Why is Hermès so special?

Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and jewelry to pillows and handbags .Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag , which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce , and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers , a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile , are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Hermes Lock

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Recent Sales

Hermes Lock and Clochette Argile Swift

Unavailable

Hermes Lock and Clochette Argile Swift

By Hermès

Located in Verviers, BE

Hermes Argile swift, silver hardware, lock and clochette.

Category

Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags

Jaeger LeCoultre for Hermès white gold Wristwatch

Unavailable

Jaeger LeCoultre for Hermès white gold Wristwatch

By Jaeger-LeCoultre

Located in Paris, FR

Jaeger LeCoultre white gold wristwatch, personalized for Hermès, lock shape case. Good condition. Manufactured circa 1970's.

Category

Vintage 1970s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

White Gold

Hermès Togo Picotin Lock 18 Tote, Navy

Unavailable

Hermès Togo Picotin Lock 18 Tote, Navy

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Bag in Togo leather with palladium plated Kelly lock closure BAG MEASURES: LENGTH 18cm/7" TALL 18cm/7" DEEP 13cm/5" HANDLE: TALL 4.5" Come with original invoice and dustbag.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes White Gold and Diamond H Lock Ring

Unavailable

Hermes White Gold and Diamond H Lock Ring

By Hermès

Located in New York City, NY

This is a rare Hermes white gold and diamond ring. The lock on the ring has the luxurious H for Hermes in diamonds.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fashion Rings

Materials

Diamond, White Gold

Materials

Metal

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags

Hermes Picotin 18 Lock Bag So Green

Unavailable

Hermes Picotin 18 Lock Bag So Green

Located in Flushing, NY

Certified Authentic Condition: Brand New Origin: France Collection: Z Dimension: 7 x 5 x 7.5 in; Drop 5 in Accompanied by: This item comes with all accessories

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags

Hermes Kelly 32cm Rouge Hermes Ostrich Gold Hardware

Unavailable

H 13 in W 4.73 in L 12.6 in

Hermes Kelly 32cm Rouge Hermes Ostrich Gold Hardware

By Hermès

Located in London, GB

Hermes Kelly sellier 32cm rouge hermes Ostrich Gold hardware Stamp NA but circa late 1990s Comes with Hermes cloth bag, clochette, lock & keys This is a stunning winter colo...

Category

Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Picotin 18 Lock Bag Palladium Hardware Fleece Gris

Located in Flushing, NY

Certified Authentic Condition:Brand New Origin: France Collection: Z Dimension: 7.25 x 7.5 x 5.25 in; Drop: 5 in Accompanied by: This item comes with all accessories

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags

Hermes Picotin 18 Lock Bag Palladium Hardware Black Fur Blue

Located in Flushing, NY

Certified Authentic Condition:Brand New Origin: France Collection: Z Dimension: 7.5 x 7 x 5.5 in; Drop: 5 in Accompanied by: This item comes with all accessories

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags

Unavailable

Hermes Birkin 30 Gris Perle Gold Hardware

By Hermès

Located in West Chester, PA

Leather: Swift Hardware: GOLD Lined in Chevre X STAMP As always, the auction will include an authentic Hermes Box, Dustcovers, Lock & Keys, Clochette, and Rain Cover.

Category

2010s French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Trench Epsom Kelly Long Wallet NEW

Unavailable

Hermes Trench Epsom Kelly Long Wallet NEW

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

The interior is lined with Trench chevre leather and has one front wall compartment, two main compartments with 12 credit card slots, a zippered center compartment with Hermes H lock...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets

Hermes Birkin 30cm Two Tone Sanguine/Blanc

Unavailable

L 11.82 in

Hermes Birkin 30cm Two Tone Sanguine/Blanc

By Hermès

Located in Los Angeles, CA

It has dual rolled top handles, a flap closure and Palladium hardware featuring the Hermes signature turn lock closure. It is accented with white top stitching, the interior lining i...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes Rouge Vif (Red) Togo Birkin Handbag

Unavailable

Hermes Rouge Vif (Red) Togo Birkin Handbag

By Hermès

Located in New York City, NY

Hermes Rouge Vif (red) Togo leather Birkin handbag in 35cm style model with gold-tone hardware, matching strap and clochette Interior is lined in leather, and features a side po...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

$1,208

H 5 in W 2.25 in D 1 in

Vintage Hermes Horse Bit Bottle Opener c.1970

By Hermès

Located in Bath, GB

A stunning example of a vintage equestrian bottle opener dating to c.1970. The handle is gold plated bronze fashioned in the form of a horse bit and the bottle opener itself made fr...

