How To Spot Fake Hermes Birkin Bag

Oh, those Hermes Birking Bags! So beautiful, yet so unachievable. Thousands of people worldwide are trying to get them, but only a few have the privilege to purchase them. However, you can still encounter two or three of these bags daily. How?

The industry of counterfeit bags has been thriving, with products from LV, YSL, Dior, Chanel, and even Hermes Birkin. If you want to buy a Hermes Birkin but don’t know how to differentiate them, read this article!

We have gathered 12 different methods of determining whether you hold a fake product. Enjoy!

In case you want to learn more about authentication of some of the most iconic bags, check them out on: Chanel 19 Bag, Dior Lady Bag, Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette, YSL Kate Bag.

Now let’s dive into our for spotting real vs. fake Hermes Birkin bags.

• The General Look
• The Blind Stamp
• The Hardware
• The Font
• The Lock
• The Key
• The Padlock
• The Stitching
• The Flap Cover
• The Piping
• The Signature Stamp
• The Signature Stamp (Lower-Quality Replica)

The General Look Method

First and foremost, the shape has a visible difference: the authentic Hermes Birkin features a more delicate size and elegant curvature, while the counterfeit version appears larger and has a more angular shape.

The contrast is striking when it comes to the materials used. The two leathers differ significantly—the real leather showcases a refined, velvety smooth surface with a slightly darker shade, while the imitation leather has a textured appearance.

The Blind Stamp Method

Using a blind stamp to verify the authenticity of your Hermes bag is a smart approach to spot differences.

Hermes utilizes letters in their blind stamp to represent bag dates. An isolated letter indicates that the bag with the corresponding blind stamp (ranging from A to Z) was made between 1945 and 1970.

If the blind stamp is enclosed in a circle, it signifies a manufacturing period between 1971 and 1996.

Similarly, a blind stamp with letters A to R inside a square indicates production between 1997 and 2014.

More recently, Hermes has introduced blind stamps without surrounding shapes, incorporating extra letters and numbers that indicate the specific workshop where the bag was crafted.

In this case, the authentic blind stamp matches the forenamed letters and numbers, while the counterfeit tag leaves out crucial information.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on How to Tell if Your Hermes Bag is Fake.

The Hardware Method

Hermes uses high-quality metals for their bags, distinguishing them from the lower-grade alloys used by replica manufacturers. The weight of the hardware is a crucial clue; if your bag feels unusually light, it might raise concerns about its authenticity.

This distinction is even noticeable in photographs. Pay attention to the substantial thickness of the genuine gold plating, contrasting with the thin and inadequate metal in the lower image—an unmistakable sign of lower quality.

The distinctive feature meant for the top has been completely neglected by the replica factories.

The Font Method

Replica factories face challenges when it comes to copy fonts accurately.

In this case, a noticeable difference stands out—the letters on the real bag are noticeably larger and have a square-like shape.

On the other hand, the fake version has rounder and smaller letters, leading to a noticeably altered appearance.

The Lock Method

The genuine lock, known for its sleek design and superior craftsmanship, contrasts the lock shown in the nearby image. It's crucial for the original lock to have a flawless, smooth surface.

The fake lock has a wider but shorter appearance. Its letters are bold and large, making it impossible to miss, which creates a noticeable difference from the authentic lock. The genuine letters are elegantly engraved, seamlessly blending into the background.

It's important to understand that while these methods are relevant in the current counterfeit industry, but counterfeit producers are advancing rapidly. We're witnessing a constant evolution, which makes differentiating between genuine and fake items increasingly difficult.

While trying the techniques explained in this guide is recommended, especially when making valuable purchases, it's wise to consider professional authentication if you've invested significantly in an item.

Authenticate With Our Experts

The Key Method

Like its hardware counterparts, the original key is made from noticeably high-quality metal, a trait that can be seen in images. On the other hand, the fake key gives off a toy-like impression—it's significantly larger and lacks the bold detailing that signifies authenticity.

This difference extends to the overall dimensions shown in the image on the right. It's not just the key; even the numbers are inaccurately sized, going beyond the expected proportions.

The Padlock Method

Why would a key exist without its accompanying padlock? To be fair, the replica factories did a reasonably commendable job imitating this aspect.

Clearly, the visual appearance of the counterfeit padlock closely resembles its counterpart in the left image, but there are still some differences.

Firstly, the sizing is a bit off—the authentic padlock is wider and slightly shorter. Interestingly, the fake version has more curves, deviating from the expected design. Additionally, its overall dimensions are larger than those of the original. On top of that, some fake padlocks might not even be functional.

The Stitching Method

Stitching poses a challenge for replica factories, often failing in their execution. The stitching on counterfeits lacks precision, resulting in a sloppy look that might even appear raised.

Moreover, the leather "tag" is meant to be noticeably narrower, in line with what's shown in the left image.

The Flap Cover Method

The differences in the flap cover might not be immediately noticeable, but upon closer inspection, the sizing contrast becomes evident—the counterfeit flap cover exceeds the dimensions of the authentic one.

Continuing from the previous observation, the stitching on the fake model fares just as poorly here. While the original bag boasts tight and substantial stitches, the counterfeit version significantly lacks in this aspect.

The Piping Method

Hermes maintains its dedication to using the finest materials for its bags, and this quality also extends to precise piping.

Though not immediately apparent in images, the authentic bag ages gracefully, with its materials maintaining pristine quality over time—unaffected by wear and tear.

The same cannot be said for the fake bags, where the lower-quality piping material succumbs to imperfections after only a few months of regular use.

The Signature Stamp Method

When dealing with higher-quality replicas, the letter font is usually more accurately reproduced compared to their lower-quality counterparts.

In this case, the letters retain the intended square-shaped design with a centered stamp. However, a difference in size becomes apparent—the replica letters are noticeably smaller than the specified dimensions.

The Signature Stamp Method (Lower-Quality Replica)

In this situation, the replica uses a different font for its letters, and the words are visibly slanted, which contradicts the intended centered alignment shown in the upper image.

In Conclusion…

Check it out: Hermes Authentication Service.

Authenticate With Our Experts