Hermès Authentication: How To Spot FAKE Bags (2024)

Last Updated on June 10, 2024 by Ch David

The popularity of the Birkin and Kelly bags has soared, leading to a surge in counterfeit versions.

That’s why we’ve put together this Hermès authentication tutorial.

How to Tell If a Hermès bag is REAL

The answer is: Check if the “HERMÈS PARIS MADE IN FRANCE” text uses the same font for every letter. Replicas never have the right font.

1. Engraving

• Authentic: Thicker, same font-weight for all letters — with more distance in-between.
• Fake: Thinner inscriptions, and the letters are too close to each other.

On a real bag, the letters should never be “glued” to each other.

Is it too hard? Reach out to our expert Hermès authenticators:

2. Date stamp

2.1. Appearance

• Authentic: Thinner text, as it doesn’t fit so deep in fabric.
• Fake: Thicker inscriptions — too deep into the laether.

2.2. How to read

The illustration shows you how to read your Hermes bag’s date stamp

Use the table above to see if your Hermes bag’s date code matches the authentic database.

Let’s now move on.

3. Handler

• Authentic: Every stitch is angled the same, at 18 degress.
• Fake: Some stitches are straight, while others are angled.

For a Hermes bag to be authentic, every stitch on the handler must be at angled at 18 degrees.

No exception.

4. Buckle

4.1. Exterior

• Authentic:
  1. The edges of the metal are curvier.
  2. The “-HERMÈS-PARIS-” text is thinner.
• Fake:
  1. The metal is too little curvy on its edges.
  2. Thicker inscriptions.

Let’s flip the buckle to the other side.

4.2. Interior

• Authentic: Perfectly straight stitching — also thicker.
• Fake: Stitching is crooked and thin.

A quick mention:

• The steps we’ve written so far are the BEST ways to authenticate this item
• The next few steps are still reliable methods…
• … but they apply to non-top-versions of replicas available for this item

If in doubt, we recommend double-checking the steps we’ve explained above this line.

5. Flap

• Authentic: Solid and thick stitches all over the flap.
• Fake: Very thin stitching — not inspiring high quality.

6. Leather

• Authentic: Bigger patches of fabric.
• Fake: Smaller spots of leather.

7. Lock

• Authentic: Thinner engravings all over the padlock.
• Fake: Very thick “HERMÈS” text logo and numbers.

8. Luggage tag

• Authentic: Thinner threads.
• Fake: Very thick stitching all over the label.

9. H Logo

• Authentic: Smooth golden surface — doesn’t reflect lots of light.
• Fake: Reflects too much light.

9. Dust bag

• Authentic: Smaller and thicker “H” logo.
• Fake: The “H” is too thin and wide.

Shortlist: Quickly tell fake Hermès bags

1. Engraving: Look for thin, closely spaced letters.
2. Date Stamp: Check for thick text deeply imprinted.
3. Handler Stitches: Look for inconsistent stitch angles, some straight.
4. Buckle Exterior: Look for less curved edges and thicker text.
5. Buckle Interior: Look for crooked, thin stitching.
6. Flap: Look for thin, low-quality stitching.
7. Leather: Look for smaller patches of fabric.
8. Lock: Look for thick, heavy engravings.
9. Luggage Tag: Look for thick stitching.
10. H Logo: Look for a reflective gold surface.
11. Dust Bag: Look for a thin, wide “H” logo.

Tick off each feature as you inspect your Hermes bag to determine its authenticity.

Expert Hermès Authentication

Need our opinion on your item’s authenticity? It’s a service we provide.

Get a fully-detailed report for why you have a real or fake item. Takes less than 48 hours!

Alternatively, use our free resources: written guides and video tutorials.

Thank you for reading this,

Ch Daniel and Ch David