Short answer
A fake Hermès Lindy fails first on three points: the heat stamp, the hardware engraving, and the stitching. Genuine Lindy bags carry a crisp, shallow stamp with the correct accent on the E, engraved hardware with clean letter edges, and saddle stitching that sits at a slight angle with even spacing. Counterfeits show blurry stamps, laser-etched hardware, and straight machine stitching. Check those three before you look at anything else.
What you need
- Sharp photos of the front, back, base, interior, stamp, and hardware
- A tape measure in centimeters
- A magnifier or a phone with macro zoom
- A kitchen scale for weight comparison
- A current Hermès date stamp chart
Step-by-step checks
- Measure the bag. Confirm the width matches the stated size. A Lindy 26 runs about 26 cm wide, the 30 about 30 cm, and the 34 about 34 cm. A seller listing a 30 that measures 28 cm is a warning sign.
- Set the bag down and watch the shape. A real Lindy collapses into a soft, curved profile with two handles that fall toward the center. Fakes stay stiff and hold a boxy silhouette because the leather is thinner and the lining is glued.
- Read the heat stamp. Look for HERMÈS with a grave accent over the E, then PARIS below. Letters should be sharp, evenly spaced, and pressed into the leather, not printed on top. Fakes show doubled edges, missing accents, or a stamp that sits too deep.
- Find the blind stamp. Open the bag and locate the craftsman mark inside a back corner. It holds a shape, a letter for the year, and an artisan ID. Cross-check the letter against a current chart and confirm it matches the seller's claimed production year.
- Inspect the hardware engraving. Use the magnifier on the zipper pull and strap hardware. Genuine engraving has sharp interior corners and consistent depth. Fake engraving looks sandy, shallow, or cut with a laser.
- Weigh the hardware. Real Lindy hardware has heft and a smooth, cool finish. Plated zinc copies feel light and show a warm yellow tint under daylight.
- Test the zipper. Run the zip the full length. A genuine zipper glides without catching, and the teeth align tight. Check the zipper tape color against the leather and look for a maker stamp on the slider.
- Examine the stitching. Hermès uses saddle stitching, so each stitch angles slightly and sits at the same depth. Count stitches per inch along the handle base and compare sides. Machine stitching runs flat, straight, and uneven at corners.
- Check the handles and attachments. Real handles are rolled by hand, firm, and evenly tapered at both ends. Look at where the handles meet the body: the leather folds should be smooth with no puckering or glue shine.
- Smell and feel the leather. Clemence and Swift have a distinct, clean leather smell and a soft, dry hand. Fakes smell of chemicals or plastic and feel slick or overly stiff.
- Review the clochette, lock, and keys. The clochette leather should match the bag in grain and color. The padlock engraving must be crisp and the keys should turn without grit.
- Audit the packaging. The dust bag, box, rain cover, and ribbon should match the era of the bag. Mismatched fonts or a box that is too new for the date stamp point to a marriage of parts.
- Get a second opinion. Send photos to a paid authentication service or a resale house before money changes hands. Keep the written opinion with your receipt.
Common red flags
- Price far below current resale for the size and leather
- Seller refuses close-up photos of the stamp or zipper
- Stock photos only, with no serial or date stamp image
- Stamp letter that does not exist on the year chart
- Handles that stand upright on their own
If you already bought a fake
Stop using the bag and photograph every angle before you ship it back. File a dispute with your payment provider inside the stated window, and report the listing to the platform. If the bag crossed a border, report the shipment to your local customs authority.