Category

Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Barware

Materials

Gold Plate

Hermès Rodeo Pegase Leather Bag Charm Horse Etoupe Biscuit PM

$1,142

H 2.96 in W 0.6 in L 3.35 in

Hermès Rodeo Pegase Leather Bag Charm Horse Etoupe Biscuit PM

By Hermès

Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique

Adorable Authentic Hermès Charm "Rodeo Pegase" in the most thought after colorway Made in France From 2023 (stamp B) Made of milo lambskin and swift calfskin leathers (smooth and...

Category

2010s French Wallets

$21,381

$19,900

Size: French 38

CHRISTIAN DIOR taupe FOX FUR Winter Coat Sz. F38 / M

By Christian Dior

Located in Zürich, CH

Christian Dior coat in off-white, brown, and taupe fox fur with wide collar. Two side pockets. Opens with two hooks on the front. Lined in black silk. Has been worn and is in excelle...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Fur Puffer Coats

$2,229

Vivienne Westwood red wool and gold 'PAGAN KISS' beret, ss 1988

By Vivienne Westwood

Located in London, GB

Rare Vivienne Westwood red wool beret with gold leaf 'PAGAN KISS' and signature Orb logo. Made for the 'Choice' tour with Sara Stockbridge in 1988. Pagan I, Spring-Summer 1988

Category

1980s British Berets

Gianni Versace Sculptural Dress 1990s

$1,600

Size: XS, S

Gianni Versace Sculptural Dress 1990s

By Gianni Versace

Located in Water Mill, NY

A stunning red wool dress by Gianni Versace. It has great lines with square cut armholes, a fitted bodice and fabulous flared skirt with the back a few inches longer and fuller than ...

Category

1990s Italian Day Dresses

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Hermes Lock For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact vintage or contemporary hermes lock you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. If you’re looking for an option in Black and you’re unable to find the right fit, there are plenty of variations in Brown, Red and more. Making the right choice when shopping for a hermes lock may mean looking at versions that date from different eras — you can find early iterations from the 20th Century and a newer version made as recently as the 21st Century, both of which have proven very popular over the years. Making an accessory such as this has likely been a part of the legacy of many fashion designers, but those produced by Hermès and Jean Paul Gaultier are consistently popular. If you’re browsing our inventory for these accessories, you’ll find that many are available today for women, but there are still pieces to choose from for men and unisex.

How Much is a Hermes Lock?

The price for a hermes lock starts at $140 and tops out at $39,775, and on average, selling for $2,896.

Hermès for sale on 1stDibs

For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.

The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.

As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.

In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.

In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.

Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.

In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.

Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.

While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.

Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.

Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Handbags-purses-bags for You

An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.

Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”

First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.

They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”

From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.

Questions About Hermès

Why is Hermès so special?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.

Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and jewelry to pillows and handbags.

Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag, which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers, a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile, are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.

On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Beyond the Birkin: 10 Hermès Bags with ‘If You Know, You Know’ Appeal

What these styles lack in name recognition they more than make up for in cachet.

Dress Like Your Favorite NFL Player with an Hermès HAC Bag

Before the Birkin there was the Haut à Courroies, which has become the chic carryall of choice for the league's most stylish athletes.

This Hermès Picnic Garden Party Bag Is Elegant and Errand-Friendly

Does wicker get more high-end than this?

The Hermès Passe-Guide Bag Might Not Be as Well Known as the Birkin or Kelly, But It’s Every Bit as Chic

Find out why this under-the-radar piece is so exceptional.

How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag

The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.