Reference: Guide to Hermes Scarves

[marietouchet]

This is particularly true for mousselines.

Agree
1. The cw numbers used to be sequential, all in a row, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6 etc. But, some 7-8 years ago, this stopped, cw numbers exhibit holes (are not conTinuous) eg 1, 2 , 4, 6, 7 etc. It is presumed that the missing cws ie 3 & 5 were proposed but never made it into production. There are other resons some cws seem to be missing.
2. Only some cws are shown on the internet. They have produced 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 etc but only 1, 4 & 7 are ever available online. And the online store in Denmark may have run out of cw 6 which is still avail in the US
3 Each mortar and brick store has its own cws. They have produced 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 etc but only 1 & 7 are at 24 Fbg but Mad Ave has 1 & 2
3. Sometimes, missing cws pop up later. Ex cw 3 was never on the internet or seen at Mad Ave or 24 Fbg. Cw 3 surfaces later at the Bangkok airport. This is rare, but happens esp with unpopular cws eg greens

 

[marietouchet]

Was asked a question aboiut authentication services and figuring out the balue of a collection. See authentication thread. I answered here cause the topic is somewhat off topic there.
Many ways to answer question(s). How does one measure the value of a scarf COLLECTION - not just one or two? How to document for insurance purposes. Authentication (real vs fake) is different from valuation, but step 1 is documentation - what do you have?
So, lets start with the easy question, How to document A COLLECTION (not just onesie twosie scarves) for insurance purposes. Just had this EXACT discussion with a friend & her DH. He wanted her collection documented for insurance. You need to:
1. Make list, describe each scarf, as best as possible... dont sweat if you are missing one ...
2. Stick your receipts all together, dont sweat if you are missing one.
3. Photograph scarves ... dont sweat if you are missing one. See below.
4. EXTRA CREDIT; scan the receipts
5. REQUIRED: Make an OFF SITE copy of the above. BEST: put electronic copies on an off site server (in the cloud). MAKE DO APPROACH: photocopy everything, and give the hardcopy to a friend. Your list is useless if it burns down with the house.
If you need to make a claim, the above will allow you to PROVE ownership. You may haggle with insurance company: but the scarf was BN, tags & all ! But, you cannot do that without proof of ownership ...
What may surprise you is the photos required are not the full flat photos - that we all know and love.
Take a photo of the the bottom 16th of a scarf (90cm). Folded in the same manner as you put into your boite orange. You can ID an HS by
No mod shots please !
You can put 2 scarves in one shot. EXTRA CREDIT; put receipt(s) in the shot., featuring the purchase price. These simple photos might take ONE day, you dont have to unfold all the scarves.. Just take out of BOs, Photograph. Stick em back in.
When I say dont sweat if you are missing one, I mean it. It is better to do 80 % than to not get off the dime by worrying about the one you have momentarily misplaced.
So, do, all of that, then you KNOW WHAT YOU have. & can prove it.

After that, you could decide to have one or two authenticated (suspect?). Then you could try to come up with a valuation.

Again, it was many questions in one. I chose to answer the easy part - how to document. Thgat is step 1 anyway. So, get your minds around the above. Most people lack the PHOTOS & LIST. The OFF SITE part is important.

 

[Julide]

Was asked a question aboiut authentication services and figuring out the balue of a collection. See authentication thread. I answered here cause the topic is somewhat off topic there.
Many ways to answer question(s). How does one measure the value of a scarf COLLECTION - not just one or two? How to document for insurance purposes. Authentication (real vs fake) is different from valuation, but step 1 is documentation - what do you have?
So, lets start with the easy question, How to document A COLLECTION (not just onesie twosie scarves) for insurance purposes. Just had this EXACT discussion with a friend & her DH. He wanted her collection documented for insurance. You need to:
1. Make list, describe each scarf, as best as possible... dont sweat if you are missing one ...
2. Stick your receipts all together, dont sweat if you are missing one.
3. Photograph scarves ... dont sweat if you are missing one. See below.
4. EXTRA CREDIT; scan the receipts
5. REQUIRED: Make an OFF SITE copy of the above. BEST: put electronic copies on an off site server (in the cloud). MAKE DO APPROACH: photocopy everything, and give the hardcopy to a friend. Your list is useless if it burns down with the house.
If you need to make a claim, the above will allow you to PROVE ownership. You may haggle with insurance company: but the scarf was BN, tags & all ! But, you cannot do that without proof of ownership ...
What may surprise you is the photos required are not the full flat photos - that we all know and love.
Take a photo of the the bottom 16th of a scarf (90cm). Folded in the same manner as you put into your boite orange. You can ID an HS by
No mod shots please !
You can put 2 scarves in one shot. EXTRA CREDIT; put receipt(s) in the shot., featuring the purchase price. These simple photos might take ONE day, you dont have to unfold all the scarves.. Just take out of BOs, Photograph. Stick em back in.
When I say dont sweat if you are missing one, I mean it. It is better to do 80 % than to not get off the dime by worrying about the one you have momentarily misplaced.
So, do, all of that, then you KNOW WHAT YOU have. & can prove it.

