Recognising Genuine Hermès: An Authentication Guide
The pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship, Hermès is also the pinnacle of counterfeiting: Oran and Izmir sandals, belts, silk squares and leather goods are copied relentlessly, sometimes to unsettling standards. Here are the fundamental checks.
At NB08, every Hermès piece is checked and authenticated in our boutique before it goes on sale. The key pointers are set out below.
Why check the authenticity of an Hermès piece?
The house's organised scarcity and its prices make it the ultimate target. On sandals and accessories — the most traded pieces — the difference lies in the stamps, the leather and the regularity of the saddle stitching.
Stamps and markings
The 'HERMÈS PARIS MADE IN FRANCE' marking (or ITALY, depending on the piece) is stamped with absolute crispness: fine letters, accents present, perfect alignment. On sandals, the stamp on the insole is even and the size clearly indicated. Any hesitant, thick or slanting stamp is a deal-breaker.
Leather and saddler construction
Hermès leathers (calf, goat, epi…) have a lively grain, a dense hand and a natural smell; the edges are dyed and burnished to perfection; the saddle stitch (sewn by hand on some pieces) is slightly slanted and perfectly even. A smudged edge or a plasticky leather condemns the piece immediately.
Box, accessories and consistency
The orange box, the cloth and the ribbons have precise standards of their own — but beware: fake packaging circulates too. Overall consistency (piece, size, markings, a model that exists in the catalogue) always takes precedence over the accessories.
Price and seller: the warning signs
Hermès is never sold off cheap — ever. Any spectacular 'bargain' is a counterfeit until proven otherwise. Insist on the provenance and have the piece appraised.
Checklist: authenticating an Hermès piece in 7 points
- Crisp HERMÈS PARIS stamp, accents included
- Perfectly aligned markings
- Leather with a lively grain, dense hand
- Dyed and burnished edges
- Even stitches (saddle stitch where applicable)
- Model and size consistent with the catalogue
- Realistic price and documented provenance
Buy authenticated Hermès at NB08
Our Hermès pieces are examined from every angle, checked and authenticated in our boutique before they go on sale.
