Year codes, enclosing shapes and special symbolsEditorial illustration. The letter grids and glyphs below are diagrams, not photographs of authenticated stamps.
Read the letter and its enclosing shape together. The date code contributes a manufacture-year attribution; it is not a unique serial number, a retail purchase date or a complete ownership history. Brand signatures, workshop or artisan codes, material symbols and Special Order marks serve different purposes and may occupy different locations.
The grids reproduce widely used collector conventions, which can be compared with Lilac Blue's date reference and the LegitGrails chart. These are independent references, not an official Hermès production ledger. The whole bag and its records must remain consistent with the proposed date.
Modern sequence: unframed letters
The modern sequence is not alphabetical. An unframed letter must be considered with the model and period because plain letters also occur in the earlier sequence. Stamp placement varies; one location should not be imposed on every bag.
2025K
2024W
2023B
2022U
2021Z
2020Y
2019D
2018C
2017A
2016X
2015T
Square sequence: 1997–2014
2014R
2013Q
2012P
2011O
2010N
2009M
2008L
2007K
2006J
2005I
2004H
2003G
2002F
2001E
2000D
1999C
1998B
1997A
Circle sequence: 1971–1996
1996Z
1995Y
1994X
1993W
1992V
1991U
1990T
1989S
1988R
1987Q
1986P
1985O
1984N
1983M
1982L
1981K
1980J
1979I
1978H
1977G
1976F
1975E
1974D
1973C
1972B
1971A
Earlier plain-letter sequence: 1945–1970
1970Z
1969Y
1968X
1967W
1966V
1965U
1964T
1963S
1962R
1961Q
1960P
1959O
1958N
1957M
1956L
1955K
1954J
1953I
1952H
1951G
1950F
1949E
1948D
1947C
1946B
1945A
A missing or unreadable mark does not automatically date a bag before 1945. Wear, placement, repairs and incomplete photographs can leave the code unresolved. Compare any proposed year with the history of the model itself.
Special and exotic symbols
These typographic glyphs illustrate conventional associations. An empty square identifying a skin is different from a square enclosing a year letter. Examine the actual symbol, its location and the surrounding brand signature.
∪Horseshoe / Special OrderWhen genuine, the horseshoe supplies Special Order context. Orders may be monochrome or use contrasting components. The symbol does not establish unrestricted customization, a unique one-of-one bag or an automatic resale premium.
★Shooting starIdentify the context. An artisan-related mark near the brand signature differs from a decorative star on a later clochette. Neither symbol by itself establishes an absolute resale prohibition or a complete ownership history.
^Caret: Porosus crocodileConventionally associated with Crocodylus porosus. Record the skin, finish and color separately. Its mark does not identify where that individual hide was sourced or place it at a fixed value above every other exotic.
··Two dots: Niloticus crocodileConventionally associated with Crocodylus niloticus. A Niloticus mark alone does not identify a Himalaya; the color treatment and exact configuration also matter.
□Empty square: American alligatorConventionally associated with Alligator mississippiensis. Shiny and matte finishes exist. Do not confuse this separate skin symbol with a framed date letter.
–Dash: Niloticus lizardCollector references associate the dash with Varanus niloticus. It is not a generic mark covering every lizard or every Ombré example.
=Equals sign: Salvator lizardCollector references associate the equals sign with Varanus salvator. Christie's documents Ombré Salvator examples, including a Birkin 25 dated 2007.
Photograph the complete impression and enough surrounding leather to establish placement. Workshop and artisan codes are not an invitation to infer a named craftsperson. An unfamiliar sequence or an unclear enclosure needs comparison with appropriate records, not an automatic authenticity verdict.
Distinguish manufacture, retail purchase, resale and service dates. A later invoice need not match the year code. If two descriptions genuinely conflict, keep that discrepancy explicit until the actual marks and available records resolve it.
