Hermès date codes repeat, and the shape around the letter tells you which cycle a bag belongs to: no shape covers 1945 to 1970, a circle covers 1971 to 1996, and a square covers 1997 to 2014. The letter then names the year, so a square A means 1997.
How do Hermès date codes work?
Date codes are fairly consistent symbols brand to brand. They inform the customer what year a bag was made, and they can often confirm the color or leather of the bag. Hermès date codes can be tricky and include slight variations designed to throw off counterfeits. The code sits in a specific area of the bag, and the position varies based on the year. On a Birkin or Kelly, the date code is usually on the exterior arm or the interior panel, while a Constance carries its date code on the interior middle panel.
What is the full Hermès date code list?
The system runs in cycles. The same letters repeat roughly every 26 years, and the surrounding shape separates one cycle from the next.
| Cycle | Mark | Years | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | No shape | 1945 to 1970 | A = 1945, Z = 1970 |
| Second | Circle | 1971 to 1996 | A = 1971, Z = 1996 |
| Third | Square | 1997 to 2014 | A = 1997, R = 2014 |
From 2015 onward the shape was dropped again, with a few deliberate gaps:
| Letter | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| T | 2015 | S was skipped |
| X | 2016 | Kelly and Birkin stamps moved to the interior panel |
| A | 2017 | |
| C | 2018 | B was skipped |
| D | 2019 | |
| Y | 2020 | |
| Z | 2021 |
- Late 2014 production stopped using the surrounding shape;
- A small number of 2011 designs carried JO instead of O.
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What do the symbols on exotic Hermès bags mean?
Hermès marks exotic skins with a specific stamp for each species, which helps buyers confirm what they are looking at:
- Alligator Mississippiensis: a square symbol;
- Crocodile Porosus: a caret;
- Crocodile Niloticus: a double dot;
- Varanus Niloticus lizard: a dash;
- Varanus Salvator lizard: an equal sign.
What do custom, craftsman and sale stamps mean?
Beyond species, a few special stamps change what a piece is:
- HSS custom: a horseshoe marks a custom piece;
- Craftsman's personal product: a shooting star;
- Sale and employee stamp: an S, for pieces sold at a discounted rate;
- Craftsman's code: a symbol identifying the maker, which can be an omega, numbers or letters.
Where is the date code on a Birkin, Kelly or Constance?
Location matters as much as the letter. On Birkins and Kellys, the date code usually sits on the exterior arm or the interior panel, and from 2016 onward it moved to the interior panel for all upcoming years. On a Constance, look at the interior middle panel. Because position changes by year, always photograph the stamp in place before you compare it against the tables above.
Frequently asked questions
What does a circle stamp mean on an Hermès bag?
The circle marks the middle era: bags made from 1971 to 1996. The letter inside the circle names the exact year within that range.
What year is Hermès date code Z?
Z appears three times in the system: 1970 with no shape, 1996 in a circle, and 2021 with no shape again. The shape tells you which.
What does the S stamp mean?
An S marks sale and employee pieces sold at a discount. It is a permanent part of that bag's record.
What does a horseshoe stamp mean?
A horseshoe marks an HSS custom piece, the stamp Hermès uses on special orders made outside standard production.
Browse authenticated Hermès bags, then go deeper with our guide to Hermès exotic leathers and the Hermès color guide.
