Short Answer
The Hermes Constance 24 is a shoulder bag with a folding flap and a large H clasp. Hermes introduced the model in 1959. Catherine Chaillet designed it and named it after her fifth child. Togo is a calfskin with a pebbled grain and a matte finish. In the United States, a copy made without Hermes authorization is a counterfeit. Federal law bans the sale and the import of counterfeits. 18 U.S.C. 2320 covers trafficking. 19 U.S.C. 1526 covers import.
Constance 24: Numbers
Hermes does not publish an official size chart. Resellers report the figures below. A spread of 2 to 3 mm between bags is normal for handmade leather goods.
- Width: about 24 cm (9.4 in)
- Height: about 18 cm (7.1 in)
- Depth: about 6 cm (2.4 in)
- Strap: leather, adjustment holes at one end on most sizes
- Interior: one main compartment, one zip pocket, a flat pocket on some years
- Line sizes: 14, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, plus the Constance To Go wallet
- Hardware: H clasp in palladium plate, gold plate, or brushed metal, tone varies by year
Togo Leather
Togo is a retanned calfskin. The grain is fine, the surface matte, and the hand soft. The leather keeps its shape and takes pressure without cracking. It sits between Epsom and Clemence in grain size and weight.
- Epsom: embossed grain, stiff, water resistant, crisp edges
- Swift: smooth, soft, marks show fast
- Clemence: large grain, heavier, slouches with use
- Togo: medium grain, light, holds shape
Togo color reads darker in photos than in daylight because the pebbled surface scatters light. Ask a seller for a photo in indirect daylight against a white sheet.
How the Real Bag Is Built
Stitching
Hermes bags use saddle stitch. Two needles pass through both faces of the leather at the same time. The line shows a slight slant and a small rhythm change on the back face. Machine stitching forms a straight loop on both faces. Hermes thread is waxed linen or polyester.
Stamps
The heat stamp reads HERMES PARIS MADE IN FRANCE in foil. It sits on the flap interior or the back wall. The blind stamp is heat embossed with no foil. It carries a year code and a mark for the artisan. Year letters move through the alphabet with a skip pattern, so two bags from the same year share one letter.
Hardware and edges
The H clasp closes on a flap tab. Plate tone shifts across production years. Edges get edge paint in layers, then sanding, so the edge line is flat and even.
Legal Status in the US
The Trademark Counterfeiting Act sets a first-offense maximum of 10 years and $2 million for an individual, and $5 million for a company. The Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1114, gives Hermes a civil claim against sellers and against importers. US Customs and Border Protection seizes counterfeit goods at the border. CBP states that a personal-use claim does not protect a counterfeit item from seizure. Buying a counterfeit abroad and carrying it home creates a risk at the port of entry.
Hermes enforces its marks in court. In February 2023 a federal jury in Manhattan found Mason Rothschild liable for the MetaBirkins NFT series and awarded Hermes $133,000.
Prices
Hermes does not list new Constance bags for open online sale. Boutique stock is limited and buyers often build purchase history before an offer. Reported retail for a Constance 24 sits in the low five figures. Resale for the 24 in Togo runs from about $10,000 to $20,000. Color, hardware, and production year drive the spread.
Checks Before Purchase
- Request a photo of the blind stamp. Match the year letter to the hardware tone and the color.
- Ask for a 10x close-up of the stitch line on the flap edge.
- Request a photo of the interior zip pull and the pocket seam.
- Check edge paint for even layers and a flat edge line.
- Ask for the original receipt and the boutique code.
- Pay a third-party authentication service before the money moves.
A replica can copy the outline of a Constance 24. It cannot match the year-coded blind stamp, the hand-stitch slant, and the edge paint layers at the same time. Compare those three points before you commit.