After that, you could decide to have one or two authenticated (suspect?). Then you could try to come up with a valuation.

Again, it was many questions in one. I chose to answer the easy part - how to document. Thgat is step 1 anyway. So, get your minds around the above. Most people lack the PHOTOS & LIST. The OFF SITE part is important.

Thank you very informative!

 

[turfnsurf]

Was asked a question aboiut authentication services and figuring out the balue of a collection. See authentication thread. I answered here cause the topic is somewhat off topic there.
Many ways to answer question(s). How does one measure the value of a scarf COLLECTION - not just one or two? How to document for insurance purposes. Authentication (real vs fake) is different from valuation, but step 1 is documentation - what do you have?
So, lets start with the easy question, How to document A COLLECTION (not just onesie twosie scarves) for insurance purposes. Just had this EXACT discussion with a friend & her DH. He wanted her collection documented for insurance. You need to:
1. Make list, describe each scarf, as best as possible... dont sweat if you are missing one ...
2. Stick your receipts all together, dont sweat if you are missing one.
3. Photograph scarves ... dont sweat if you are missing one. See below.
4. EXTRA CREDIT; scan the receipts
5. REQUIRED: Make an OFF SITE copy of the above. BEST: put electronic copies on an off site server (in the cloud). MAKE DO APPROACH: photocopy everything, and give the hardcopy to a friend. Your list is useless if it burns down with the house.
If you need to make a claim, the above will allow you to PROVE ownership. You may haggle with insurance company: but the scarf was BN, tags & all ! But, you cannot do that without proof of ownership ...
What may surprise you is the photos required are not the full flat photos - that we all know and love.
Take a photo of the the bottom 16th of a scarf (90cm). Folded in the same manner as you put into your boite orange. You can ID an HS by
No mod shots please !
You can put 2 scarves in one shot. EXTRA CREDIT; put receipt(s) in the shot., featuring the purchase price. These simple photos might take ONE day, you dont have to unfold all the scarves.. Just take out of BOs, Photograph. Stick em back in.
When I say dont sweat if you are missing one, I mean it. It is better to do 80 % than to not get off the dime by worrying about the one you have momentarily misplaced.
So, do, all of that, then you KNOW WHAT YOU have. & can prove it.

After that, you could decide to have one or two authenticated (suspect?). Then you could try to come up with a valuation.

Again, it was many questions in one. I chose to answer the easy part - how to document. Thgat is step 1 anyway. So, get your minds around the above. Most people lack the PHOTOS & LIST. The OFF SITE part is important.

Finally arrived in the right place thanks to @Belphoebe’s assistance. Appologies for posting in incorrect thread earlier.

If majority of a collection is vintage with no receipts, what then? Also, how do you arrive at current value for a limited edition?
-Thanks

 

[marietouchet]

Finally arrived in the right place thanks to @Belphoebe’s assistance. Appologies for posting in incorrect thread earlier.
THis step should go after consultation with your insurance agent - see next post.
If majority of a collection is vintage with no receipts, what then? Also, how do you arrive at current value for a limited edition?
-Thanks

