Shooting‑Star Stamps: Employee Bags, Rarity, and Resale Considerations

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Among all the mysterious markings on Hermès handbags, the shooting star stamp is easily one of the most intriguing.

The shooting star symbol shows that a Hermès bag was made by an artisan for their own use, not for sale, which makes these pieces incredibly rare in resale circles. Spotting one might feel like stumbling onto a secret, but owning one isn't as straightforward as it sounds.

Craftsman-made bags like these come with their own quirks and limitations. Unlike regular Hermès bags, shooting star pieces weren't meant for the market and have restrictions that affect everything from getting them authenticated to having them repaired.

The same rarity that makes them so appealing also brings some real headaches for buyers and sellers.

Let's get into what makes these employee bags so special, why they matter, and what to watch out for if you ever find one.

Whether you're a seasoned collector or just curious about Hermès's behind-the-scenes world, knowing about shooting star stamps definitely gives you a window into one of luxury's most secretive brands.

Key Takeaways

• Shooting star stamps show bags made by Hermès artisans for themselves, not for sale
• These employee bags are extremely rare, but come with resale and repair restrictions
• Authentication and value aren't straightforward and differ from standard Hermès bags

What Are Shooting-Star Stamps on Hermès Bags?

Shooting star stamps are among the most exclusive Hermès markings, showing a bag was made by an artisan for their own use, not for retail. These rare symbols set employee-made pieces apart from regular production bags and other special Hermès stamps.

Origins and Symbolism of the Shooting Star

The shooting star stamp started as Hermès's way of marking bags made by craftsmen for themselves. It was a kind of internal reward, letting skilled artisans use their expertise and the company's best materials to make a personal bag.

That simple star shape? It means more than you'd think. Inside Hermès, it's a nod to the artisan's own artistry and their personal bond with the piece.

These bags weren't supposed to end up in stores. They were rewards for years of dedication, personal trophies for the folks who mastered the art of making Hermès's legendary handbags, including the famous Birkin.

Hermès uses this tradition to honor its artisans, letting them create a bag just for themselves. It's a rare mark of respect for the people behind the brand's reputation.

How Shooting-Star Stamps Differ from Other Hermès Stamps

Shooting star stamps aren't like the usual Hermès codes, date stamps, or leather markings. Most Hermès stamps are functional, dating the bag or naming the material. Shooting stars are about where the bag came from.

People sometimes mix up the "S" stamp with the shooting star, but they're not the same. The "S" means the bag was sold to an employee at a discount, not that it was made by an artisan for personal use.

Horseshoe stamps (HSS) mark custom orders for clients, but shooting stars weren't custom orders at all. They were side projects, made by artisans for themselves.

You'll find regular date stamps on every Hermès bag, but shooting stars? Those are rare. Thousands of bags get the usual stamps each year; maybe a handful get the shooting star.

Visual Characteristics and Stamp Placement

The shooting star stamp is a small star, usually near the "Hermès, Made in France" logo. It's embossed or pressed into the leather just like other Hermès markings.

It's small, about the size of other Hermès symbols, subtle rather than flashy. That fits Hermès's style; they don't want anything distracting from the bag itself.

On Birkin and Kelly bags, the shooting star usually goes wherever the date stamp would be, interior panels, exterior arms, it depends on the year.

If you look closely, authentic shooting stars have crisp lines and the right depth. Hermès doesn't cut corners, even on these hidden details.

Hermès Employee Bags: Story Behind the Shooting Star

The shooting star stamp is a rare privilege; Hermès lets only a few craftsmen create bags for themselves. This mark sets employee-made pieces apart from both regular production and bespoke horseshoe-stamped bags.

Eligibility for Employee-Stamped Bags

Not just anyone at Hermès can make a shooting star bag. The "bon au personnel" program is for skilled craftspeople, leatherworkers, cutters, assemblers working right in Hermès's own factories.

Each eligible artisan can make just one bag per year, either for themselves or as a personal gift. Hermès is strict: these bags are never meant to be resold.

You'll find the shooting star right under the usual "Hermès Paris Made in France" stamp. It's a tiny detail, but it marks the bag as a craftsman's personal creation.

Honestly, these bags are fascinating because they're the ultimate insider perk. The people who make the world's most coveted bags get to make one just for themselves every year.

