Each Hermes handbag has the Hermes logo embossed in gold or silver print to match the corresponding hardware, or with no color at all, and the text is centered. While this is one of the many ways to spot an inauthentic Hermes handbag, the date code (also known as a date stamp) is a big tool in identifying the year of manufacture and ensuring the bag is real.

Hermes date codes are contained in what they refer to as “blind stamps.” The blind stamp is a code indicating the date of manufacture and can be used in authenticating a bag, as many people do when considering purchasing a used or vintage designer purse, although it is not in and of itself a guarantee of authenticity.  

Hermes uses letters in alphabetical order to date the bags, often surrounded by a shape. From 1945 to 1970, no shapes were used. From 1971 to 1996, a circle shape was used. From 1997 to 2014, a square shape was used. Most recently (2019), no shape was used. If there are additional numbers or letters next to the blind stamp, these indicate the section of the atelier in which the bag maker works.

Use the chart below to help you decipher when your Hermes handbag was manufactured. You can find the stamp on the outer arm on Kelly or Birkin bags, or sometimes, on an interior panel as found on the Constance. Start by looking at the shape contained in the date code, and follow the column to find the manufacture date based on the letter shown inside of the shape.