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Article: Decoding Hermès Date Stamps: The Complete Collector's Reference

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Hermès Date Stamp Guide

The complete reference: 1945 – present
A
Vintage Era 1945–1970
A
Circle Era 1971–1996
A
Square Era 1997–2014
T
Modern Era 2015–Present

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.

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 — 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 Varanus Niloticus. A small dash adjacent to the Hermès stamp indicates lizard skin. Most often seen on Ombré Lizard pieces and small leather goods.
JaneFinds Condition Guide  |  Hermès Date Stamp Guide  |  Accessory Chains  |  Hermès Size Guide  |  Sell Your Hermès

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Decoding Hermès Date Stamps: The Complete Collector's Reference

Hermès Stamps: A Guide for Collectors

Hermès Date Stamp Guide

The complete reference: 1945 – present
A
Vintage Era 1945–1970
A
Circle Era 1971–1996
A
Square Era 1997–2014
T
Modern Era 2015–Present

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.

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 — 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 Varanus Niloticus. A small dash adjacent to the Hermès stamp indicates lizard skin. Most often seen on Ombré Lizard pieces and small leather goods.
JaneFinds Condition Guide  |  Hermès Date Stamp Guide  |  Accessory Chains  |  Hermès Size Guide  |  Sell Your Hermès

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