Hermès Date Stamp Guide
The complete reference: 1945 – present
How to read a blind stamp
A complete Hermès blind stamp is three things read together: the year letter (with or without a shape, per the eras below), the craftsman identification (numbers and letters beside the year letter, identifying the artisan and atelier section), and on exotic pieces, the skin symbol. A year letter with no craftsman ID beside it, or a claimed exotic with no skin symbol, requires explanation before anything else about the bag does.
Modern Era (No shape)
Collector's Note
In 2015, Hermès abandoned the shape system entirely. Stamps are now plain blind letters, often stamped on the interior left side panel rather than the strap. The sequence is no longer strictly alphabetical; letters are assigned non-sequentially.
2026
G
2025
K
2024
W
2023
B
2022
U
2021
Z
2020
Y
2019
D
2018
C
2017
A
2016
X
2015
T
Square Era (1997–2014)
2014
R
2013
Q
2012
P
2011
O
2010
N
2009
M
2008
L
2007
K
2006
J
2005
I
2004
H
2003
G
2002
F
2001
E
2000
D
1999
C
1998
B
1997
A
The 2014 transition
Towards the end of 2014, Hermès began transitioning to the modern blind-stamp format. While the standard for 2014 was R inside a square, some late-2014 pieces show a plain R without a shape, an early adoption of the post-2015 system.
The JO exception
Certain casual-line bags of this era, notably the Evelyne and Double Sens, left the ateliers with a JO stamp inside a rectangle in place of the standard year letter in a square. A JO-rectangle on one of these models is a documented production variant, not a counterfeit signature. On a Birkin or Kelly, it would be.
Circle Era (1971–1996)
1996
Z
1995
Y
1994
X
1993
W
1992
V
1991
U
1990
T
1989
S
1988
R
1987
Q
1986
P
1985
O
1984
N
1983
M
1982
L
1981
K
1980
J
1979
I
1978
H
1977
G
1976
F
1975
E
1974
D
1973
C
1972
B
1971
A
Vintage Era (1945–1970)
1970
Z
1969
Y
1968
X
1967
W
1966
V
1965
U
1964
T
1963
S
1962
R
1961
Q
1960
P
1959
O
1958
N
1957
M
1956
L
1955
K
1954
J
1953
I
1952
H
1951
G
1950
F
1949
E
1948
D
1947
C
1946
B
1945
A
Special and exotic symbols
Horseshoe (HSS / Special Order)
Indicates a Special Order custom-made for a client. Often features bi-color or tri-color leather combinations, non-standard hardware, or unusual size configurations.
Shooting Star
Indicates a bag made for a Hermès craftsperson as a personal gift. Technically not for resale, and among the rarest stamps encountered in the secondary market.
Caret – Porosus Crocodile
Crocodylus Porosus. The finest and most expensive exotic skin. Harvested from the Indo-Pacific saltwater crocodile; distinguished by its symmetrical, fine-grained scales.
Two Dots – Niloticus Crocodile
Crocodylus Niloticus. Nile crocodile. The skin used for the Himalayan Birkin and Kelly. Slightly larger scale pattern than Porosus.
Square – Alligator
Alligator Mississippiensis. American alligator. Most commonly found in matte finish. The umbilical pattern is the key visual differentiator from crocodile.
Dash – Lizard
A small dash adjacent to the Hermès stamp indicates lizard skin: Varanus Niloticus or Varanus Salvator, the water monitor whose natural banding produces the Ombré gradient. Most often seen on Ombré Lizard pieces and small leather goods.