Please help identify leather, color and design

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#1,046
As requested, this thread is now the official Help I.D. Hermes leather, color and design thread. Cheers!



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Edited: Please do nat ask for authentication on this thread.

Reply to any questions regarding any items are NOT be taken as a sign of authenticity. You will have to find a reputable paid-for service.

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#3,391
Stickierice said:
Hello!

So I have a few B40's and decided that I wanted to try a B35. I am a guy and I don't like small bags. Went to a resale shop just to try on for sizing. That's where I noticed something. I went home and took a deep dive into this. The handles look different and are not consistent. I have posted some pics of my research and can you tell me why some handles are longer and more oval-shaped and some handles are more rounded. As a constant, I did the same size B35 and togo leather in all bags. Years didn't matter, 2006-2022 are all over the place. I looked at B25's and B30's too and the same thing. Can anyone tell me what the deal is? The pics that I borrowed were from Christie's Auction House and not an online reseller. Please help, I prefer the more elongated handles rather than the rounded ones, my B40s are like that.

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Several years ago (2008?), I remember reading on this forum that there is another factor that contributes to handle variation but I cannot find the thread:

A bag is made by the same craftsperson from beginning to end. When it comes to constructing the handles, they may be holding it against their thigh during the process. As people have different sized thighs, this nuance can show up in the way the handles end up taking shape.

At the time and even now, I thought the above really interesting and reinforces the handmade, artisanal quality we love about H. I do hope that I’m not remembering this incorrectly and hope some O.G.’s can help verify.

Tagging some folks who may remember this:
@docride @MaiTai @Addy

Thanks in advance!
 
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#3,392
Thanks so much for your insight on the handles. Since 2008 H bags are no longer hand-sewn by one artisan. Based on a few interviews that I have read and watched, there is a team of artisans that now make the bags. I am sure that there is an artisan that finishes your bag. However, the team does different parts of constructing your bag. Cutters, handle making, HW, hand sewing, machine sewing, etc. So, I believe that if you wanted a completely hand-sewn bag, it would have to be 2008 and before. But in regard to your statement, you would think that they would be consistent with how the handles would look when finished. But completely understand why now. Thank you so much!
 
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#3,393
Stickierice said:
Thanks so much for your insight on the handles. Since 2008 H bags are no longer hand-sewn by one artisan. Based on a few interviews that I have read and watched, there is a team of artisans that now make the bags. I am sure that there is an artisan that finishes your bag. However, the team does different parts of constructing your bag. Cutters, handle making, HW, hand sewing, machine sewing, etc. So, I believe that if you wanted a completely hand-sewn bag, it would have to be 2008 and before. But in regard to your statement, you would think that they would be consistent with how the handles would look when finished. But completely understand why now. Thank you so much!
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Part of my orange bubble bursted! Thank you for sharing this. I still love H but since I’ve been MIA I’m now keen to get updated. Will pm you for links in case mods deem this a off topic. :)
 
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#3,395
Hello! I'm curious about this 2013 Kelly in Raisin - for those who have seen the color in person, does this photo seem to depict it accurately? Would you describe it as a warm-toned, red-wine purple/burgundy shade, or more of a cool-toned purple? In looking at photos on TPF and other places online, it seems like the color looks different all the time - but it also sounds like there have been some different variations of the Raisin color, if I'm understanding correctly?

Thanks so much for your expertise!

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#3,396
dazzledaisy said:
Hello! I'm curious about this 2013 Kelly in Raisin - for those who have seen the color in person, does this photo seem to depict it accurately? Would you describe it as a warm-toned, red-wine purple/burgundy shade, or more of a cool-toned purple? In looking at photos on TPF and other places online, it seems like the color looks different all the time - but it also sounds like there have been some different variations of the Raisin color, if I'm understanding correctly?

Thanks so much for your expertise!