The Role of the Hermès Artisan

The artisans making shooting star bags are the same skilled people who create the regular Hermès lineup. They've spent years learning traditional leather-working and hand-stitching.

When they make a personal bag, they get to pick their own specs. That means unique colors or materials you'd never see in the usual collections.

Having the freedom to create just for themselves, artisans sometimes try out rare leathers or unusual hardware that suits their own taste.

The craftsmanship is identical to what you'd see in the boutique. But since it's personal, you might notice extra care or details that meant something to the maker.

Employee Stamps Versus Bespoke Horseshoe Stamps

Shooting star and horseshoe stamps play completely different roles at Hermès. Shooting stars mean employee-made; horseshoe stamps mean custom orders for clients.

Bespoke horseshoe-stamped bags are for clients who work with Hermès to create something unique, and they pay extra for the privilege.

Employee shooting star bags? You can't buy them at any price. Horseshoe stamp bags are the top tier for collectors who want something made just for them.

Both stamps mean rarity, but for different reasons. Horseshoe means access and money; shooting star means insider status and craftsmanship you simply can't buy.

Other Special Hermès Stamps and What They Signify

Hermès uses a whole language of markings, date codes, exotic leather symbols, employee sale stamps to tell the story of each bag's origin and materials.

Date Stamp and Year of Manufacture

Every real Hermès bag has a blind stamp that shows when it was made. These stamps are usually letters inside shapes, or just letters, depending on the year.

After 2014, Hermès dropped the shapes and just used letters for the date stamp.

The stamp's location depends on the bag. Birkins and Kellys usually have it on an inside panel or an exterior arm. Constance bags tend to show the stamp on the middle interior panel.

You'll often see numbers with the date letter, those track which workshop made the bag.

Symbols for Exotic Leathers

Hermès uses special symbols to show which exotic leather a bag is made from.

Crocodile Porosus gets a caret (^) stamp. This is saltwater croc and is among the most prized leathers Hermès uses.

Alligator Mississippiensis gets a square (☐). This American alligator leather has a unique scale pattern that collectors love.

Crocodile Niloticus uses double dots (..). Nile croc leather has a different texture from Porosus.

Lizard leathers have their own marks too. Varanus Niloticus Lizard gets a dash (-), while Varanus Salvator Lizard gets an equal sign (=).

These marks help confirm the bag's authenticity and the quality of the materials.

Employee Sale 'S' Stamp

The 'S' stamp means the bag was sold to an Hermès employee at a discount. It's a separate marking from the others and shows up on employee sale pieces.

These bags are still made to Hermès's standards but carry the permanent 'S' mark. It affects the resale price differently than a shooting star, since it means the bag was sold, not made as a personal project.

Employee purchases still have genuine Hermès quality. They just took a different route to the market.

You'll see the 'S' stamp less often than date codes, but more than shooting stars.

Rarity and Collectability of Shooting-Star Employee Bags

Shooting star Hermès bags are among the rarest in the luxury world. Their scarcity, the models they appear on, and the occasional use of exotic leathers all combine to make them fiercely collectible.

Production Numbers and Market Scarcity

These bags weren't meant for the public. Shooting star stamps marked pieces made by Hermès artisans for themselves, so finding a real one is incredibly tough.

You might see one or two a year at a major auction house, if that. Most of the known examples date from the 1980s to early 2000s, which suggests this wasn't a long-running practice.

What makes them so rare?

• Only for artisan personal use
• No official production records
• Need expert authentication
• Appear unpredictably in the market

Collectors sometimes wait years to find one. The rarity premium is wild, sometimes two to four times the price of a comparable retail bag, if you can find one at all.

Notable Models: Birkin, Kelly, Constance

The most sought-after shooting star bags are the classic Hermès shapes. Birkin bags with shooting star stamps are almost unicorns, like the 1999 Fauve Birkin 40 that turned up recently.

Kelly bags show up a little more often with shooting stars. We've seen everything from Kelly 32cm to smaller sizes, usually with unique colors the artisan picked for themselves.

Constance bags with shooting stars are basically myths. If you ever see one, you're looking at something truly special.

What really draws people in is the story: these bags weren't made for sale. They were made by and for the craftspeople who know the process inside out.

Standout Exotic Leathers in Shooting-Star Bags

Exotic leather shooting star bags are the absolute top of the rarity pyramid. Porosus crocodile shooting star bags go for staggering prices; they're rare on two counts: the provenance and the leather.

