How Can I Determine If My Birkin or Kelly Purchased From a Reseller is Authentic?

Dear PurseBop:

What are some areas I can check to determine if my Hermes Birkin or Kelly is authentic?

Dear Authenticate My Bag:

Below are several areas you can check yourself to determine if your Hermès Birkin or Kelly is authentic. However, we urge you to have a professional authentication performed on all bags that were not purchased from a Hermès boutique. 

• Smell: The leather smell is very unique. The aroma in Hermès bags is rich and distinct. Hermès only uses the finest leather and you can smell the difference. The imposter leathers are inferior and do not have the same rich deep scent. Some even smell toxic.
• Stitching: The saddle stitch is hand stitched by one artisan and cannot be replicated by a machine. It is done with two needles and at a precise angle. It requires two needles simultaneously passing through the same seam. This ensures the stitch does not come undone. It should look slightly angled and very uniform. It is very difficult to replicate this procedure.
• Hardware: The hardware is usually gold plated, rose gold, or palladium unless it is a special order. It should be uniform in color and weight. Be sure to check the 4 clous (feet) on the bottom. If the feet have different color hardware on the bottom than the rest of the bag this is a red flag. The feet should be secure and not twist. Pins that look like nail heads on the front of the bag securing the hardware are difficult to replicate. They are applied by hand and not by machine.
• Serial Number and Blind Stamp: There is no authentication card in a Hermès bag. The blind stamp is located on the inside left corner of Birkins and Kellys. In older or vintage bags the stamp was located in different areas. Hermès uses a different letter representing each year the bag was created followed by more letters and numbers which include the artisan’s initials at the end or underneath the blind stamp. The blind stamp is embossed into the leather and is a distinct and unique feature of Hermès bags.
• Handles: The handles should look upright and structured. They should not be bent, slouch or lean. They should look balanced and even. The handles of the Birkin and Kelly are one of the most difficult areas of the bag to replicate. Observe where the handle is attached to the bag. It should be even and symmetrical and in the proper location.
• Hermès Logo: The logo: “Hermes Paris Made in France” is on two lines, with the first letter of each word capitalized. Each line is in smaller letters than the line above. The ink used is crisp and clear, with no ink bleeding of the letters. The spacing and location of this logo is also very important. It should be approximately one centimeter below the stitching on the front of the bag. There must be an accent over the “è” in Hermès. 
• Leather: Hermès uses only the finest leathers. The bag is created from a single piece of leather. It should look well-proportioned and even from all sides. If it looks pieced together that is a red flag. 
• Dust Bag: The dust bag is a herringbone pattern in the fabric. It is beige in color with a dark brown logo in the center of the bag. It should have a dark brown drawstring. If the dust bag is a different color or the logo ink bleeds, these are signs it may not be authentic.
• Professional Authentication: Have your bag professionally authenticated by a trusted authenticator. Most reputable resellers will give a lifetime guarantee on the authenticity of your bag. If they do not provide this guarantee, consider buying from another source.