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I have a K32 in Raisin with PHW, mine is more of a deep purple and cool toned especially with the PHW. But as you have indicated this is a colour that changes depending on the year of production. I think it was last in production in 2019. There are many who love the more warm toned variation with the GHW. You will see both online- If looking with FF I would ask for additional pics of the exact bag as they do sometimes use "stock" photos. I hope this helps!
 
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#3,397
dazzledaisy said:
Hello! I'm curious about this 2013 Kelly in Raisin - for those who have seen the color in person, does this photo seem to depict it accurately? Would you describe it as a warm-toned, red-wine purple/burgundy shade, or more of a cool-toned purple? In looking at photos on TPF and other places online, it seems like the color looks different all the time - but it also sounds like there have been some different variations of the Raisin color, if I'm understanding correctly?

Thanks so much for your expertise!

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Raisin is one of those colors that varies not only by leather but by dye lot and can be quite brown or very purple. I hate to say this but you are better off seeing the bag IRL. (I bought a Raisin bag online once and when I went to pick it up it turned out to be Havane!)
Recommending the "Ode to Raisin" thread highly for researching this color :flowers:
 
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#3,398
QuelleFromage said:
Raisin is one of those colors that varies not only by leather but by dye lot and can be quite brown or very purple. I hate to say this but you are better off seeing the bag IRL. (I bought a Raisin bag online once and when I went to pick it up it turned out to be Havane!)
Recommending the "Ode to Raisin" thread highly for researching this color :flowers:
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Thank you! This is super helpful.
 
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#3,401
Stickierice said:
Thanks so much for your insight on the handles. Since 2008 H bags are no longer hand-sewn by one artisan. Based on a few interviews that I have read and watched, there is a team of artisans that now make the bags. I am sure that there is an artisan that finishes your bag. However, the team does different parts of constructing your bag. Cutters, handle making, HW, hand sewing, machine sewing, etc. So, I believe that if you wanted a completely hand-sewn bag, it would have to be 2008 and before. But in regard to your statement, you would think that they would be consistent with how the handles would look when finished. But completely understand why now. Thank you so much!
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As of 2019, at least special orders were made by one person. I met the artisan that made an SO I picked up that year.
 
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#3,402
QuelleFromage said:
As of 2019, at least special orders were made by one person. I met the artisan that made an SO I picked up that year.
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That's interesting! So you're saying that SO bags are all hand-stitched and regular bags are not? I am just curious as I have read and been told so many different stories. So please, no shade/disrespect to you at all. Based on H bags, the insides are machine stitched. The artisans who do the hand stitching are not taught how to do machine stitching and vice versa. I am going to try and look for a video that I saw in an H Studio. One woman was machine stitching crocodile or alligator watch bands and left the ends free. Then she handed them over to an artisan who hand-finished/stitched the watchbands on both ends to complete it. I believe that that is how they create quota bags and SO's. I would love to hear some comments on this. If you look at the inside of your bags, SO or not, you can tell that the stitching is even and created by machine. Other luxury brands have slanted stitching as well and it's not hand-stitched. They are all done on special machines that create that type of stitch. Please chime in if you know differently. I really appreciate the education.
 
#3,405
Stickierice said:
That's interesting! So you're saying that SO bags are all hand-stitched and regular bags are not? I am just curious as I have read and been told so many different stories. So please, no shade/disrespect to you at all. Based on H bags, the insides are machine stitched. The artisans who do the hand stitching are not taught how to do machine stitching and vice versa. I am going to try and look for a video that I saw in an H Studio. One woman was machine stitching crocodile or alligator watch bands and left the ends free. Then she handed them over to an artisan who hand-finished/stitched the watchbands on both ends to complete it. I believe that that is how they create quota bags and SO's. I would love to hear some comments on this. If you look at the inside of your bags, SO or not, you can tell that the stitching is even and created by machine. Other luxury brands have slanted stitching as well and it's not hand-stitched. They are all done on special machines that create that type of stitch. Please chime in if you know differently. I really appreciate the education.
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This isn't the thread for that; there are a couple on handmade vs. machine-made. I can only speak to my own experience. I'd say, join those threads for further discussion.
 
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