Alligator mississippiensis pieces really show off the artisan's skill. Exotic leathers are tough to work with, so only the best craftspeople got to make these personal pieces.

There are a few crocodile niloticus shooting star bags out there, but they're extremely rare. Authenticating both the shooting star and the exotic leather takes a real expert.

Varanus niloticus lizard bags with shooting stars are a little more attainable, but still exclusive. The scales make for a striking look.

Varanus salvator lizard shooting star bags pop up now and then, usually as small accessories. The artisan's choice often reflected their own taste, not what would sell, so you see unusual combos.

Resale Considerations and Authentication Tips

Shooting star stamps introduce real complications in the resale world. These employee-only bags need specialized knowledge to authenticate, and they come with some heavy legal restrictions that affect their value and marketability.

Impact of Shooting-Star Stamp on Value

The shooting star stamp changes a bag's resale value in ways that might surprise you. These bags were never meant to be sold, and Hermès has strict non-resale rules.

Legally, shooting star bags aren't supposed to be sold at all. Hermès says these employee bags can't be resold, period. If they spot one in the secondary market, they'll reportedly investigate the artisan whose stamp is on it.

In reality, some shooting star bags do end up on resale sites, fetching high prices thanks to their rarity. But buyers take a risk, Hermès won't authenticate these, and there's always a chance the company could step in.

Value can swing a lot, depending on collector demand and the policies of the resale platform. Many top consignment shops won't touch shooting star bags. Others will, but with clear warnings about their origin and the legal gray area.

Rarity cuts both ways. Sure, scarcity usually boosts value, but the legal complications can make even the most die-hard collectors hesitate.

How to Authenticate Employee-Stamped Bags

Authenticating shooting-star bags goes way beyond your standard Hermès verification. These bags have quirks, and, honestly, the documentation is often a total mystery.

Key authentication markers to watch for:

• A clear shooting-star symbol next to the date stamp
• Craftsman code that matches up with known employee records
• Construction quality that lines up with what you'd expect from a Hermès-trained artisan
• Materials consistent with what Hermès used during that production period

For date stamp verification, we stick to Hermès protocols, checking that the letter matches the right year and sits in the correct spot. But shooting-star bags usually skip authenticity cards since they never hit the retail shelves.

Construction details are where things get interesting. Employee bags almost always show off top-tier craftsmanship, since these were made by or for the artisans themselves. We dig into the stitching, hardware, and leather quality, comparing them to trusted examples.

Documentation challenges are real. These bags rarely come with receipts, cards, or anything official from Hermès. So, the process leans hard on a hands-on inspection and a deep knowledge of Hermès techniques from that era.

Professional authentication services with Hermès expertise spot subtle differences that separate genuine shooting-star bags from the fakes that keep popping up.

Risks of Counterfeits and Fraud

Let's be real: the allure of shooting-star bags draws in counterfeiters and sketchy sellers hoping to fool buyers who don't know better.

Common fraud tactics? Some folks slap fake shooting-star stamps on real bags, or go all-in and make counterfeits with employee markings. Others push regular bags as "employee specials", zero proof, just a story.

Sophisticated counterfeits can look scarily legit. We've seen fakes that copy the shooting-star stamp so well, even seasoned collectors have to squint. Counterfeiters especially target rare date stamps to squeeze out extra profit.

Red flags to look for:

• Sellers who can't explain the bag's supposed employee backstory
• Prices that seem weirdly low for what you're getting
• One seller offering a suspicious number of shooting-star bags
• Stamps that look sloppy or don't match up with known markings

Due diligence is more than a buzzword here. Only work with authentication experts who know employee bags inside and out. Also, keep in mind: even if the bag's real, buying these can cross into legally gray territory.

The authentication cost is higher than your run-of-the-mill Hermès bag, but honestly, it's worth it. This niche is crawling with fakes, and mistakes can get expensive fast.

Spotlight on Exotic Leathers in Employee and Shooting-Star Bags

When we get our hands on shooting-star bags, it's clear Hermès craftsmen saved the best exotics for themselves. These rare employee pieces flaunt Porosus and Niloticus crocodile, American alligator, and a couple of lizard species that really show off what leatherwork can be.

Porosus Crocodile Versus Niloticus Crocodile

Crocodile Porosus, now that's the dream. This Australian saltwater crocodile is famous for its tiny, even scales and crazy flexibility.

