showcase different meanings?

From the species of exotic skin to a sale stamp, Hermès, known for being one of the most secretive of luxury houses, is actually the most transparent when it comes to producing their products. Unlike many other luxury houses, Hermès informs clients where they source their exotic skins from in the most elegant ways. This is why Hermès remains as the top Luxury house worldwide.

I have compiled a list of symbols below, some that we all know and some you may not know plus their meanings. This guide is extremely resourceful for those who always wondered what these symbols mean. Enjoy!

What are Hermès date stamps?

Date codes are symbols that we all know. They inform use what year our bag was made and it also helps us identify and confirm the colour and/or leather of the bag. However some years are tricky and have slight inconsistencies to throw off counterfeiters.

Where Can I Find The Date Stamp?

Each code is in a specific area on each bag and can change depending on the year. On a Birkin or Kelly, it can often be found on the bag’s exterior arm or interior panel. For a Constance, it is normally found on the middle interior panel. The list goes on and on!

Hermès Date Stamps Ordered By Year

The chart below lists the historical Hermès date stamps by year, starting in 1945.

No Shape	Circle	Square	No Shape	Notes
1945 – A	1971 – A	1997 – A	2015 – T	For 2015, Hermès skipped “S” to throw off counterfeiters.
1946 – B	1972 – B	1998 – B	2016 – X	Hermès moved the stamp, on the Birkin & Kelly, to the interior side panel rather than on the sangles, this continued into the upcoming years.
1947 – C	1973 – C	1999 – C	2017 – A
1948 – D	1974 – D	2000 – D	2018 – C	Hermès passed the “B” in a square to throw off counterfeiters.
1949 – E	1975 – E	2001 – E	2019 – D
1950 – F	1976 – F	2002 – F	2020 – Y
1951 – G	1977 – G	2003 – G	2021 – Z
1952 – H	1978 – H	2004 – H	2022 – U
1953 – I	1979 – I	2005 – I	2023 – B
1954 – J	1980 – J	2006 – J	2024 – W
1955 – K	1981 – K	2007 – K	2025 – K
1956 – L	1982 – L	2008 – L
1957 – M	1983 – M	2009 – M
1958 – N	1984 – N	2010 – N
1959 – O	1985 – O	2011 – O		In 2011, some Hermès bags, including the Evelyne and the Double Sens, left the atelier with a “JO” in a rectangle rather than a “O” in a rectangle.
1960 – P	1986 – P	2012 – P
1961 – Q	1987 – Q	2013 – Q
1962 – R	1988 – R	2014 – R		Later in the 2014 year production no longer had a surrounding shape.
1963 – S	1989 – S
1964 – T	1990 – T
1965 – U	1991 – U
1966 – V	1992 – V
1967 – W	1993 – W
1968 – X	1994 – X
1969 – Y	1995 – Y
1970 – Z	1996 – Z

Hermès Stamps Identifying Exotic Leathers

Alligator mississippiensis

The symbol used is a square (☐) next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Crocodile Porosus

The symbol used is a caret (^) next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Rouge H K40 Sellier Shiny Porosus PHW 08 — Rouge Kelly 40cm Sellier Shiny Porosus with PHW.
Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Bleu Electrique B35 Shiny Porosus GHW 09 — Bleu Electrique Birkin 35cm Shiny Porosus with GHW.
Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Braise B35 Shiny Porosus PHW 09 — Braise Birkin 35cm Shiny Porosus with PHW.
Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Crocodile Niloticus

The symbol used is a double dot (··) next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Braise B25 Shiny Niloticus GHW 09 — BBraise Birkin 25cm Shiny Niloticus. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Black K32 Matte Niloticus GHW 08 — Black Kelly 32 Matte Niloticus GHW. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter

Varanus Niloticus Lizard

The symbol used is a dash (-) next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Varanus Salvator Lizard

The symbol used is an equal sign (=) next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Hermes Lizard Stamp — Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Hermès HSS (aka Horseshoe or Custom)

The symbol used is a horseshoe next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Black Kelly Depeche 38 Epsom GHW. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

HSS Rose Azalea Malachite B25 Epsom BGHW 09 — HSS Rose Azalea-Malachite B25 Epsom BGHW. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

HSS B35 Etoupe Epsom BGHW 09 — HSS Birkin 35 Etoupe Epsom BGHW. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

HSS K32 Sellier Craie Rose Azalea Epsom GHW 08 — HSS Kelly 32 Sellier Craie-Rose Azalea Epsom GHW. Picture courtesy of Privé Porter.

Hermès Craftsman’s Personal Product

A shooting star is the symbol used to depict that Hermès pieces were made for a Craftsman’s personal use. This symbol is next to the Hermès, Made in France logo displayed on each product.

Hermes Shooting Star Stamp 1 — Image via Maia Luxury

Hermès Sale & Employee Stamp

The symbol used to depict that this Hermès product was purchased at a discounted rate is a “S” which most likely stands for “Sale”. Hermès employees, who are not craftsmen, also get this stamp – sometimes even with an extra line of numbers/letters, depending on the piece.

Hermès Craftsman’s Code

Each Hermès Craftsman will train for years to be able to perfect their craft to produce such high-quality products; they truly are artisans. Just like any great artist, they want to leave their signature on each piece they create. Next to each date code, there are symbols that make most people scratch their heads.

Sometimes, it’s an Omega symbol, numbers, extra letters, and the list could go on!

These are used so when the product is sent in for repair they can determine who was the craftsman behind each piece.