HDid you8 do your OFF SITE list last night ? Lets assume so.
Next step, check to make sure they are all authentic. You are probably sure of 99 % of them, let you now have a few to authenticate - real or fake, not value, that is later. Authentication requires the GOOD photos, but you only have a few to authenticate. Add any GOOD photos to your OFF SITE collection of stuff. There are not many options
1. Try to find someone - resale store ? - in town - that can take a look. Easiest if you dont have to ship the silk.
2. Join a silk group that meets in person and bring your stuff and get opinions eg HSCI.
3. Are you a good customer of an internet reseller? Maybe they will do you a favor and authenticate for you.
4. You can contact MyPoupette & AUTHENTICATE 4U - may not be useful. Price too high? Dont want to ship ? Does anyone know if they can give you a value ? I think not .. They just say real/fake. These are places that I know of, I have never used. I suggest making a budget for thge authentication / valuation services. Or, do all the work yourself, and document it in your lsit.
5. Self authenticate. Go through the internet and see if you can find hi-res photos of similar scarf. Write down your analysis, stick OFF SITE
6. You can consult an estate sale place, but< i will talk to that when talking of value - LATER.
I doubt any of these methods will yield a certificate of authenticity at a reasonable price.
The next step is very HARD for some ... Recall this weeks authentication story: 140cm HIPPOPOLIS for sale. Seller verified it was 140cm and claimed to have certificate of authenticity. Well, .H never made it in 140cm. Sellers make errors in measurements all the time (mark a 70cm as 90cm etc). But, sell,.er verified the size. FAKE. Period. But the seller gave the potential buyer long story about certificate blah blah blah. I wonder if the seller has accepted the fact it is a fake?
So, you will probably still have one or two of questionable authenticity. Be HONEST with yourself - they may be fake. You should consider them as fake.
So, now, you have the incredible list and set of photos for all your stuff, and you know which one(s) are (likely) fakes. Write down everything in your list. This list is now golden ! Lots of info.

 

[marietouchet]

Actually, should have added this step BEFORE the authentication step.
Talk to your insurance agent. What are the terms of your po0licy. TRUST ME, they will surprise you. A good rule of thumb: an insurance policy wont cover ALL your collectibles unless you pay EXTRA. THe extra insurance is NOT cheap.
Two crucial pieces of info are REQUIRED.
1. How much is covered, $100,000 is a typical number unless you added more insurance. If you own enough B&Ks (> $100k) then your silk is essentially not covered at all. That may be a difficult pill to swallow.
2. What is covered ? Replacement value ? I think not for collectibles. If a TV dies, they will let you buy another one, No way for bags & designer goods. Ask how they do it. You need to know for a valuation. PLEASE report back here, I am curious, share your story.
DONT BOTHER to pay for authentication and valuations that the insurance company wont honor.Dont pay for any services until you figure out what services recognized for insurance.
If you are going this out of curiosity, establish a budget for authentication and valuation services, eg $250

Start being with yourself, Stuff like : that scarf used to be a GRAIL, i PAID $800 FOR IT AND NOW IT IS OUT OF FASHION. ADD TO YOUR LIST ANY honest COMMENTS - scarf is in a 1980s cw that is passé. Stick that in list, you will need later. You need to do ALL THE TEDIOUS work first.
Ex of being honest. I like GREEN. It is not a universally popular color (does not work with most skin tones). So, my green ZABAVUSHKA is not worth as much as the purple one. I dont care, I like green. But , the purple one would sell better.

 

[marietouchet]

Finally arrived in the right place thanks to @Belphoebe’s assistance.
If majority of a collection is vintage with no receipts, what then? Also, how do you arrive at current value for a limited edition?
-Thanks

Assume I have bored everyone to tears ... droning on and on and on ... And I never answered the question - what is the value of THIS limited edition scarf?
There is no easy answer, no service that can say what the value of scarf is today (for a reasonable fee) but hard work can pay off
And it depends what question you really have - value for insurance, or just out of curiosity. I could go on about estate sales services ...
And the Limited Edition thing - Hermes claims they are ALL limited edition.
Yes, I know some are done for the opening of a boutique (inscription) but that is relatively common. Ho hum yawn...
And the REALLY RARE Limited issues, sometimes no one knows about them so their authenticity is challenged. There was a recent discussion here about a special issue of de Passage a Moscou, inscribed with the word JAMILCO. Some suggested it was a fake when in reality it is a rarely seen outside of Russia. Valuable? not if someone challenges the authenticity...

