How Can You Tell a Real Hermès Kelly?
Real Hermès Kelly bags will be foil stamped on the outside of the bag. Additionally, the heat stamp will be present beneath the front flap and it should read: “Hermès Paris Made in France.” Note that vintage bags made before 1954 may not have this exact stamp. The stamp will be silver, gold, or colorless, depending on the bag. Make sure the slopes of the letters match what you know to be the true logo and that the bag carries any other symbols representative of unique skins or special orders.
Why are Hermès Kelly bags so expensive?
Due to limited supply, there are waitlists as long as six years before a client can buy their very own Hermès Kelly bag. In addition to this, the supply of Kelly bags is often restricted to special clients further limiting their availability. Limited supply coupled with insatiable public demand fuels price growth.
In terms of craftsmanship, each individual Hermès bag is crafted by a solo artisan, and it can take up to 48 hours to bring one Hermès bag to life. The dedicated time and special skillset required from the artisan, in addition to the bag’s use of premium exotic skins and precious metals and stones, to construct a Hermès bag naturally push up the price.
What is the Kelly Retourne?
The Hermès Kelly is available in two different styles: the Sellier and the Retourne. The Sellier has inside stitching on its edges resulting in the bag’s softer lines. Consequently, the Kelly Retourne is more flexible, and therefore has a slouchier silhouette.