The belly scales create those perfect little squares collectors go wild for. Porosus ages into a glossy, deep patina that, honestly, is swoon-worthy.

Crocodile Niloticus? Totally different vibe. This African croc brings bigger, less uniform scales, giving the bag a bold, textured look.

Niloticus usually costs a bit less than Porosus, though it's still a splurge. The scale size jumps around, so you get a dramatic, almost patchwork feel.

American Alligator Features

Alligator Mississippiensis has its own charm. American alligator shows off wider belly scales than the crocs.

Those umbral markings, tiny dots or pores, give the leather a shaded, almost smoky look. Each piece feels unique.

Alligator is often softer than crocodile, and it shines up beautifully, even with gentle use. For artisans who actually carry their own bags, it's a dream.

Plus, the durability is top-notch, but it never loses that plush, luxe feel.

Lizard Skins: Varanus Niloticus and Salvator

Varanus Niloticus lizard, now that's a showstopper. This monitor lizard skin is all about tiny, intricate scales that look almost like jewels.

We love how the scales catch the light from different angles. The grain is super fine, making it perfect for smaller shooting-star accessories and clutches.

Varanus Salvator lizard steps up with slightly bigger scales. The water monitor gives you beautiful natural variation and subtle color shifts.

Both lizard types are tough to work with. You've got to respect the artisans who pick these for their own bags, they know the technical headaches and still go for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shooting star stamps stir up a lot of questions: dating, rarity, resale value, all pretty different from your typical Hermès bag. Employee-made pieces use the same dating system but carry a whole different weight for collectors.

What's the scoop on that elusive Hermes stamp and how can I decipher the year of manufacture?

Hermès date stamps have their own language. From 1945-1970, it's just single letters (A=1945, B=1946, etc.).

From 1971-1996, they switched to letters inside circles. Then, 1997-2014, the stamps appear in squares.

Since 2015, it's back to letters without shapes: T=2015, X=2016, A=2017, C=2018, D=2019, Y=2020, Z=2021, U=2022, B=2023, W=2024.

Hermes bags have stamps, don't they? How can I tell if mine is a rare gem or just another pretty face?

Date stamps are just the start. Look for special symbols. A shooting star means the bag was made for a Hermès employee, super rare.

A horseshoe? That's a bespoke VIP piece. The 'S' stamp signals an employee discount item.

Exotic leathers get their own marks too, a square for alligator, a caret for Porosus crocodile.

Dishing out the Emmys: Can you break down the enigma surrounding Hermes blind stamps?

Blind stamps do more than date a bag; they tell its whole backstory. The main stamp gives the year, and artisan numbers point to the craftsperson.

Stamp location matters. Since 2016, Birkins and Kellys put stamps on the left interior near the back flap. Constance bags? Usually on the middle interior panel.

Older pieces tend to hide stamps under tabs or straps. Each spot follows a pattern that helps with authentication.

Resale's the game: How does the year on a Hermes stamp impact a bag's resale value?

Older stamps usually fetch more, especially those from the 1970s-1990s circle era. Square stamp bags (1997-2014) have that vintage pull but sit in the middle.

Some years had quirks that boost value, like the 2011 double-blind stamp or late 2014 R-without-square. Collectors love those oddities.

Shooting star stamps? They always bump up resale, no matter the year. Their rarity is a game-changer.

Got an Hermes with a 'Z' stamp – is this the find of the century, or just a 2025 trifle?

A Z stamp could mean a few things. In a circle, it's 1996, definitely collectible.

There's no Z in a square since that era ended at R in 2014. A plain Z? That's 2021.

If you've got a shooting star next to your Z, that's a rare bird, whatever the year.

Collectors' corner: What should I know before snagging that Hermes with a 2023 or 2024 stamp?

B stamps (2023) and W stamps (2024) mean you’re looking at recent production, with the latest design tweaks. Hermes used more refined leather processing and updated the hardware during these years.

Authenticity is a big deal with newer bags, especially since counterfeiters seem to love going after current stamps. Always check the stamp’s exact placement and depth, but don’t stop there; look for other authenticity clues too.

2023-2024 shooting star bags might gain value down the line, though they probably won’t get that instant vintage premium you see with older Hermès pieces. Still, who knows? The market can surprise you.