 

[turfnsurf]

@marietouchet - I am grateful for your generosity in sharing some of the wealth of your knowledge on this subject and definitely not bored to tears.
-Thank You
Are you aware of any professionals for hire that offer appraisals for vintage H scarves (as Etinceler was able to provide for my Chanel bag)? A Google search was unfruitful and I hoped authenticators here might point me in the right direction.

 

[Holsby]

Assume I have bored everyone to tears ... droning on and on and on ... And I never answered the question - what is the value of THIS limited edition scarf?
There is no easy answer, no service that can say what the value of scarf is today (for a reasonable fee) but hard work can pay off
And it depends what question you really have - value for insurance, or just out of curiosity. I could go on about estate sales services ...
And the Limited Edition thing - Hermes claims they are ALL limited edition.
Yes, I know some are done for the opening of a boutique (inscription) but that is relatively common. Ho hum yawn...
And the REALLY RARE Limited issues, sometimes no one knows about them so their authenticity is challenged. There was a recent discussion here about a special issue of de Passage a Moscou, inscribed with the word JAMILCO. Some suggested it was a fake when in reality it is a rarely seen outside of Russia. Valuable? not if someone challenges the authenticity...

marietouchet, you are a treasure box and a gold mine! I really like that you share your knowledge the way you do!

 

[marietouchet]

marietouchet, you are a treasure box and a gold mine! I really like that you share your knowledge the way you do!

aww thank you ...

 

[momasaurus]

Thanks so much, MT. i realize I've not been very methodical about all this.....

 

[marietouchet]

Thanks so much, MT. i realize I've not been very methodical about all this.....

Remember it depends a lot on your goal, people ask the question what is a scarf worth, but the answer is context dependent:
1. If my house burns down, how much will I be paid for my scarves?
2. My mother just died, she had like 50 scarves, but I have no list of them, what are they worth?
3. I need funds NOW. How much money will I net after selling my rede Turandot? possibly after consignment fees, but we are talking about one or two particular HS
4. I am just curious. I own a 1980s TAMBOURS - navy border. What is it worth?
In general, if you are willing to do the busy work, research etc, it will pay off. But there are no guarantees that your hourly wage will will exceed that of working at McDonalds,

 

[bunnycat]

Assume I have bored everyone to tears ... droning on and on and on ... And I never answered the question - what is the value of THIS limited edition scarf?
There is no easy answer, no service that can say what the value of scarf is today (for a reasonable fee) but hard work can pay off
And it depends what question you really have - value for insurance, or just out of curiosity. I could go on about estate sales services ...
And the Limited Edition thing - Hermes claims they are ALL limited edition.
Yes, I know some are done for the opening of a boutique (inscription) but that is relatively common. Ho hum yawn...
And the REALLY RARE Limited issues, sometimes no one knows about them so their authenticity is challenged. There was a recent discussion here about a special issue of de Passage a Moscou, inscribed with the word JAMILCO. Some suggested it was a fake when in reality it is a rarely seen outside of Russia. Valuable? not if someone challenges the authenticity...

Nope- never bored by anything you have to say mt!

And, honestly, this is probably something I need to look in to. I'm not even sure what kind of collectible personal items are covered under our insurance policy (knock on wood we never have to file a claim), though I suspect that since MrBcat collects antique musical instruments he's already got something in place. The only one I've been keeping up with regularly is my jewelry insurance. Hmmm.....

FWIW- I have a wide variety of old and new, and honestly, I don't worry too much about the older ones, as finding interesting vintage scarves is usually not to difficult unless you are looking for something very specific. But just because I know I could replace them, doesn't cover where I'd get the funds to do so if something happened to them so it's definitely food for thought.

 

[HeatherZE]

Does anyone know if this exists anywhere in the universe? Doesn’t have to be on this site. I know about the lovely people who authenticate here but I’m looking for something that I can refer to when I’m at a brick and mortar shop. I’ve read the tips that are in the Authenticate This Scarf thread but I’m pretty new to vintage silks and I’m trying to save myself from making a potential mistake. Thank you!

 

[Cookiefiend]

Check piwigo.Hermesscarf.com
It doesn’t have everything, but it can be very helpful.
Also on Facebook, the page Hermes Scarf Guides is very good.