Short answer
The Hermès Evelyne PM is a 1978 design by Evelyne Bertrand, built to carry a horse grooming kit. The perforated H on the front is ventilation, not decoration. Most listings give the PM as 29 x 30 x 8 cm (11.4 x 11.8 x 3.1 in). U.S. boutique price has run about $4,000 to $4,600 in recent years. A fake Evelyne PM fails four checks: the H perforations, the saddle stitching, the blind stamp and the edge finish. Dust bags, boxes, ribbons and receipts are easy to copy and prove nothing.
Evelyne PM specs to check first
- Front: perforated H punched through the leather. No metal logo plate.
- Strap: canvas webbing with leather ends on the Evelyne III. Adjustable and detachable on the III.
- Rear: flat slip pocket on the Evelyne II and III. The original Evelyne I has none.
- Leather: Clemence, Epsom, or a Toile H canvas body with leather trim.
- Blind stamp: heat-stamped without ink inside the bag. Craftsman code plus a year letter.
Hermès also makes the Evelyne Sellier. It uses a solid leather H in place of perforations. Replica listings often mix Sellier and standard details in one bag, which no single model has.
1. The H perforations
Check hole size and spacing. Each hole should be the same size with a clean, sharp cut. Replica H holes are often smaller, uneven, or punched with a round punch that leaves ragged leather. The two vertical legs and the crossbar should match in width. Look inside the bag. The reverse of the front panel should show the same pattern. A printed or embossed H is wrong. So is an H that sits too high or too low on the front panel.
2. Stitching
Hermès sews by hand with a saddle stitch. Two needles pass through each hole in opposite directions. The result is a slight slant and a lock at each stitch. Machine stitching forms one continuous line with no lock. On fakes the stitch line often runs straight at a fine pitch, or the thread sits thick and shiny on the surface. Linen thread on an authentic bag looks matte. Inspect the inside of the rear pocket and the strap ends. Those areas get less attention from counterfeiters.
3. Leather and edge finish
Clemence is soft, thick and grained. Epsom is pressed and holds shape. Both have a dull finish, not a plastic shine. Hermès paints leather edges by hand. The line is thin and even. Replica edges show drips, brush marks or a thick bead of paint. Smell the leather. Real Clemence smells like tanned hide. Replica leather often smells like glue or plastic.
4. Blind stamp and paperwork
Hermès heat-stamps a blind stamp inside the bag. It holds a craftsman code and a year letter. No ink. No serial number. Hermès does not issue authentication cards or certificates. A seller who shows an Hermès authenticity card is selling a replica or a fake accessory. Receipts, boxes and shopping bags are simple to print. They do not authenticate a bag.
5. Price checks
Ask what the bag should cost. A new Evelyne PM at retail is several thousand dollars. Resale platforms list used Evelyne PM bags from about $2,500 to $4,500, based on leather, color and condition. A bag at $300 is not a bargain. Replica Evelyne PM listings often run $150 to $700. No legitimate seller sells a current Evelyne PM for that.
6. Legal risk in the United States
Importing a counterfeit bag into the United States violates 19 U.S.C. § 1526. U.S. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy the item. CBP has published guidance on counterfeit goods and seizes single bags bought abroad. The OECD found that counterfeit and pirated goods made up about 3.3 percent of world trade in its 2019 study. Leather goods are a top copied category.
What a replica comes with
Replica sellers ship dust bags, boxes, ribbon, rain covers and a printed receipt. These items cost little and copy well. Hermès does not run an authentication service for the secondhand market. Third-party authenticators charge a fee and can be wrong. A boutique purchase or a resale platform with a return window carries less risk than a private seller.
Fast checklist
- H perforations: even size, clean cut, sharp edges, matches inside.
- Stitching: hand saddle stitch, slight slant, matte linen thread.
- Edges: thin, even hand-painted line.
- Blind stamp: no ink, no serial number, no card.
- Leather: dull grain, hide smell, no plastic shine.
- Price: new $4,000 to $4,600; used $2,500 to $4,500.